Latest news with #80s
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Eighties movie bombshell unrecognizable after quitting fame and stalker hell – can you guess who?
AN 80s bombshell looks unrecognizable after quitting fame - but can you guess who it is? The star- now 67 - stepped out in Los Angeles for a cigarette, showing off her tanned legs in a pair of white frayed denim shorts. 5 While a wide-brimmed straw hat obscured her face a bit, her trademark long blonde hair hung down around her shoulders as she walked. Since finding fame in the 80s, the actress has switched the big and small screen for writing. But if anyone remembers the series The Fall Guy, they will hopefully remember its star, Heather Thomas. Heather played stunt woman Jody Banks alongside legendary co-stars Lee Majors and Douglas Bars. The trio of stunt performers also worked as bounty hunters, and the series ran from 1981 to 1986. After it was axed, Heather continued to work in Hollywood, starring in films including 1982's Zapped!, Cyclone (1987) and Against the Law (1997). However, her fame came at a price as she was repeatedly targeted by stalkers, which ultimately drove her away from Tinseltown. Speaking about her stalker hell, Heather told the Still Here Hollywood podcast in March: "Really bad, at least two a week. I had tons of restraining orders. "I had two little girls, and a guy's jumping our gate with a giant buck knife. "In those days, I don't know if this is true now, but people would fixate. The Fall Guy review - An action-packed comedy that wears its absurdity with pride "You could be in a soap commercial, and they would fixate on you, and there weren't a lot of stalker laws, and I just needed to be home anyway." Heather - who is now a screenwriter, activist and author - also revealed how she was sent a "box of bullets" and "funeral wreaths" stolen from graves. She continued: "And I know I had one guy one night cut my screen in my bedroom and got in and I shot him, and yeah, with rock salt and birdshot." The star has three daughters with her entertainment lawyer husband Skip Brittenham. The couple married in 1992 and she admits it took "a couple of years" even once she had stepped out of the limelight for the stalker hell to finally die down. Meanwhile, The Fall Guy was turned into a film in 2024 - starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt - with Heather making a cameo. 5
CNET
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
This Pitch-Perfect '80s Horror Throwback Hits All the Right Notes and It's Free on Tubi
Tons of movies try to pull off the vibe of classic 1980s horror movies but it's not as easy as dropping in some neon spandex and sprawling synthesizers. One film that does a fantastic job of capturing the "Me Decade" horror aesthetic is The House of the Devil (2009) and you can stream it free right now on Tubi. If you're in the mood for slow-burn suspense with serious '80s horror vibes, The House of the Devil should be at the top of your list. Directed by Ti West, this retro thriller ditches cheap scares in favor of creeping dread and pitch-perfect atmosphere. It's a masterclass in tension, channeling cult classics like Halloween and When a Stranger Calls with a modern edge. The story centers on Samantha, a broke college student who accepts a mysterious babysitting gig in an eerie old mansion. What starts as a quiet night quickly unravels into something much darker. With its grainy visuals, vintage soundtrack and escalating unease, this one sticks with you-and it's streaming for free on Tubi. This horror flick is gory, grim and shockingly true to its vintage setting. MPI Movie Group/Screenshot by CNET From the opening credits, The House of the Devil sets the tone with a ridiculously accurate and detailed retro aesthetic. It doesn't just take place in the 1980s -- it feels like it was made then. The grainy film texture, era-appropriate costumes and hair are absolutely perfect. It's set to a curated soundtrack with tracks including The Fixx's One Thing Leads To Another and The Greg Kihn Band's The Break Up Song. The movie doesn't just feel like it's dressing up in '80s tropes but like it was birthed from that time. The movie was shot on 16mm film, creating its specialized throwback look. It lifts cinematography straight from '80s filmmakers along with a slew of other techniques to evoke classics of the era. Everything, down to the credits, is period accurate and I appreciated all the attention given to making sure everything matches, down to the cups at the pizza restaurant seen early in the movie. The Ulmans have a secret reason why they hired Sam to watch "Mother." MPI Movie Group/Screenshot by CNET Sam realizes something is amiss when she stumbles upon proof that the family who hired her for the babysitting job isn't the same one in the photos. Realizing she might have been deceived, she attempts a 911 call but she's already eaten a piece of tainted pizza. She passes out just as she gets a glimpse of what exactly it is she's been hired to "babysit." The movie's path is fraught with grisly moments (just ask Sam's best friend Megan, played by Barbie director Greta Gerwig), with believably gruesome practical effects that unsettle and chill to the bone. The hideous "Mother," who Sam discovers is connected to her original job, is an example of '80s filmmaking that would have made audiences sick to their stomachs. Sam's friend Megan is not pleased at all by the situation at the Ulmans' house. MPI Movie Group/Screenshot by CNET Without spoiling the climax, The House of the Devil maintains a gnawing, upsetting sense of dread throughout its runtime. It isn't afraid to use themes of isolation, the unknown and betrayal to keep you on the edge of your seat, which I appreciated on my first viewing and only grew to love more with each rewatch. As horrific as the story is, I firmly believe that this movie wouldn't have been possible without its commitment to staying true to the era that inspired it. If you're looking for a horror movie that doesn't rely on cheap jump scares or the overwrought parable "sex is bad" with a group of teens being picked off one by one, The House of the Devil is one of the best flicks you could put on your Halloween viewing list. It brings the golden years of '80s horror to life in believable, decadent ways that'll have you squirming in your seat. I'm still unpacking the gagworthy climax and I bet you will be too.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Iconic '80s star looks shockingly youthful on his 60th birthday during rare outing... can you guess who it is?
