News

If you haven't seen the "Terrifier" movies, all you might know about its signature killer, Art the Clown (usually played by David Howard Thornton), is that he's yet another use of the coulrophobia trope in horror movies. From Stephen King's "It" to "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" and "Clownhouse," there's a long tradition of using clowns for horror (we even have a list of some of the best creepy clown movies you've probably never seen). 

Art, however, is not just another maniac in greasepaint. His saga is much more complicated and far less straightforward than that of many other slasher killers. Indeed, his movies frequently employ a sort of dream logic, the result of writer-director Damien Leone being a huge fan of David Lynch.

So when we talk about things that don't necessarily make sense in the "Terrifier" saga, it's more a case of them not making sense in any real-world way.

Warning: the following story contains mentions of sexual assault.

Stephen King knows horror. For 50 years now, King has been terrifying readers with his best-selling tales of terror — books that have stood the test of time to become classics of the genre. So, whenever King weighs in on a horror title that he didn't write, people take notice. A recommendation from Stephen King is a recommendation from a master, and while some of King's tastes may be questionable (remember when he praised "The Flash" on Twitter before the movie was released? That was weird!), they're still worth some attention.

In 1981, King published "Danse Macabre," a non-fiction book in which he examined the horror genre in all its various forms. In 2010, the book was re-published with a new essay from King. In that essay, he not only wrote more about the horror genre, but he also ran through a list of recent horror movies that he recommends.

Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.”

There’s an uneasy tension in Amityville in the Hood (2021) between intentional parody and uncomfortable racism. How much of the film’s stereotypical depiction of Compton, which includes gangs, gun violence, drugs, and sex work, is making fun of the conventions of Hollywood films? Or is this just lazy screenwriting and uninspired scenarios?

Let’s give writer/director Dustin Ferguson the benefit of a doubt and go with the former. Of the three titles he’s made in the Amityville “franchise,” In the Hood is by far the most self-aware. There are even a few moments that play like genuine (read: intentional) comedy!

To be clear, there are still plenty of hiccups here. Like his other films in the “franchise,” Ferguson is...

Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.”

It was with a mix of trepidation and intrigue that I hit play on Dustin Ferguson’s Amityville Clownhouse (2020). The film, first released in 2017 under the title Amityville: Evil Never Dies, is a direct sequel to Amityville Toybox (aka Amityville Terror), the very low budget film about a father who kills his entire family after being gifted a toy monkey for his fiftieth birthday.

Toybox was emphatically not a good film, but it did feature a 10 minute coda that was a) the best part of the film, and b) teased a promising new narrative about a team of paranormal investigators.

Disappointingly this storytelling avenue goes unexplored in Clownhouse, though the sequel does feature a strong opening. First Senator Ty Pangborn (Dan Mauro...

Trace Thurman and Joe Lipsett might not have initially set out to make such a big mark on the horror podcast landscape, but they’ve done it anyway. Started in January 2019, Horror Queers is the spinoff podcast to their Bloody Disgusting horror column of the same name. Each week, Joe and Trace deep dive into different horror-related films through their unique queer lens, often sifting through coded gay characters, homoerotic innuendo, or outright queerness.

Not only have they covered major franchise films like Scream, It, and Final Destination, but they also particularly specialize in covering lesser-known films like Ginger Snaps, Tragedy Girls, Phantom of the Paradise, Daughters of Darkness, and Swimfan. A cornerstone of Horror Queers’ objective is to broaden a horror fans’ palette, exposing them to different facets of horror they might have previously written off.

If they do cover a franchise film, it’s not the usual Friday The 13th,...

Convicted sex offender Victor Salva has resurfaced with the Fathom Events one-night re-release of “Jeepers Creepers 3,” which will play October 24. However, Salva’s victim, Nathan Forrest Winters, said he’s unsurprised that the director’s career continues.

“To be honest with you, I feel like everything I’ve done to raise awareness and remind people of his crime and the abuse that I’ve been through has been suppressed all along,” Winters, 44, told IndieWire. “It’s been a constant uphill battle.”

Fathom and Screen Media first released “Jeepers Creepers 3” September 26, 2017, when it grossed $2.3 million over two nights. That came just weeks before a tweet from Alyssa Milano that helped jumpstart the conversation around sexual misconduct in Hollywood.

Salva’s crime came some 30 years before, when he was convicted of sexual misconduct with the 12-year-old Winters, who starred in his first feature in 1989, “Clownhouse.” Salva was working in a child care...

A mention of child molestation in “Jeepers Creepers 3” is drawing revulsion because the film’s writer and director, Victor Salva, was convicted of child molestation in 1988. The 59-year-old filmmaker was convicted in the molestation of Nathan Forrest Winters, an actor in his film “Clownhouse,” who was 12 at the time. Salva was also convicted of videotaping the sex act and of possessing commercial videotapes and child porn magazines. He served 15 months out of his three-year sentence. According to IndieWire, the third installment of the “Jeepers Creepers” franchise does not depict any child molestation, but does include a scene in which.

