VIDEOSCOPE and beyond....

"Joseph Maddrey produced and scripted this documentary based on his book of the same name. The film has been steadily praised for its intellectual prowess amid radioactive mutations and crazed monsters... Editor/director [Andrew] Monument keeps the visuals moving, with stimulating cutting of apropos trailer title cards splashing across the screen, often cleverly timed with the narration - a fast-moving assemblage that spans A titles to Z-grade schlock... There is a vast amount of study and insight here, so whether you're a student of black-and-white Universal monsters or crave the crimson coagulations of Herschell G. Lewis, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue smartly dispenses it all in a winning style." - Videoscope (Fall 2010)

"The benefit of documentaries like this one is that they bring a seriousness to the oft-maligned genre, discussing them in a manner beyond the usual fan discussions. A defense of The Silence of the Lambs as a true horror film, despite the producers categorizing it as a thriller, is welcome, and for anyone who has had that discussion, Nightmares provides a fairly succinct argument for horror here. More importantly, the documentary is recent, so it manages to address the current wave of remakes and adaptations of foreign horror, which must now be part of our discussion of the genre."
- The Last Blog on the Left

"You may be thinking... I know my horror history and don't need to see anything about it. You may be right, but even for an old-school horror vet like myself I found plenty of enjoyment and even learned a few new things from this flick... It is worth checking out for any horror fan since there's bound to be something you haven't heard or didn't know... As far as documentaries go, this one is among the better ones I've seen." - Mondo Film & Video Guide

"NIGHTMARES is without a doubt the most complete, in depth look at American horror cinema ever put together... Smart, insightful, entertaining - this documentary does it all, and well... I can't stress enough that every fan of the genre NEEDS to check this one out." - Akron Horror Movie Examiner

"Nightmares in Red White & Blue really does open your eyes with interesting commentary from some of the sharpest minds in horror and will make you reflect on Disney classics like Pinocchio in an all new light... Whether you are new to the genre or have loved it since childhood you will find something new and worth reflecting on in this highly though provoking look at the genre and its impact on America and the world." - horror-movies.ca

New DVD Reviews... and New Music!

"Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is the perfect way to get pumped up about October, my personal favorite month out of the year thanks to the strong proliferation of horror movies that will surface over its 31 days. Besides the novelty of seeing so many well known and cult classic horror movies represented through clips, the documentary truly does have some fascinating things to day about the genre. From tracing the different sub-genres that have risen and fallen based on the real-life fears Americans have faced at the time to the idea of a monster as the hero, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue does an admirable job at providing a sense of history and importance to a genre that is often overlooked or (worse) looked down at." - Inside Pulse

"Instead of making an I Love the 80's style drek-fest, the makers of NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE & BLUE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN HORROR FILM have relied on some of the most influential and educated gents in the horror film genre to talk about their love and knowledge of horror. First and foremost, this is a horror documentary by a horror fan about horror. Assembled is a group of people who not only make horror, but understand its importance and the impact it has had on society and how horror reflects the way of life occurring at the time... There's a respect for these guys in the time given them to talk that someone who isn't in love with the genre would never allow. I can imagine an MTV produced special, edited all to hell and soulless. This isn't one of those documentaries... This is the type of doc that makes you think and ask questions not only about the films we love, but the world we live in." - Ain't It Cool News

"What sets Nightmares apart from its peers is its intriguing thematic analysis of dark cinema, and its hypothesis that most major movements of American horror, from the monster movies of the '30s to the slasher cycle of the '80s, reflect the state of America at the time they were made... Many of its claims aren't original (the assertion that Wes Craven's Last House on the Left is actually an anti-Vietnam allegory has appeared in many books), but it's the first time all these theories have been gathered together in one place... It's a fantastic distillation of why horror enchants so many of us. As such, it's required viewing for all dark cinema fans, regardless of whether you (like me) have read just about every book or article on horror movie history every written." - Scranton Horror Movie Examiner

"Nightmare in Red, White and Blue takes over where past documentaries style films have left off. I enjoyed every second and found the director commentaries entertaining and educational. A really kick ass compilation and best documentary overview I’ve seen this year!" - Horror News

"A wonderful history lesson... No stone in American Horror is left un-turned. The doc has been criticized because it does not pay enough respect to foreign horror. This may be fair, but I mean at the end of the day, that's not what the documentary is about. If you love horror movies, you owe it to yourself to pick this up." - The Genre Squad

"Along with a doc from earlier this year, American Grindhouse that concentrates on the history of exploitation cinema, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is a must see document for both horror mavens and cinemaphiles alike." - Free Press Houston

Fans of NIRWAB might also be interested in a new CD by musician Paul Casper, who composed the original score for the documentary. Details HERE.

DVD Reviews... and a Nomination!

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue has been nominated in the Second Annual Reaper Awards (a.k.a. the "Grimmys") as "Most Anticipated Nontheatrical Coming to Disc." VOTE FOR US HERE!!! (Winners will be announced on October 12.)

Here are some new reviews of the highly anticipated DVD release...

