Latest news with #Cujo
Daily Record
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Stephen King's two under-appreciated novels that left me in tears'
Stephen King has written hundreds of novels, but two of his most under-appreciated books have left one reader in tears - and they're not the ones you'd expect Stephen King's plethora of spine-chilling novels, from The Shining to IT, and Cujo, have cemented his place in popular culture. Yet, some of King's works remained under the radar, often overshadowed by his more famous titles or because King chose to write them under a pseudonym. His alter ego Richard Bachman was responsible for penning titles including Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), The Running Man (1982), Thinner (1984), The Regulators (1995), and Blaze (2007). There's a particular novel originally released under King's alias that ranks as one of my all-time favourite reads, a book so poignant it left me absolutely heartbroken, though now it typically appears bearing Stephen King's name. Which books unexpectedly drew tears from me? It was Blaze and Elevation. I approached them with no inkling they'd stir such emotion, unlike The Green Mile, which I believe is bound to make any reader weep. Blaze The plot of Blaze, revolves around Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell Jr, a mentally challenged petty criminal. Following the death of his partner in crime, George Rackley, Blaze is set on realising their ultimate scheme: kidnapping the child of an affluent family. Despite George being dead, Blaze perceives his voice directing him, as King unfolds the saddening backstory intertwined with the gripping narrative of the abduction and Blaze's attempts to outsmart the law. All I can urge is please, please, please, disregard the 3.77/5 review score on Goodreads and give this a chance. If you're someone who only reads books that are four stars and above, I'm going to need you to trust me with this one, because it's worth it. It's not my favourite Stephen King book of all time, but it pulled at my heartstrings in a way that I've never experienced before. The empathy I felt for Blaze was unparalleled. His upbringing was tough, and as a result, he's had a difficult adulthood. You should detest him, loathe what he's done, but King's writing implores you to think a bit deeper about it. Stop taking life at face value, and ponder more about why people behave the way they do. Sometimes you don't have to see the world in black and white, and it is in the grey areas that we find the most empathy for our fellow humans. I really connected with that message! Elevation It bagged a Goodreads choice award in 2018 for being 'Readers' Favourite Horror,' which is a tad confusing, actually, as I found it more of a tale about humanity, rather than horror. The story trails Scott Carey, a middle-aged man who is experiencing a mysterious and unexplained phenomenon: he is steadily losing weight, but his appearance does not alter. No matter how much he weighs on the scale, his body looks the same, and he can wear the same clothes. Even more peculiarly, objects he carries or touches lose weight along with him. The book, with its length, is more akin to a novella. Yet, it packs so much into its pages, and the ending, though unexpected, left me heartbroken. It's bound to stir your emotions, particularly with the rapid character development within such a brief span of time. The novel taught me never to take anything for granted. It may sound cliché, but we must live each day to its fullest. Whether you're heading to the office or simply living your daily life, romanticise every aspect - because one day, we'll all be gone.
Associated Press
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Indie Horror Meets Iconic Talent: Production Kicks Off With Dee Wallace in Thriller/Horror 'The Licked Hand'
Urban Legend Becomes Feature Film at Last PHOENIX, ARIZONA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / The highly anticipated horror-thriller 'The Licked Hand' has kicked off production in Arizona, starring iconic 'Scream Queen' Dee Wallace (E.T., Cujo, The Howling) alongside her terrifying antagonist, played by Ben Milliken (Bosch, Blue Crush 2, Run & Gun).Dee Wallace in Stream (2024) Directed by Adad Joel Warda and written by Levi Gordon and Warda, 'The Licked Hand' brings the chilling urban legend to life in a modern reimagining, which balances psychological terror with raw emotion - a gap often left by major studio budget-cutbacks. The film features Wallace as Eleanor, an elderly widow whose stormy night takes a sinister turn when a deranged fugitive invades her isolated Victorian home. Like so many indie productions seeking more favorable tax credits outside of California, the production team opted to film in Arizona. 'Horror is the most profitable genre for a reason - it taps into our primal fears,' said Warda. 