scream queens Tagged Articles at Cinematical

One of the things I love best about the internet is that people post movie-related lists and then other people get to comment on all the things the lists did wrong (or, sometimes, did right). Today, in anticipation of this week's Sorority Row, Moviefone posted a list of the ten sexiest scream queens. It's a fun list, and it's wise enough to go all the way back to Fay Wray (King Kong) and Janet Leigh (Psycho), and it includes two essentials: Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) and Marilyn Burns (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). It also includes Shannon Elizabeth, a dubious choice for films like Jack Frost, 13 Ghosts and Cursed (although I'm glad someone has thrown Cursed back into the ring; it's silly but it's also sexy, well-acted and very sharply directed by Wes Craven).

I like Adrienne Barbeau as a choice, too, even though she's really only a "scream queen" in one movie, The Fog (1980). She was a regular in exploitation movies, but she was tougher than usual and enjoyed a fairly wide range of parts, not just "scream queens." And I'm a big fan of both Neve Campbell and the Scream movies. But here's a question. I have to ask, what happened to the original Scream Queens from 1980s exploitation and B-movies? Brinke Stevens, Monique Gabrielle, Linnea Quigley and Michelle Bauer practically patented the term. Starring in films like Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), Nightmare Sisters (1987), Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987), Vice Academy (1988), Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988), Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988) and The Return of the Swamp Thing (1989).

From Troma to indie superheroes to to cartoon adaptations to big-time monster-fests, James Gunn is a filmmaker I like to keep an eye on from time to time. I find his Slither to be a supremely entertaining mixture of comedy and horror, his The Specials a very funny little comedy (at least a whole lot funnier than the similar Mystery Men), and his Tromeo & Juliet the finest thing ever produced by Lloyd Kaufman's Troma team. And while director Zack Snyder did a great job on the Dawn of the Dead remake, let's not forget who penned the adaptation: Gunn did it. Basically, if I had the skills required to write and direct movies, they'd probably look a lot like James Gunn's flicks -- only with more nudity. (Oh, and check out LolliLove some time. Funny little film.)

So when we got a late call during Comic-Con asking us if we'd like to do a brief sit-down with Jimmy Gunn, I said "Heck, yeah. That guy's a nut." (That was literally what I said. Ask Erik.) And since I'd actually met James once before, it was much more laid-back than your typical interview. James Gunn is sort of like a grown-up child, which I mean as a compliment, and that always makes an interview a bit more entertaining. Plus he has great taste in schlock.

Since other networks haven't been successful with reality shows featuring aspiring Hollywood writers and directors, VH1 has decided to move on to aspiring actresses with a new show called Scream Queens. The Hollywood Reporter tells us Scream Queens will be a new series from Lionsgate that will give 10 unknown actresses the chance to compete for "a major role in a horror movie from Lionsgate Films." Major role, huh? Will she be ... the fourth to die in a cast that includes, say, seven? If so, that's pretty damn major.

The series, which will include challenges (who can scream the loudest?) and acting tips from coach John Homa, will consist of eight hour-long episodes and premieres this fall. I don't know about this one, folks. As much as I love and support aspiring actors and actresses, the talent in horror films isn't exactly top notch these days. Then again, should VH1 hire Flavor Flav to host a segment and dress their contestants in half-naked horror digs, perhaps they'll attract a pretty large audience. The experiment should be a fascinating one to watch, knowing VH1 and their fabulous eye for sluts and drama. Will you tune in?