How Them! Changed Sci-Fi Horror Forever | Retro Cinema Classics

 Written By Ken Hulsey

Back in 1954, monster movies were experiencing an exciting revival. At Universal Pictures, the team was gearing up to release "Creature From The Black Lagoon," the last of their classic monster lineup. Meanwhile, over in Japan, Toho was wrapping up their own monster epic, "Gojira" (or Godzilla), which would kick off a legendary film series lasting five decades. At Warner Bros, director Gordon Douglas and producer David Weisbart were busy working on their own creature feature, "Them!" This film introduced audiences to colossal ants that emerged as a result of atomic testing in the New Mexico desert. Little did Douglas and Weisbart know, "Them!" would significantly alter the direction of American monster movies for the next twenty years.

How House of Wax Changed Horror Movies Forever | Retro Cinema Classics

"House of Wax," released in 1953, is a classic American horror film that showcases the incredible talent of Vincent Price. Directed by André De Toth, this film is noteworthy not only for its chilling storyline but also for being part of the early 1950s 3-D film craze. It serves as a remake of the earlier 1933 film, "Mystery of the Wax Museum," and has earned its place as a true gem in the horror genre.

PRIMITIVE WAR - Live-Action Film Adaption Of Book/Comic Series | First Look

Director Luke Sparke (Occupation Rainfall, Bring Him To Me) continues filming his latest project, PRIMITIVE WAR, based on the cult-followed book by Ethan Pettus. In the film, a squad of 1968 Vietnam War soldiers discovers that dinosaurs have been unleashed in the jungles.

Vulture Squad, a recon unit, is dispatched to an isolated jungle valley to investigate the disappearance of a Green Beret platoon, only to discover they are not the only ones there. This prehistoric sci-fi film boasts dinosaurs that are more scientifically and historically accurate than those in other similar movies. Additionally, it blends action, survival-horror, and war elements into a compelling narrative.

Horror Director James Wan Linked To Creature From the Black Lagoon Remake

By Ken Hulsey

It looks like Universal Studios is eyeing a series of Monsterverse films of their own. Reports are surfacing that the studio is set to hire veteran horror director James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring and Insidious) to direct a remake of the 1954 film Creature From the Black Lagoon that is reportedly being written by Wil Beal (Aquaman). It is also being reported that remakes of The Invisible Man and Wolfman are also in the works. Prior to being linked with the Creature, Wan was believed to be working on a Call Of Cthulhu film. It now seems that the Cthulhu project will be put on hold.

About a decade or so ago there were numerous Creature remakes that entered some form of production before being scrapped. In 2009 Vincent Guastini was hired by Universal to redesign the monster ( his work is featured in the photo left) for a proposed remake that was to be directed by Carl Erik Rinsch (47 Ronin), which never happened. 

Likewise, a year later, Halcyon International Pictures teamed up with the publishers of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine in an attempt to produce a series of remakes featuring Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, Wolfman and the Creature. Again none of those films were ever made.