'With Dee Wallace and a story steeped in urban mythology, I want to deliver the kind of tension and authenticity today's audiences crave.' Wallace's attachment to the project underscores a larger movement: seasoned actors lending their gravitas to independent projects that offer creative freedom and bold storytelling. 'I love this script! I love its intensity and how much it will challenge me to use every ounce of my talent,' said Wallace just prior to kicking off production. As Hollywood navigates post-pandemic shifts in audience preferences, indie producers like Jason Martinez and Jamie Ohlsen leverage low-budget roots with indie films like 'The Licked Hand' to offer fresh alternatives to cookie-cutter blockbusters. With its universal appeal, franchise potential, and built-in fanbase from the original urban legend, the team feels the film is primed for success across multiple distribution channels. Production Details: For updates, follow 'The Licked Hand' on Instagram ( @thelickedhand ) and visit Media Contact (for Written or Live Interview Requests): Layla O'Shea Co-Producer [email protected] 413-544-1689 AdadFilms: Award-winning production company founded by Assyrian-American filmmaker Adad Joel Warda, blending international aesthetics with emotional storytelling across 15 countries. 'The Licked Hand' marks the company's feature debut after two decades of acclaimed shorts and global commercial work. Ohlsen Productions: Los Angeles-based company founded by actor-producer Jamie Ohlsen, known for diverse content including 'The Hard Hit' (Richard T. Jones) and 'Wrong For Right' (Omar Gooding). The company leverages strong industry relationships to create commercially viable independent films. A Levi Gordon Production: Executive Producer and writer Levi Gordon brings his storytelling to 'The Licked Hand' following the award-winning short film 'The Hard R,' and multiple features currently in production. Contact InformationLayla O'Shea 413-544-1689 SOURCE: The Licked Hand Movie press release
Buzz Feed
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
'80s Child Actors, Then And Now
Child stars are without a doubt some of the most fascinating people in all of Hollywood. While they obviously age out of child acting roles, it sometimes feels like they're frozen at the age they became famous, especially for those of us who constantly rewatch old TV shows and movies. We've covered the "then and now" transformations for '90s–'10s child stars — but if you thought those were shocking, hold onto your hats, because we're going back to the '80s today! And seeing these people all grown up is low-key making me rethink the entire aging process. So here we go: your fave '80s child stars, then and now... First, here is Raven-Symoné from The Cosby Show at age 5: And here she is now, age 39: Here is Ricky Schroder from Silver Spoons at age 13: And here he is now, age 55: This was actually from 2020, so he was technically 50 in this photo. Here is Alyssa Milano from Who's The Boss? at age 11: And here she is now, age 52: Here is Corey Feldman from The Goonies and Stand By Me at age 14: And here he is now, age 53: Here is Fred Savage from The Wonder Years at age 11: And here he is now, age 48: Here's Danny Cooksey from Diff'rent Strokes at age 8: And here he is now, age 49: This was also the most recent photo I could find of him. It's from late 2019. Here is Danielle Brisebois from Archie Bunker's Place at age 12: And here she is now, age 55: Here's Tracey Gold from Growing Pains at age 11: And here she is now, age 55: Here is Drew Barrymore from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at age 7: And here she is now, age 50: Here is Sean Astin from The Goonies at age 14: And here he is now, age 54: Here is Aileen Quinn from Annie at age 10: And here she is now, age 53: Here is Tiffani Thiessen from Saved by the Bell at age 15: And here she is now, age 51: Here is Candace Cameron Bure from Full House at age 11: And here she is now, age 49: Here is Mario Lopez from Saved by the Bell at age 15: And here he is now, age 51: Here is Lukas Haas from Witness at age 9: And here he is now, age 49: Here is Soleil Moon Frye from Punky Brewster at age 8: And here she is now, age 48: Here is Alfonso Ribeiro from Silver Spoons at age 13: And here he is now, age 53: Here is Danny Pintauro from Cujo at age 8: And here he is now, age 49: Here is Peter Billingsley from A Christmas Story at age 15: And here he is now, age 54: Here is Kim Fields from The Facts of Life at age 11: And here she is now, age 55: Here is C. Thomas Howell from The Outsiders at age 17: And here he is now, age 58: Here is Justin Henry from Kramer vs. Kramer and Sixteen Candles at age 14: And here he is now, age 53: This photo was also from 2019! So he was 48 here. Here is Molly Ringwald from Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club at age 17: And here she is now, age 57: Who's your favourite child actor from the '80s? And whose transformation shocked you the most? Tell me in the comments below! Plus, you should follow BuzzFeed Canada on Instagram and TikTok for more nostalgic content!