I was recently asked to review Jeepers Creeper 3, the long-awaited third entry in the franchise. But, mysteriously for a horror film being released around Halloween, I just couldn’t find a screening. I looked high and low for one, but for some weird reason the studio seemed to be keeping a very tight lid on things. Could the film really be that bad? Were they trying to bury it? Was it simply not finished?

Maybe it’s because the director, Victor Salva, is a convicted pedophile who molested a twelve-year-old boy on the set of his film Clownhouse (*shudder*) and was caught in possession of child porn, which led to him being sentenced to three years in prison (of which he only served 15 months). And now that word has (once again) gotten out about this, screenings of Jeepers Creepers 3 are being threatened with demonstrations and boycotts.

Yeah. It’s probably that.

“Jeepers Creepers 3” hit theaters for one night only on September 26, and certain plot points are rubbing critics the wrong way given the criminal history of writer-director Victor Salva. The 59-year-old was convicted in 1988 of the sexual molestation of Nathan Forrest, the 12-year-old actor and star of his film “Clownhouse.” Salva videotaped the sexual act and was also convicted of possessing commercial videotapes and magazines containing child pornography.

Read More:‘Jeepers Creepers 3’ Boycott Announced in Response to Writer/Director’s Sexual Misconduct Conviction

Salva only served 15 months of his three-year sentence, and he somehow went on to have a career in Hollywood in the years that followed. Disney hired him to direct their supernatural drama “Powder,” and Salva found his greatest success with “Jeepers Creepers,” the 2001 horror film that spawned a franchise.

“Jeepers Creepers” is currently on its third installment, and it has been drawing criticism not only because...

Former child actor Nathan Forrest Winters (Clownhouse) was the victim of the unspeakable… child molestation at the hands of an adult, one Victor Salva. Filmmaker Connar Frazier is helping Winters to turn his horrid experience into something positive; and that’s… Continue Reading →

The post Clownhouse Molestation Survivor Nathan Forrest Winters Speaks Out in New Documentary appeared first on Dread Central.

“Jeepers Creepers 3: Cathedral” is tentatively scheduled for release later this year, and a boycott of the upcoming horror film has already been called for. The move has been called for due to the fact that Victor Salva, the film’s writer/director, was convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1988. Annie Swital has started a change.org petition calling on others to actively oppose the film on the grounds that “monsters belong on the screen, not behind the camera.”

Read More: 7 New Netflix Shows to Binge Watch in March 2017, and The Best Episodes of Each

Here’s the full text of the petition:

“Jeepers Creepers 3 is currently in production. The director and creator of this franchise, Victor Salva, used his position to rape a 12 year old boy in 1988 during the filming of the movie Clownhouse. He was convicted and served a measly 15 months in prison. As the three...

I've broached the subject of Jeepers Creepers 3 and Victor Salva here before, first with an op-ed shortly after the project was announced and most recently during a discussion with filmmaker, author and Dread Central West Coast contributor Staci Layne Wilson once production on the film was rumored to be imminent (you can watch our convo above or below). The crux of the issue involves Salva's 1988 criminal conviction on charges of sexually molesting the 12-year-old star of his 1989 debut feature Clownhouse -- for which he served 15 months of a 3 year sentence -- and his continued Hollywood career in spite of that horrendous act. (Salva has directed eight feature films since Clownhouse, including the first two installments of the Jeepers Creepers series.) While Salva has not re-offended, he is still rightly viewed with suspicion when it comes to working with underage actors; still others feel he should never be allowed to direct again.

As reported by Bloody Disgusting earlier this week, Jeepers Creepers 3 is looking to start production in Vancouver next month, with Gina Phillips allegedly set to reprise her role from the first movie. And yet many fans may not be familiar with the criminal past of franchise director Victor Salva: a 15 month prison stint for sexually molesting Nathan Forrest Winters, the 12-year-old star of his 1989 horror film Clownhouse.  Since JC3 was first announced, outrage has been brewing over Salva's involvement, but is it possible to separate the artist from the art? For some, it clearly isn't; for others, knowledge of the director's terrible act won't preclude them from enjoying the franchise's long-awaited third entry. On this week's episode of HitFix's new horror chat series Nightmare Fuel, I discuss the complex issue with horror filmmaker, author and Dread Central West Coast contributor Staci Layne Wilson, in addition to the forthcoming Jacob's Ladder remake,...

