A blog to share my love for the greatest horror franchise in history,talking about the 1980's original series/trilogy as well as the remake that came out back in May 2015 and other news about possible sequels to the remake and special releases of the remake and the original trilogy.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
These are the 5 most cursed movies of all time By Kyle Smith
Oliver Robins (from left), Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams and Dominique Dunne in 1982's "Poltergeist." Photo: MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Soon after the original “Poltergeist” terrified audiences, it
began freaking out fans who noticed that several cast members died under
unusual circumstances. Expect more talk of “The ‘Poltergeist’ Curse”
now that the remake is hitting theaters. Let’s look at the calamities
that hit that production and the other movies said to be “cursed” by
misfortunes.
‘Poltergeist’ (1982)
Modal TriggerHeather O’Rourke in 1982’s “Poltergeist.”Photo: MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Dominique Dunne, daughter of Vanity Fair columnist and movie producer
Dominick Dunne, starred as the teen daughter in the haunted house. She
was strangled less than six months after the film came out — by her
boyfriend, who served only 3½ years after being convicted of voluntary
manslaughter. Heather O’Rourke, the “They’re heeere” and “They’re
baaack!” girl, died of a rare disease at age 12, shortly after filming
“Poltergeist III,” which was released after her death. Meanwhile, Will
Sampson, who played the medicine man in “Poltergeist II” — he also
played Chief Bromden in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” — died at 53
of scleroderma; Julian Beck, the evil preacher in the second film, died
at 60 of stomach cancer.
‘The Crow’ (1994)
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A crew member was badly burned by a power cable on the first day of
shooting, another crew member pierced his own hand with a screwdriver
and the set was destroyed by a storm. But the worst was yet to come:
Star Brandon Lee, son of martial-arts master Bruce, died after a prop
gun that inexplicably contained a live bullet was fired at him. Lee was
28.
‘Superman’ (1978)
Modal TriggerChristopher Reeve in 1978’s “Superman.”Photo: Warner Brothers
Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in an equestrian accident in 1995,
then died nine years later at age 52; his Lois Lane, Margot Kidder,
suffered from bipolar disorder and in 1996 went missing for several
days. Looking back, TV’s flabby 1950s Superman, George Reeves, died in
1959 of a gunshot to the head that was ruled a suicide in a case that
sounded to some like a coverup: No fingerprints were found on the weapon
and Reeves was said to be having an affair with the wife of a top
Hollywood executive. Some curse-theorists also mention Richard Pryor,
who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years after co-starring
in “Superman III,” and Christopher Reeve’s wife, Dana, who died of lung
cancer at 44 (though she didn’t smoke). Going back even further to what
may have kicked off the curse: Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe
Shuster sold the rights for $130 in 1938, with no share in the billions
of profits to come.
‘The Conqueror’ (1956)
The Genghis Khan epic that filmed in Utah downwind from a US Army
site where 11 nuclear bombs were tested starred John Wayne, Susan
Hayward and Agnes Moorehead, all of whom died of cancer, as did director
Dick Powell. By late 1980, a survey found that 91 cast and crew members
(out of 220) had developed cancer, 46 of them dying of it. The film was
also plagued by a sudden flood and by a panther that nearly bit
Hayward.
‘Atuk’ (never filmed)
Modal TriggerJohn Belushi (from left), John Candy and Chris Farley.Photo: Photo still; AP; Paramount
Based on a novel by Mordecai Richler (“The Incomparable Atuk”), this
comedy about an Eskimo who comes to New York attracted the interest of
John Belushi, Sam Kinison, John Candy and Chris Farley, each of whom
died before he could film it. The details are more complicated: Kinison
actually began production on the film in 1988, then clashed with
producers and dropped out of the project. He died four years later.
Curse-mongers point out that two others tangentially associated with the
film also died young: writer and Candy pal Michael O’Donoghue, who read
the script; and Farley’s friend and “SNL” co-star Phil Hartman, who
reportedly planned to take a supporting role in the film.
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