For those of you who like to keep abreast of the latest in horror happenings and monster news, we present for your elucidation and entertainment...

Horror News And Views by JOSEPH C. ROMANO

Return of the Master: Ray Harryhausen, the reigning king of the visual-effects pioneers, recently inked a deal to develop four new movies. Included in the deal with Mindfire Entertainment, an independent film production house, are updated versions of three Harryhausen classics, Sinbad The Sailor, Jason And The Argonauts, and Clash Of The Titans.

Although there has been no word on which project will be first, the producers expect to begin shooting one of them this fall with release scheduled for 2007.

Squeaky Clean: Early in July, a U.S. District Court ruled that Cleanflix and other businesses like it are violating copyright laws. Based in the state of Utah, Cleanflix had been permanently removing sex, violence and profanity from DVDs and distributing the edited copies to retailers for resale.

The ruling resulted from a suit brought by Steven Spielberg and many other film directors. Despite the ruling, companies that allow consumers to filter content deemed offensive without permanently altering the film may continue.

Dracula: Universal Pictures recently began development of a movie exploring the origin of Dracula. Although the project is still in the early stages of pre-production, it has tentatively been dubbed Dracula Year Zero. If eventually filmed--and that’s not a certainty--it will weave vampire film mythology with the true history of Vlad the Impaler.

If rumors are correct, however, Universal may turn its back on the legacy of its own classic film library and re-imagine the mythical Dracula primarily as a “flawed hero in a tragic love story.” While the prince of the undead has been portrayed in similar fashion many times before, I wonder if Universal can restrain itself and not give us another Van Helsing. Of course, Universal is home to the original screen Dracula which starred Bela Lugosi in 1931.

Only in Vegas: The granddaddy of all live “horror” productions, The Phantom Of The Opera, has been revamped as Phantom – the Vegas Spectacular, a shortened, but enlivened version of Broadway’s longest running show.

Trimmed down and cranked up to satisfy fickle casino crowds, the new show features every song from the original production, but promises more special effects, sophisticated pyrotechnics, and a faster pace than seen on Broadway. Phantom--The Vegas Spectacular will play at a specially designed theater built inside the Venetian Hotel on the famed Sunset Strip.

Live from New York: After wrapping up a month long appearance at the Wings Theatre in Greenwich Village, the retelling of Mary Shelley’s gothic tale, Frankenstein: The Musical, is now looking for a home away from the Great White Way.

What’s that you say?

You missed Frankenstein last month. Then a visit to the New World Stages, another New York City theater, will be in order. Beginning on October 2nd, Evil Dead: The Musical starts an indefinite run off-Broadway.

Yes, it’s that Evil Dead. Sam Raimi’s cult movie classic is headed to the stage.

But beware when you buy your tickets. A chainsaw is a key prop of the production and the first two rows are located in the “splatter zone.”

Stay cool as hell!!!

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(Joe Romano has written nonfiction articles for HORROR-WOOD, Scary Monsters magazine and Castle Of Frankenstein. His fiction has appeared in Midnight Gallery and Dark Moon Rising, as well as receiving honorable mention in the Writers of the Future Contest. Comments about or suggestions for the column?  You can contact him here.)

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Column copyright ©  Joe Romano.  All views expressed are those of the author.

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