One of the most beloved stars of the '80s left fans stunned by how youthful he looked while celebrating his 60th birthday on Thursday. The actor — best known for playing Bill opposite Keanu Reeves ' Ted in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure — was spotted during a rare public outing in Los Angeles. The appearance comes just a month after his reunion with Keanu at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, where the iconic duo thrilled longtime fans. Looking upbeat as he ran errands at a local dry cleaner, the birthday boy kept it casual in a black polo T-shirt and cargo pants — a far cry from his bloodsucking role as Marko in The Lost Boys with Kiefer Sutherland. Longtime fans may also recognize the London-born actor from his 2013 comeback in the thriller Grand Piano, starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack. So… can you guess the star? If you said Alex Winter, you nailed it! Just weeks ago, Alex and Keanu sent fans into a frenzy when they reunited on the red carpet at the Tony Awards, held June 8 at Radio City Music Hall. Sporting sleek black tuxedos, the longtime friends looked a far cry from their iconic roles as the chill, time-hopping teens who once wrangled historical figures for a school project in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. The crowd went wild not only for the nostalgic reunion but also for the actors' shockingly youthful looks—nearly four decades after they first teamed up on screen. Their glowing appearance came as they promoted their upcoming Broadway debut in Waiting for Godot, a major stage event set for 2025 under the direction of Jamie Lloyd. Reeves — famously dubbed the nicest guy in Hollywood — will take on the role of Estragon, while Winter will portray Vladimir in the modern revival. 'We're incredibly excited to be on stage together and work with the great Jamie Lloyd in one of our favorite plays,' Reeves and Winter shared in a joint statement. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure was a surprise hit when it premiered in 1989, pulling in over $40 million at the box office on a $10 million budget. If you said Alex Winter, you nailed it!; (pictured July 13 at Smurfs premiere) Just weeks ago, Alex and Keanu sent fans into a frenzy when they reunited on the red carpet at the Tony Awards, held June 8 at Radio City Music Hall The success sparked a 1991 sequel, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, which saw the duo navigating heaven, hell, and everything in between—and built a dedicated cult following. Nearly thirty years later, they returned once again for Bill & Ted Face the Music in 2020, proving their chemistry hadn't aged a day. Outside of Bill & Ted, Winter is also known for his roles in cult classics like The Lost Boys, Freaked, and Death Wish 3. He's also made a name for himself behind the camera, directing acclaimed documentaries such as Downloaded, Deep Web, and HBO's Showbiz Kids. Winter has one son and largely keeps his personal life out of the spotlight—though fans have never stopped cheering him on.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
A Flock Of Seagulls' Mike Score Talks Playing On ‘Lost 80s Live!' RetroTour
ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 26: Singer Mike Score of the band the Flock of Seagulls performs onstage ... More during KEarth's Totally 80's Show at Honda Center on January 26, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by) More than 40 years after they first burst onto the scene with radio-friendly hits like 'I Ran (So Far Away),' 'Space Age Love Song' and 'Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)' and stylish videos, the British synthpop band A Flock of Seagulls is still performing to audiences and recording music. And although the era of big hair, pastels and Pac-Man has long gone, A Flock of Seagulls and their '80s contemporaries left an indelible imprint on pop culture with their New Wave sound and look. 'I think anything that keeps our name upfront somewhere is good,' says Mike Score, the band's founding singer. 'Suddenly, you find out that every era has some great music…And a lot of new bands, I think, are very inspired by the '80s with a bit of '90s and of what's going on now. So it's basically a case of: you just stick with it, stick by your guns, and it'll come back around for you.' This summer, A Flock of Seagulls is back on stage again for this year's installment of Lost 80s Live!, the long–running 1980s retro tour for which the band has been a regular staple. The tour, which kicks off on July 31 in New Haven, Connecticut, also features such artists as China Crisis, Big Country, the Vapors, Josie Cotton, Belouis Some, General Public, Polecats, Peter Godwin and the Icicle Works, — all of whom will be performing their biggest and well-known hits from that decade. 'We do it every year,' Score says. 'I think we missed one — I don't know whether it was last year or two years ago. When you're gigging all the time, you just forget what you've just done. You do a gig, you move on, you're onto the next one. Suddenly, you know you've been on tour for four or five months. And you're like, 'Where did the time go?' It's very strange.' To Score, the appeal of Lost 80s Live! is that there are no backstage egos but rather a spirit of respect and camaraderie among the different acts. 