See - Sada Elbalad
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Darren Aronofsky Circling to Direct Stephen King's "Cujo" Remake
Yara Sameh Darren Aronofsky, whose resume ranges from Requiem for a Dream to Black Swan to The Whale, is in talks to direct Netflix's adaptation of Stephen King's novel "Cujo". Roy Lee, who established his King bonafides with the two It movies, Salem's Lot, and the upcoming dystopian thriller The Long Walk, is producing. There is no writer yet on the project, but Aronofsky is expected to meet with candidates soon. The 1981 novel of the same name told of a lovable St. Bernard named Cujo who, after being bitten by a bat, becomes a mouth-foaming killer. The central focus of a mother and her seizure-prone son trapped in a busted-down car outside a service garage became the central focus of the 1983 adaptation that was directed by Lewis Teague and starring Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly, and Danny Pintauro. Both the novel and the movie became part of an enduring pop culture in which any raving dog can be referred to as a Cujo. At the box office, 'Cujo' earned $21 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) against a $6 million budget. King's novels, in genres ranging from horror and sci-fi to crime and fantasy, have been a rich material for Hollywood, with movies such as 'Carrie,' 'The Shining,' 'Shawshank Redemption,' 'Stand By Me,' 'It' and the sequel 'It: Chapter Two.' Edgar Wright is currently adapting King's dystopian action thriller 'The Running Man' with Colman Domingo, Glen Powell and Josh Brolin. Moreover, Mike Flanagan recently helmed the feel-good apocalyptic story 'Life of Chuck,' led by Tom Hiddleston and Chiwetel Ejiofor. 'Life of Chuck' was acquired by Neon after the Toronto Film Festival, where it won the audience award. Neon also backed the gory slasher 'The Monkey,' from director Osgood Perkins that's based on King's short story about a cursed toy that causes people to suffer random, horrific deaths. The movie opened in February and has grossed $45 million worldwide. On the small screen, King's works include HBO's upcoming 'It' prequel 'Welcome to Derry,' as well as Flanagan's 'Carrie' series at Amazon. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Director Carl Rinsch Indicted on Charges of Defrauding $11 Million From Netflix
Director Carl Erik Rinsch has been indicted on charges of fraud and money laundering for allegedly taking $11 million from Netflix and spending it on luxury cars, antique furniture and mattresses. Rinsch demanded the funds in order to finish 'White Horse,' a science fiction TV series that was never completed, according to the indictment. Instead, he allegedly used the money to make 'extremely risky investments,' to pay for stays at the Four Seasons and for other lavish purchases, and to hire lawyers to sue Netflix. More from Variety Darren Aronofsky in Talks to Direct Netflix's 'Cujo' 'Happy Gilmore 2' Trailer: Adam Sandler Gets His Golf Swing Back as Netflix Sets July Release Date for the Long-Awaited Sequel 'Adolescence' Ending: Is Jamie a Killer? Why Does He Change His Plea? Is the Netflix Show a True Story? And More Burning Questions Rinsch, 47, was arrested Tuesday in West Hollywood, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Netflix declined to comment. The allegations were first reported in a New York Times story in November 2023. They are also spelled out in a lengthy arbitration ruling, which was made public last August. The arbitrator ordered Rinsch to repay $11.8 million, and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge upheld the award in November. According to the court records, Rinsch pitched the show — also known as 'Conquest' — in January 2018 to Netflix executives including Cindy Holland, who was then the VP in charge of original content, and who left the company in 2020. With investment from Keanu Reeves — the actor who served as his mentor — Rinsch had already shot six short episodes and a three-minute trailer. Netflix agreed to invest $44 million to acquire the series and produce the first season. A schedule was drawn up that called for several months of filming in Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Berlin, Hungary and Uruguay in 2019. Rinsch began shooting in Brazil and quickly went over budget, according to the court records. Though he had promised to deliver another seven episodes, according to the arbitrator's ruling, he informed Netflix that he would only be able to complete a single episode with the money Netflix had provided. After production briefly shut down in Hungary, Netflix agreed to advance additional money. Production halted in December 2019, with much work to be done. Rinsch then set about expanding the script, and demanded an additional $11 million to complete the first season, according to the ruling. Hoping to salvage the project, Netflix agreed to pay the money in March 2020, the ruling states. The COVID-19 pandemic promptly intervened, shutting down production worldwide. In June 2020, Rinsch met at a hotel with Holland and another Netflix executive to give an update. 'Rinsch spent a large portion of the meeting sharing various theories he had been developing about COVID, the universe, interconnectivity, genders, God, higher callings and reproduction,' the ruling states. 'He did not focus on 'Conquest.'' Unsettled, the Netflix executives concluded he did not intend to finish the show. The lead actor also dropped out, citing the instability of the production. That fall, Netflix decided to write off the cost of the series. According to the indictment, Rinsch had quickly transferred most of the $11 million to his brokerage account, where he promptly lost about half of it by speculating on investments such as call options on a biopharmaceutical company and put options on an S&P 500 ETF. At the time he was still reassuring Netflix that the show was 'awesome and moving forward really well,' the indictment states. According to the indictment, he used the remaining funds to invest in cryptocurrency in early 2021, which resulted in a windfall. The arbitration ruling states that Rinsch spent lavishly on various items in late 2021, claiming the purchases were needed for the second season of the show, which Netflix had not ordered. He was also worried that the IRS would tax him on the money if it was not spent, the ruling states. The purchases included $638,000 on luxury mattresses; $295,000 on luxury bedding and linens; $180,000 on kitchen appliances; $5.4 million on furniture; and $1.68 million on two Rolls Royces, the arbitrator's ruling states. According to the indictment, he bought five Rolls Royces and one Ferrari for $2.4 million. He also paid his rent on his home in Spain, and legal bills to pursue Netflix for breach of contract in arbitration. The grand jury indictment, unsealed Tuesday, accuses Rinsch of wire fraud, money laundering and five counts of using illicit funds in a transaction. Rinsch faces the potential of many years in prison, and the government is also seeking to forfeit his assets. Rinsch filed a petition to overturn the arbitrator's ruling in August, arguing that the arbitrator had misconstrued the contract as requiring 13 episodes. The judge upheld the arbitrator's decision. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
