Unknown Untold: “Amityville Vertigo”

March 14, 2017 UntoldHorror 0

In our ongoing research into Untold Horror, we have uncovered a variety of projects which for better or worse went unrealized.  Many of them only exist in pitch material artwork if nothing else.   This ongoing series, entitled “Unknown Untold”, will shine a light on artwork for movies that never existed beyond what is seen on the page. If you have any further knowledge of any of the images posted, please let us know! In 1977 Jay Anson’s novel “The Amityville Horror” sparked a supernatural cultural phenomenon surrounding the alleged otherworldly events which centered around the Lutz family, and their Long Island, NY home. In 1979, an even wider audience was introduced to the terrifying “true story” as MGM released their film adaptation.  Grossing over $85 million dollars domestically, the film was a hit, and invariably lead to sequels (and rip offs).  By the summer of 1982, production was wrapped on an official sequel. However prior to the official sequel, if this advertisement from a fall 1981 Variety magazine is to be believed, there seemed to be an attempt at a European rip-off / sequel, “Amityville Vertigo”. There isn’t much that has turned up when digging into the production companies listed.  There are neither credited talents nor stars attached.   So take a look at this poster, and judge for yourself…   Was there anything beyond this artwork?  Or, was it just as real as the alleged haunting itself?

The King Kong Movie Neil Marshall Never Made

March 9, 2017 UntoldHorror 0

There are monsters, giant creatures and exotic sights aplenty in Kong: Skull Island, but it could have had pirates. Lots of dinosaurs. And maybe Gollum himself, Andy Serkis. That is, if Neil Marshall had taken his cinematic trip to Skull Island. In 2013 it was reported that Marshall – writer/director of Dog Soldiers, The Descent and Doomsday – was trying to mount his own Kong movie, based on the novel Kong: King of Skull Island, which was officially licensed by the estate of Merian C. Cooper, who wrote, produced and directed the original 1933 King Kong. The film rights to Kong have traditionally been tricky due to Cooper’s failure to properly secure them back in the day. (BirthMoviesDeath.com gives an excellent explanation here.) He did, however, copyright the novelization of the movie. So an official sequel (ignoring the Son of Kong sequel) was licensed, and in 2005 King of Skull Island was released, which was written by Joe DeVito (visit DeVito’s website for more official Kong stuff) and Brad Strickland. The official synopsis: “In 1933, American showman Carl Denham returned from a mysterious, hidden island with a priceless treasure. A treasure not gold or jewels, but the island’s barbaric god, a monstrous anthropoid called ‘Kong.’ The savage giant escaped and wreaked havoc among the man-made canyons of Manhattan, but within hours of the giant ape’s death his body – and Carl Denham – disappeared. Twenty-five years later, the son of Carl Denham makes a shocking discovery that leads him back to the site of his father’s greatest adventure and to the answers that will unlock the century’s greatest mystery and history’s greatest miracle.” Marshall acquired the rights and penned a screenplay with another writer, but Universal wasn’t interested at the time (remember, this was before the studio remade Godzilla and started seriously developing a shared universe for its giant monsters). In a 2015 interview with CHUD.com, he discusses his version, saying that it would […]

Ready to Launch….

March 7, 2017 UntoldHorror 0

Last week, the team here at Untold Horror was very excited to “go public” with the project that we have been working so hard on for the last 18 months. We were thrilled to see such a passionate response from both genre fans, and media. On Facebook , we were excited to see that the “First Look Video” has been shared by over 200 people, and reaching tens of thousands.    It was amazing to see so many excited horror fans around the world reacting to the project. Below you’ll find a sample of the coverage.    Feel free to share any and all of the links and continue helping spread the word about Untold Horror! Once again, thank you for embracing the project – and we look forward to showing you all more in the coming weeks and months… Screen Anarchy http://screenanarchy.com/2017/03/exclusive-untold-horror-launches-documentary-series-and-a-childrens-book-by-george-a-romero.html Dread Central Untold Horror Tells the Story of Genre Films That Never Got Made Bloody Disgusting New Doc Series “Untold Horror” Explores Films the Masters Almost Made Joblo.com http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/documentary-series-untold-horror-will-cover-films-that-didn-t-get-made-162 Blumhouse Former Rue Morgue Editor-In-Chief Launching Documentary Series UNTOLD HORROR! CinemaBlend http://www.cinemablend.com/television/1631469/the-greatest-horror-movies-never-made-are-heading-to-tv-for-a-cool-new-show IndieWire ‘Untold Horror’ Trailer: George Romero, John Landis and More Directors Uncover the Films They Never Made in New Documentary Series Collider http://collider.com/untold-horror-documentary-series/ Rue Morgue http://www.rue-morgue.com/single-post/2017/03/01/Former-RUE-MORGUE-editor-launches-UNTOLD-HORROR-docu-series-and-Romero-children’s-book-trailer-and-exclusive-pics HorrorMovies.ca Documentary Series ‘Untold Horror’ Will Dive Into the Horror Movies that Never Were Horror Freak News Docuseries “Untold Horrors” Explores Movies That Could Have Been Tom Holland’s Terror Time UNTOLD HORROR: The Mysteries Finally Are Revealed Behind So Many Unseen Greats The Playlist https://theplaylist.net/masters-horror-discuss-unmade-films-trailer-documentary-series-untold-horror-20170303/ The Lowdown Under http://thelowdownunder.com/2017/03/04/untold-horror-trailer/ iHorror ‘Untold Horror’ Delves Into the Depths of Development Hell Horror Domain http://horrordomain.com/forums/topics/posts/index.cfm?f=256&t=27301  

The Little World of Humongo Bongo

March 5, 2017 UntoldHorror 0

George A. Romero is best known for making The Crazies, Creepshow and his seven Dead films, beginning with 1968’s Night of the Living Dead. However, in 1996 the Godfather of the Modern Zombie published his first and only children’s book, The Little World of Humongo Bongo. Both written and illustrated by Romero, it’s the tale of fire-breathing giant Humongo Bongo, who lives on the tiny planet of Tongo. Gentle and curious, his world is thrown upside down when he encounters a race of tiny people named the Minus, who initially worship him as a God but then turn on him when they succumb to fear, greed and the lust for power. Both an imaginative morality tale for pre-teens, and a fascinating vehicle for the social commentary lauded by Romero’s loyal fan base, The Little World of Humongo Bongo is the first Untold Horror release, in a partnership with ChiZine Publications. Previously only released in French for the European market, the story has been resurrected with the involvement of Romero, who will be contributing to this special edition. Watch for it at the end of 2017. More from the ChiZine press release… CHIZINE PUBLICATIONS ANNOUNCES ILLUSTRATED BOOK DEAL WITH GEORGE A. ROMERO PETERBOROUGH, ON, March 1, 2017 – ChiZine Publications (CZP)  announced today the acquisition of The Little World of Humongo Bongo, an illustrated book, originally published in French, by genre legend George A. Romero, best known for Night of the Living Dead, The Crazies, and Creepshow. George Romero sold World English rights (excluding France and Belgium) to Sandra Kasturi and Samantha Beiko, Co-Publishers of CZP, a British Fantasy, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Award-winning independent publisher of surreal, subtle, and disturbing dark literary fiction. The publication is in association with Dave Alexander’s Untold Horror. The Little World of Humongo Bongo is the […]

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