TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

The early buzz surrounding 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is so compelling. This isn’t just another sequel trying to revive a familiar IP. It feels like a continuation that actually wants to say something new. Danny Boyle, the original director of 28 Days Later, the first in the franchise, is producing; Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War) is returning to write ; and lastly, Cillian Murphy will be back in his leading role. With this team, it feels like 28 Days Later is something stranger, darker, and more philosophical. Early coverage from The Guardian and Deadline , and interviews with director Nia DaCosta , suggest a film that’s less about sprinting through apocalyptic ruins and more about what kind of world grows out of the ashes. To get in the mood, we pulled three very different horror films from our library, each one exploring different nightmarish themes: apocalyptic, psychological, and supernatural. Mutant (1984) — Now in 4K Released in 1984 & streaming in 4K on our TheAr...

There’s something uniquely terrifying about horror movies that draw from real-life events. While masked killers and supernatural slashers have their place, the idea that the story on screen really happened is what really changes. Over the years, some of the scariest movies of all time have taken inspiration from true crime cases.  Slashers are always frightening , but those based on true events leave a lingering fear after the movie is over. They remind us that evil doesn’t always come with a mask or a supernatural force; it can be a neighbor, a co-worker, or a stranger.  Here are some horror films based on real stories that will terrify you this Halloween!  The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Perhaps the most infamous “true crime” slasher, Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece was loosely inspired by Ed Gein, a murderer and grave robber in Wisconsin who was known for crafting household items and clothing from human remains. While Gein’s crimes weren’t actually done with a chainsaw...

This week, we’re remembering the incredible career of Lalo Schifrin , who recently passed away at the age of 93 . Schifrin was one of the most influential film and TV composers of the last century. His music helped shape the sound of action, suspense, and horror, and he brought something iconic to every project he worked on. He’s best known for creating the theme to Mission: Impossible , one of the most recognizable TV themes of all time. But his work goes far beyond that. He scored films like Bullitt and Cool Hand Luke , utilizing a blend of jazz and traditional orchestral music to create tension, mood, and emotion in ways that still resonate today. You can also hear his work in the 1979 horror classic The Amityville Horror . Schifrin’s score is a big part of what made that film so scary. He used jarring, discordant notes to build suspense, especially during scenes involving the haunted house. The music made everything feel more unsettling and played a major role in the film’s lasti...