House of the Wolfman Update

[Count_Zirock]

I believe some of the folks involved in this film will be at Mad Monster Party in March. I intend to ask about the possibility of a sequel then.

[Count_Zirock]

I didn't get to go to Mad Monster Party back in March, so I didn't get to talk with Eben McGarr about the sequel. But, Eben has said he hopes to have Ron Chaney at Mad Monster Party 2013, so maybe they'll announce something then.

[Haunted hearse]

I just learned about this film on another thread.  The trailer looks interesting.

[Count_Zirock]

I just learned about this film on another thread.  The trailer looks interesting.

They were pretty period-authentic!
short trailer

[Sean]

They were pretty period-authentic!
short trailer

That looks awesome and the music is wonderful!

[aura of foreboding]

That looks awesome and the music is wonderful!

It's amazing how different notes can emit the same feel!

[Count_Zirock]

I watched this again last night. They got more right than they did wrong. The feel of the movie, the atmosphere, the music, the sets and costumes ... all were terrific! The make-ups for the monsters were outstanding. Just imagine what they could've achieved with an even slightly bigger budget. (The climactic battle would truly benefit from a Foley artist, rather than the on-set sound they used.) I'd love to see them do "House of the Mummy," or whatever would be next. "House of the Invisible Man" is a bit cumbersome, though. How about "House of the Bride," huh? Isn't it time she was finally resurrected?

[Count_Zirock]

Even though it may be "a mixed bag", I bought it to support the efforts that go into personal films like this.  For me "Dark Shadows" was a mixed bag, and I'll bet the budget for this film was only a fraction of what Tim Burton spent on his Horror tribute.

It was probably just a fraction of the catering budget on Burton's "Dark Shadows"!
Yeah, I like to support these low-budget efforts, too. I plunked down $10 at Wal-Mart for a copy of "Creature." Again, a mixed bag, but it was a pretty cool throwback to '80s-style horror, with lots of gore, gratuitous nudity, a guy in a rubber monster suit, and Sid Haig!

[gnrbaby]

Why all the Tim Burton hate? He's made way more good films than bad (I hated Alice In Wonderland) and his style is one of a kind

[horror1o1]

Why all the Tim Burton hate? He's made way more good films than bad (I hated Alice In Wonderland) and his style is one of a kind

I really like Tim Burton as well and his style is cool but one of a kind I think not. Watch "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and you'll see what I mean. He's borrowed lots from this film.

[Count_Zirock]

Why all the Tim Burton hate? He's made way more good films than bad (I hated Alice In Wonderland) and his style is one of a kind.

Part of the Burton backlash is due to the perception that he's sold out. That he now makes the type of bloviated, pretentious garbage ("Planet of the Apes," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Alice in Wonderland," "Dark Shadows") that his early career railed against. I'm not sure if it's so much hate as it is frustration and disappointment. He's just made some poor artistic choices recently.

I'm hoping "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" (which he produced), "Frankenweenie," and his animated Addams Family film are more akin to his earlier work. But, I gotta admit, I'm not holding out much hope for "Beetlejuice 2."

[gnrbaby]

I really like Tim Burton as well and his style is cool but one of a kind I think not. Watch "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and you'll see what I mean. He's borrowed lots from this film.

I'll check it out. All great and not so great directors "borrow" though. We are influenced by something it's natural.

Part of the Burton backlash is due to the perception that he's sold out. That he now makes the type of bloviated, pretentious garbage ("Planet of the Apes," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Alice in Wonderland," "Dark Shadows") that his early career railed against. I'm not sure if it's so much hate as it is frustration and disappointment. He's just made some poor artistic choices recently.

I'm hoping "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" (which he produced), "Frankenweenie," and his animated Addams Family film are more akin to his earlier work. But, I gotta admit, I'm not holding out much hope for "Beetlejuice 2."

I feel ya and you are not wrong. Though I did appreciate Charlie and Dark Shadows, and hated Apes and Alice, I see what you mean in that he hasn't made a great film for a long time. I liked Charlie because it's weird and absurd and Dark Shadows because it felt like an ode to his earlier work (I wasn't familiar with the classic DS) but they are not "great" Burton films on the same token.

[horror1o1]

I'll check it out. All great and not so great directors "borrow" though. We are influenced by something it's natural.

I feel ya and you are not wrong. Though I did appreciate Charlie and Dark Shadows, and hated Apes and Alice, I see what you mean in that he hasn't made a great film for a long time. I liked Charlie because it's weird and absurd and Dark Shadows because it felt like an ode to his earlier work (I wasn't familiar with the classic DS) but they are not "great" Burton films on the same token.

Oh ya everyone borrows from something. I still enjoy Tim's stuff.

[Count_Zirock]

Part of the Burton backlash is due to the perception that he's sold out. That he now makes the type of bloviated, pretentious garbage ("Planet of the Apes," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Alice in Wonderland," "Dark Shadows") that his early career railed against. I'm not sure if it's so much hate as it is frustration and disappointment. He's just made some poor artistic choices recently.

I feel ya and you are not wrong. Though I did appreciate Charlie and Dark Shadows, and hated Apes and Alice, I see what you mean in that he hasn't made a great film for a long time. I liked Charlie because it's weird and absurd and Dark Shadows because it felt like an ode to his earlier work (I wasn't familiar with the classic DS) but they are not "great" Burton films on the same token.

I wasn't saying those are "my" feelings about Burton, but a distillation of opinions I've read on the UMA, as well as at other sites. To a certain extent, I do agree that Burton has lost his way. And I think his days as Hollywood's pale, dark-haired (well, gray-haired now) wonder-child are over. He needs a hit, badly. "Dark Shadows" could've been that hit, but he strayed too far afield from his source inspiration, I feel. Maybe "Frankenweenie" or "Van Lincoln" will do it. Maybe not. If they tank, it may be a long time before he gets $150 million to play with again.

As for "House of the Wolf Man," this was a reverse situation of "Dark Shadows." With the barest of resources, John and Eben McGarr put together a loving tribute to the classic Universal Monsters films we all enjoy. It's not perfect, but it has more talent and heart than 1999's "The Mummy" and "Van Helsing" combined.

[Count_Zirock]

Shockingly, "House of the Wolf Man" appears to have gone out of print. If you haven't picked up a copy, they now go for $50-$100 on Amazon & eBay. There is a company offering DVD-R copies.
http://www.raredvds.biz/House_Of_The_Wolf_Man_Wolfman_DVD_2010_Ron_Chaney_p/house_wolfman.htm