From Zombos' Closet

1975 Famous Monsters Convention Creepy Magazine Ad

Here's a magazine promo (Creepy, issue number 74, back cover) for the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention. (See the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention Program Booklet)

 

1974 Famous Monsters Convention Eerie Magazine Ad

Here's a psychedelic promotion for the first Famous Monsters Convention, held in New York City, 1974; from issue number 61 of Eerie magazine. Between comic conventions and this, I was a very happy young fan back in the 1970s. Only wish I still had the swag I purchased back then. (See the Famous Monsters 1974 Convention Booklet)

 

Creepy's Vampirella Sticker in Full Color

In the words of that crass, smarmy game show guy in Robocop, "I'd buy that for a dollar!" This advertisement is from the inside cover of Creepy, issue number 74.

 

Eerie's Vampirella Movie Advertisement

Still waiting...Hammer? How about The Woman in Red next? This promotion is from the inside cover of Eerie, issue number 70, 1976.

Movie Pressbook: Curse of the Undead (1959)

 

 

 

 

 

Movie Herald: Battle for the Planet of the Apes

This 11" x 17" The Battle for the Planet of the Apes tabloid newspaper herald, which theaters would hand out to promote the movie. Nicely done.

 

 

 

 

Movie Review: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) A Taste of Country Dying

Zombos Says: Very Good

You know the saying, dying's easy, comedy is hard? Try doing horror-comedy, now that's hard. Eli Craig and the rest of the cast and crew of Tucker and Dale vs. Evil do a stellar job playing off usually more serious slasher grint and gore to show the funny bone in awkward body impalements, whizzing buzzsaw head-slicing, woodchippered ground round torsos, and assorted lacerations as hillbillies Tucker and Dale's vacation keeps getting interrupted by a group of city-bred college youngin's who've seen too many horror movies. You'll laugh, you'll cry (from laughing), you'll wonder how grisly death can be so funny. We needed these guys around when Freddy took on Jason.

The way out-of-the-way gas station Allison (Katrina Bowden), Chad (Jesse Moss), Chloe (Chelan Simmons), Chuck (Travis Nelson), Jason (Brandon Jay McLaren), Naomi (Christie Laing), Todd (Alex Arsenault), Mitch (Adam Beauchesne), and Mike (Joseph Sutherland) stop at is typical for The Hills Have Eyes and Wrong Turn kinds of gas stations: shabby, grimy, and frequented by droopy eyed, scruffy types wearing dirty clothes, construction boots, and sour looks. Tucker prods the shy Dale into meeting Allison. Already spooked by the milieu, Dale's greeting, made with a bad stammer and while holding a scythe, scares off Allison and her friends. Tucker continues to lecture Dale on being more assertive as they drive to Tucker's recently purchased dream cabin in the woods, which is also rundown, filled with cobwebs, dirt and dust, and a dangerously loose, nail-studded beam poised to do some serious head-whacking.

This comedy of errors begins its blood-letting when the frat kids, camping nearby, listen intently to Chad's Memorial Day Massacre campfire story about a hillbilly rampage that happened twenty years ago, leaving only one survivor. They laugh it off and go skinny dipping. Allison is startled by Tucker and Dale, who are on the lake fishing. She falls, knocking herself unconscious. Tucker and Dale rescue her and take her to the cabin. Her friends, thinking she's been kidnapped, plan her rescue. Much accidental carnage ensues when hillbilly massacre-primed college students stumble, run, and turn abruptly into sharp objects each time they confront Tucker, who's not very good with power tools to begin with. Inside the cabin Allison wakes up, and after her initial fright learns that Dale is actually a nice guy, and very smart, when he pulls out the board games. We also learn Allison is a nice girl and also smart.

Meanwhile, her friends are dropping faster than whack-a-mole. Mike's full-body slam dunk into the woodchipper leaves Tucker and Dale holding incriminating evidence when the sheriff (Philip Granger) pulls up. The sheriff steps into close proximity of the nail-studded beam, which results in more screaming and panic from Allison's friends. She tries to explain how they've got it all wrong, but now they think she's suffering from the Stockholm Syndrome.

Somewhat like the comedy duo of Abbott and Costello, Tucker plays straight man to Dale's fall guy, but it's Dale who must save Allison from the psycho-killer suddenly popping up. Backwoods horror characters and situations are refreshingly skewed: the beautiful blond is approachable and wants to be a psychologist; the unsophisticated hillbillies are kind-hearted, average guys--on vacation; the sophisticated college kids expertly self-destruct; and the sheriff is ineffective (oh wait, that's to type, actually).

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is one of those rare events: a festival-shown horror movie that's actually intelligently produced, well acted, witty, gory, and surprising in that it didn't get a wider theatrical release in the U.S. I hope Tucker and Dale go on another vacation real soon.

Mexican Lobby Card: Night of Dark Shadows

I always envied David Selby's sideburns and long hair. Now more than ever. This movie, Night of Dark Shadows, less so. Then again, I wouldn't mind having Grayson Hall's hair, either.

Mexican Lobby Card: Night Creatures (1962)

Here's the Mexican lobby card for Hammer's Night Creatures (aka Captain Clegg). Go here to see the pressbook.

El Fantasma De La Rue Morgue Mexican Lobby Card

Mexican Lobby Card: Voodoo Island

Mexican Lobby Card: La Sangre De Nostradamus

The inimitable German Robles and a colorful, sophisticated illustration provide the menace in another beautiful example of Mexican lobby card movie promotion.