When news broke this morning that "Jeepers Creepers 3" was ramping up production 12 years after the second film hit theaters, my thoughts almost immediately drifted to director Victor Salva, who helmed the first two "Jeepers" films and is also, as a number of tweeters have already pointed out, a convicted child molester. The crime in question occurred during the shooting of Salva's 1989 feature debut "Clownhouse," when the then-29-year-old director filmed himself having oral sex with the film's 12-year-old star, Nathan Forrest Winters. After the tape was discovered during a police raid (Winters had informed his mother of the abuse), Salva was jailed and served 15 months of a 3 year prison term before being released on parole. He is now (and will forever be) a registered sex offender in Los Angeles County. Those are the facts; and despite them Salva has continued to work in the industry, helming a total of eight...

Reviewed By: Chris Wright

Morehorror.com

Clownhouse (1989)

Directed By: Victor Salva

Written By: Victor Salva

Starring: Nathan Forrest Winters (Casey), Brian McHugh (Geoffrey), Sam Rockwell (Randy), Michael Jerome West (Lunatic Cheezo), Byron Weible (Lunatic Bippo), David C. Reinnecker (Lunatic Dippo), Timothy Enos (Real Cheezo), Frank Diamanti (Real Bippo), Karl-Heinz Teuber (Real Dippo), Viletta Skillman (Mother), Gloria Belsky (Fortune Teller), Tom Mottram (Ringmaster), Erika (Storekeeper), Jasper Watts (Storekeeper Assistant), Bobby Salem (Booth Barker)

I had heard of this film in passing but never made the effort to actually watch it. I mostly know director Victor Salva from his work on the “Jeepers Creepers” movies. To my surprise, this movie is incredibly atmospheric and has just enough creep factor to make a person’s phobia of clowns increase.

The plot revolves around three young brothers who are alone while their parents are away. Shortly thereafter, some escaped mental patients murder some clowns...

Victor Salva has experienced his highs and lows, spanning a career including Clownhouse, Jeepers Creepers, and some other movies about albinos and such – but just when you thought a trip down Rosewood Lane was the worst Salva could do, he found shelter in Dark House. Personally, I believe Jeepers Creepers was a bit of a lucky victory, as Salva absolutely tries to recreate that same independent horror vibe, but as axe-wielding lunatics run on all fours, chasing our group of house hunting victims, Salva’s latest attempt becomes sillier and sillier. Casting Tobin Bell might bring horror credibility in some circles, but not even Jigsaw could save this ridiculous bit of realty horror – and no, that’s not just because of the house’s price. I guess it’s never a good sign when you can describe a film as a “fixer upper.”

Nick De Santo (Luke Kleintank) never knew his father,...

Here's a trailer for a new horror thriller coming out called Dark House. It stars Tobin Bell (Saw) and it was directed Victor Salva. The director has made some decent film in his career such as Jeepers Creepers, Clownhouse, and even the movie Powder. I liked the Jeepers Creepers films, but this new film doesn't look like it lives up to his past work. I enjoy watching all kinds of horror films, so I'll definitely give the movie a chance though. 

The story is described as "a thrilling and horrifying road trip, full of twists and brutal surprises; a suspenseful thriller about a young man and a chilling old house that has survived decades, awaiting the return of its prodigal son... a house that can escalate Nick's gift to see death before it happens, but holds within its walls the origins of a dark family legacy so horrible it may...

"Up until about an hour ago I didn't know this house existed...!" Our friends at ShockTillYouDrop have debuted a trailer for a new indie horror film called Dark House, starring Tobin Bell who you might know as Jigsaw from the Saw series. However, the main focus is on a kid named Nick Di Santo, played by Luke Kleintank, who is haunted by the ability to touch someone and see exactly how they will die. The film is directed by Victor Salva, of Jeepers Creepers 1 & 2, Rites of Passage, Clownhouse, that one film Powder. I'm not sure this lives up to his past work, but it doesn't look too bad. The trailer may seem tame at first, but the action ramps up in the second half with lots of axe violence. In select theaters March for horror lovers. Watch the official trailer for Victor Salva's horror Dark House, debuted by ShockTillYouDrop:...

In Conor McMahon’s Stitches, acclaimed British comedian Ross Noble plays Stitches Grindle, a hard-drinking mess of a clown whose destructive ways catch up with him at young Tom’s birthday party – leading to his accidental, violent death.

Six years later, Stitches returns from the dead to take revenge on the brats who put him six feet under… turning the tables on them as only a clown can.

In honor of Stitches hitting Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, April 2nd, we’ve decided to take a look back at cinema’s killer clowns through the years, and picked out a handful of our absolute favorites:

6) The Trio, Clownhouse (1989)

A trio of mental patients murder circus clowns, taking their guises to torment a young boy and his brothers (one played by a young Sam Rockwell) during a long night alone in their family home. A genuinely unsettling tale that delves deep...