'It's great,' he says. 'The main thing there is that all the bands know each other. We're all happy to be doing it. 'The crowds are great,' he continues. 'Usually, they know all the songs from everybody. So they're all singing along. They're all having a good time. And that comes from them to the band. So you know by the time we go on, we're having a good time. It's just a good vibe all around.' It's a guarantee at Lost 80s Live! that Score and his band will play their famous hits that defined '80s pop music. It all began in Liverpool in 1979 when Score, his drummer brother Ali Score and bassist Frank Maudsley founded the group; guitarist Paul Reynolds later joined, solidifying the classic lineup. UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 01: Photo of Frank MAUDSLEY and Paul REYNOLDS and Ali SCORE and FLOCK OF ... More SEAGULLS and Mike SCORE; L-R: Ali Score, Mike Score, Frank Maudsley, Paul Reynolds - posed, group shot, studio (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) 'In the old days with the original guys, it was just fun,' Score recalls. 'It was so weird that we rehearsed probably for a year every night for like six or seven hours and wrote a bunch of songs. Somebody heard them. We did a gig. And, I think, like a month after that, we got this huge deal with Zomba Records.' Released in 1982, A Flock of Seagulls' self-titled debut album became a huge success, featuring such songs as 'I Ran (So Far Away),' 'Space Age Love Song,' 'Telecomunication,' 'Messages' and the Grammy-winning 'D.N.A.' The band's music was a perfect amalgam of futuristic electronic pop and guitar-charged rock. 'When you've got an album like that, you've got to realize that it took a year to write,' says Score of A Flock of Seagulls. 'We rehearsed five or six nights a week. And every night, I would say we would write two new songs. So you're talking maybe 100-150 ideas that came down to maybe 10 or 12 ideas, and that became the first album,' he says. Of the classic lineup, Score says: 'The chemistry was there. We had a ball when we were rehearsing. We always had a great time. And we knew that we were writing some good stuff. But even so, we thought, 'We're going to get a deal here. We're going to get a single out or something.' We didn't expect the five-year deal from Zomba. That came as a big surprise.' 'I Ran' was the runaway hit that introduced the U.S. to A Flock of Seagulls ('When we played it to people, they were like, 'That song is amazing. It's got synths. It's got guitars. It's got rhythm. It's got a story. It's got everything,'' Score remembers). The song's accompanying video gave further exposure to the group, who became recognized for their look, particularly Score's distinctive and unforgettable hairstyle. 'It's indescribable, really,' he says of making it in the States. 'I remember we arrived in New York to do a couple of club shows. 'Telecommunication' was pretty big on the dance charts by then. And 'I Ran' was just starting to scratch around the Top 100. We got off the plane and we got into a limo. As we went to New York, 'I Ran' came on [the radio]. We were stunned. It's like, 'How do they know this song here in New York?' We all just looked at each other and it was smiles from ear to ear, and 'Wow, we're in America.'' During that period, A Flock of Seagulls not only became MTV staples but also toured with the Go-Go's and the Police and headlined themselves. 'We were going up and up and up,' Score says. 'It was literally a case of 'Do not look down. It's too far. If we can't stay this high, it's going to be a hell of a fall.' We just closed our eyes and kept going.' For A Flock of Seagulls, writing and recording the second album, 1983's Listen, was a bit of a challenge, although it yielded another hit in 'Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You).' 'We had no time to write it at all,' Score recalls. 'So that's where you fall into the trap of second-album problems. We did the second album straight on tour. I think we recorded it in three or four weeks but straight back out on tour because the first album was still doing well. The second album was riding on the back of it.' The group's third album, 1984's The Story of a Young Heart, produced another hit single in "The More You Live, the More You Love." Its reflective and moody tone departed from the first two band albums, as indicated on the poignant 'Remember David,' which was inspired by the death of Score's best friend from school. 'I wrote that whole album about him. I went into rehearsal every day, and I wrote a new song for 12 days or something like that. Steve Lovell, who was going to be our producer, was with me and he'd make his production notes. Then we brought the band in to work on it. The whole thing is about that except 'The More You Live.' I had a relationship that broke up. And my mom said to me, 'Don't worry, lad. The more you live, the more you love.' So that became the inspiration for that song.' By the end of the 1980s, the departures of Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds left Mike Score as the only member from the popular lineup. 'We'd lived in each other's pockets for a couple of years, and things happen,' he says. 'You're all in the same hotel room. You're all traveling together. You're playing together. You're getting drunk together. Your wildness comes out on tour and you're having a great time, and you end up getting on each other's nerves. And after three years, we split.' During this period, Score moved to the U.S., where he has since lived for many years. 'The girl I was going out with at the time just said, 'Come over here and hang out for a bit.' So that's what I did. My brother married an American girl, so he moved. I think Frank stayed in England. He was back and forth for a bit. But now I live between England and America. I love going back to England. Because I've been here so long. I'm an American citizen now. So to me, America is home and England is a second home.' Although there were many personnel changes in the group with Score being the constant, the classic lineup reunited for the albums Ascension (2018) and String Theory (2021). 'I wouldn't say we're best friends now, but we are friends again,' Score says. 'We got together and did a few things, the orchestral stuff. That was good fun, but I don't know if we could all live together again and do stuff on the road.' In addition to touring, Score released new A Flock of Seagulls music in 2024 as the Some Dreams album. "I never stopped writing songs,' he says. "In fact, I was trying to write a song before, and I was just like, 'You've lost it, man.' But I'll give it another go this afternoon and I just sit down at the computer with a guitar or something and start playing. And if the song comes out, great. If it doesn't, there's always tomorrow. We didn't stop in the '80s. And there are new songs that they may go for. Who knows?' 'Some of the songs, even on the new album, I experimented a bit,' he says. 'But I also have to reach back to where my inspirations came from. I look back at our first album, and sometimes I go, "Oh, this one sounds like it could have been on the first album.' Then I write it that way. Then other songs, I go, 'Well, this one's not particularly Seagulls, but it's got a Seagulls core.' And then I try and push that into a more experimental area.' The durability of A Flock of Seagulls' music lives on through the Lost 80s Live! tour. which is not only an opportunity for fans of the band and members of Generation X to relive the music of their youth, but also for younger people to experience the 1980s. 'A lot of people bring their kids to that,' Score says. 'And of course, they're showing the kids the music they liked. To us, that is great because it helps it carry on to another generation. We've been going, I don't know, 42 years or something silly like that now. Personally, I like it when a little kid comes along and he's got my old hairdo. He's a baby Seagull, you know what I mean.'
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Frankie Freako review – cheap and cheesy comedy horror channels 80s schlock
Canadian writer-director Steven Kostanski has been one of the creative forces behind a bunch of silly-sweet horror pictures such as The Void and PG: Psycho Goreman that appear to skew towards a younger demographic. Or perhaps his target audience is really the gen X crowd that never outgrew its affection for 1980s fare such as Critters or Gremlins, cheap and cheesy schlock reliant on practical special effects. Luckily, the latter happens to be Kostanski's speciality; he's also worked as a prosthetic FX artist on bigger budget films such as Crimson Peak and the TV series Hannibal. All of that comes together for this daft comedy horror farrago, seemingly set in the 80s, about a nebbishy Canadian office worker called Conor (Conor Sweeney). Conor's beige jumper alone bespeaks a man deeply risk averse and afraid of having fun, even when his marriage to Kristina (Kristy Wordsworth) is on the line. Stung by criticism from his pony-tailed boss (Adam Brooks) for one that his presentations on subdivisions lack 'spice', Conor calls a hotline advertising a nebulous but supposedly fun-enhancing service supplied by gremlin Frankie Freako (voiced by Matthew Kennedy). Frankie is effectively a puppet, less than a metre tall, who looks like someone dipped a Muppet in latex, covered it in caustic soda, and then ran a car over it a few times. The phone call enables him – and two less interesting, similarly ugly puppet creatures – to travel across dimensions to wreak havoc at Conor's house, like the Cat in the Hat but without the feline charm or rhyme schemes, but way more fart jokes. At least Sweeney has good enough comic timing to make the thinly written dialogue sound vaguely amusing; he's also adept at making his many reaction shots exaggerated just enough to tickle without descending into outright mugging. Elsewhere, the words 'freak', 'freaky' and cognates from that root are used so often that a drinking game in which players down a shot each time they are uttered would trigger alcohol poisoning after 20 minutes or less. Frankie Freako is on digital platforms from 14 July.