As a horror fan and collector, one of the things I find utterly maddening is discovering that a title I’m dying to add to my collection is out of print and selling for a fortune. Rather than do the sane thing, and wait for the film to be re-issued, I usually cough up absolutely idiotic sums of money, because I am reckless, impatient, and highly impulsive. Since I am also thoughtful, I have compiled a guide to out of print titles (Oop), the going rate, and more. Included in the list below are ten films in various stages of manufacturing moratorium. Several of them are recently out of print, so we are providing you a ‘heads’ up to so that you have the opportunity to snag them before they become hideously expensive.

Popcorn (1991) Trailer

Popcorn

This 1991 film is commanding nearly $80 on Amazon for a brand new copy. I impetuously...

Radio talk show psychiatrist Sonny Blake (Rose McGowan) decides to move back to her childhood home in Stillwater after her alcoholic father dies. But her new neighborhood is not what it seems, as the local paperboy is a cunning sociopath who stalked her father, and now has his black eyes set on her. He even goes as far as calling into her show and turns innocent nursery rhymes into macabre omens of things to come. Her next door neighbor confines in her that he believes this paperboy killed her dad and is visiting her to deliver more than just the news of the day.

The police don’t have enough evidence to do anything about it, her co-worker thinks she is coming to grips with her traumatic family upbringing, and her boyfriend thinks it’s a figment of her imagination until he gets shoved down the cellar stairs and ends...

October.  There isn't a month that horror fans look forward to more. Creepy decorations. Haunted Houses.  And, of course, horror movie marathons.   Of course, there are staples that must be watched by true horror fans during the month of October: Halloween, Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scream, The Evil Dead all require viewings on or shortly before Halloween to set the tone.  However, there are a few lesser know gems that also deserve to be added to your October viewing ritual.  Here are five:

5.  Final Exam (1981)

Set during the final exam week of a creepy, isolated college campus, Final Exam is an exemplary example of a quintessential 80's slasher film, the paramount difference being that it cares a tad more about its characters than most of the slasher films being churned out during this era and contains a wealth of character development that some may find annoying, yet others will find refreshing.

Back in 1989 writer/director Victor Salva crafted a chilling tale of homicidal clowns who possess a knack for stalking young boys. The picture (titled Clownhouse for those who may have missed it) is a genuinely unnerving piece of work with some highly disturbing moments on display. Honestly, what the hell is more frightening than grim guised serial killing clowns? How about a child molesting director? While filming Clownhouse, Victor opted to…...

Clownhouse Favorite childhood themed horror film? This is a tough sub-genre to pick a film for cause even though for a lot of horror fans, they discover their love of horror at a young age, there isn't a lot of horror films centered around child aged protagonist and exploring themes associated with childhood! These films have the potential to be something extra special, because the ideas associated with them resonate with viewers on a deeper level then the typical horror film and recall the nostalgia of being a child and that longing to have a look back at the past. Combine that with a horror film and you can't miss! The TV series Are You Afraid of the Dark? executed the above concept brilliantly. I also know a lot of people are going to pick the TV movie "It" based off the Stephen King novel. While I think It has a brilliant first half,...

Sam Rockwell grew up on the movies of the 1970s—films he adored such as "The Deer Hunter" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." So when he lists the various teachers he has learned from, he cites some of his favorite actors. "My teachers are all those people I grew up watching: De Niro, Walken, Streep, Robert Duvall, Ellen Burstyn," he says. "When young actors ask me about studying, I tell them, 'You've got to watch those movies. If you're not, you're not doing your job. Respect your elders, and more than that, learn from them.' "Rockwell has sometimes even found himself in the strange position of acting opposite his mentors, using tricks he picked up from them. In last year's drama "Everybody's Fine," he played the son of Robert De Niro's character and had a scene in which the father accuses the son of lying. "I kept saying,...

• In the Pipeline presents: Victor Salva’s Peaceful Warrior [Ed's note: A big thank you to Marc-Andre Rouleau for once again delivering us the cool little doodle above for our fav. Wednesday read! Cheers!] Whether cinema can inspire people to change their lives rather then just saying they will for a couple of hours after a screening is debatable. Nevertheless, the hope of such seems to be driving the upcoming film Peaceful Warrior, an adaptation of Dan Millman’s ‘inspirational’ novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior. The film follows Dan, an athletic success who can’t help feeling that there is something missing from his life. In a chance encounter with “Socrates”, Dan is sent on a spiritual journey to enlightenment and the true meaning of winning. For the viewers, hopefully there is something meaningful for them as well. The adaptation of Dan Millman’s novel is the latest project from director Victor Salva. Salva has made a name for himself for directing narratives in a somewhat fantastical world. With Socrates a character,

...