"With a self-explanatory title and Lance Henriksen’s evocative voiceover narration, this superbly edited and intelligent documentary consists of eloquent talking heads and extremely well chosen film clips... The quality levels are high enough to ensure this makes a favorable addition to an already impressive year for horror movie documentaries... Consider it an essential purchase." - The Horror Review

"The film is great as a compendium of horror film clips that should have viewers updating their Netflix queues with classic horror titles. The execution (no pun intended) of the film's clip montages is superb - a particularly memorable one juxtaposes the graphic sex of horror films with their accompanying graphic murders in a way that is perverse, and perversely funny." - Home Media Magazine

"As accessible as it is smart, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue provides a unique perspective on the rise of the American horror film to meet the demands of a changing society. Horror fans looking to dig deeper into what makes the genre tick should find this documentary indispensable." - Classic Horror

"A deeply insightful documentary that no self respecting horror fan should miss. If you're interested in what makes the horror industry tick, this has a lot of the answers. Definitely not one to be missed!" - Horror Chronicles

"Although documentaries are pretty common, we don't have as many as we should here in the horror community. Luckily, this one covers pretty much all bases... All in all, this documentary kicked ass" - Horror-Movies

Nightmares in Toronto

NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE will make its Canadian premiere at the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear on Friday, August 27... with narrator Lance Henriksen in attendance!

It will be followed by a screening of Simon Rumley's unrelated but cool-sounding "slacker revenge movie" RED, WHITE AND BLUE (2010). Other guests at the festival will include David Cronenberg, Ken Russell, Bill Moseley, William Forsythe, Heather Langenkamp and James Marsters.

The Latest Reviews

"Nightmares in Red, White and Blue will take you through a century of horror and shines just enough light on each decade or period of the genre to make you wish that you grew up with each and every incarnation of the horror genus. For any true horror fan, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue should not be missed." - Killer Reviews

"This reviewer recommends that you check out this film if you are a devoted horror film lover. For adult audiences, Nightmares can be enjoyed because the film focuses on the best in the business, while giving insight in to the devices that have made horror so long lasting and appealing." - 28 Days Later Analysis

"Don’t think you’ve seen this all before because this one bounds past the usual tunnel vision horror fan approach... It may sound silly but the type of discussion within the film makes me proud to be a horror fan. This is a documentary that understands the power of the genre to speak of anxieties we’ve yet to fully confront... I honestly think that it would be impossible for any horror fan not to enjoy this informative yet still jocular examination of the history of horror film in America. Miss this one at your own peril." - Kindertrauma

DVD now available for pre-order

The Nightmares in Red, White and Blue DVD will be released on September 28, 2010. Amazon.com is now accepting pre-orders, at a 30% discount off of the regular price.

New Reviews

"Brisk and colorful... [Writer Joseph] Maddrey's narration [is] sonorously voiced by genre fave Lance Henriksen... The various helmers and other commenters prove invariably entertaining... This slick doc [is] sure to become a broadcast staple each Halloween." - Variety

"This is, without question, the most in-depth and well researched documentary on the history of the American horror genre ever made... A must-see for all horror fans." - Philadelphia Horror Examiner

"Combines spectacular film clips along with intelligent interviews... Nightmares in Red, White and Blue delivers the buckets of blood and entrails with what amounts to exceptional insight into the genre." - Film Pig

"A first rate feature-length documentary... told from the perspective of some of the greatest horror filmmakers. Not only will you be entertained with great interviews and sharp editing, but you will be quite impressed by [director Andrew] Monument’s ability to bring a unique perspective on why society continuously craves horror and violence." - On Demand Weekly

"NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE admirably distills some of the most salient interpretations from academia's analyses of horror into concepts even the most detached genre fan will find intriguing... [It] serves as a great springboard, not just for fans hungry for new titles to unearth, but for fans who find themselves intrigued by the historical lens through which the horror genre becomes even more vibrant and important." - Movies Make Good

"Thoughtfully and carefully considered... Documentaries like this, of which this one is far better than most, are fun because they remind us of films we may have long forgotten about and how really great the classics are. And if they're really good, they leave us with a list of movies we have to see again or watch for the first time. I made a list of more than fifteen films I need to review or watch for the first time based on clips or comments in the movie. That's time well-spent." - A Beast in the Jungle

"I am sure that taking on the task of having such a comprehensive topic covered in just 96 minutes and have it be informative couldn’t have been easy. Surprisingly though, the film breezes through the decades without ever feeling rushed. It makes a pretty convincing argument as to why horror films – no matter how ridiculous some of them are - should not just be written off as a lower class of genre movie making." - Filmbalaya

"I took a class on the horror film in college and Nightmares is very much a condensed but equally insightful version of that information, for thousands of dollars less in tuition." - SF Horror Movie Examiner

"[It's] a Ken Burns history lesson on Horror Movies." - IMDB reviewer

Nightmares on Demand

As of today, the following systems and carriers are offering "Nightmares in Red, White and Blue" as a video-on-demand feature:

Time Warner
Comcast
Cox
Charter
AT&T
Verizon
Direct TV
IP Dish
RCN
Insight
Mediacom
Bresnan
Suddenlink
Videotron (Canada)
Cogeco (Canada)
Telus (Canada)

The doc is also available for download from a few online sources:

Amazon
iTunes
Blockbuster
WBShop
Best Buy CinemaNow
ShawVideo
CenturyLink

I'll post more links as they become available...

Another Hole in the Head

NIRWAB will screen at the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco on July 11th, 12th and 14th, in conjunction with SF IndieFest's "Another Hole in the Head" film festival.

The programmer seems to be a fan, calling the doc "a rare treat [that] delivers buckets of blood and entrails with exceptional insight into the genre." For more details, click here.

Nightmares in Red White and Blue on VOD and DVD

Gravitas Ventures has acquired the Video-on-Demand rights for Nightmares in Red White and Blue. Beginning on July 1, the documentary will be available across North America through Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. Links for iTunes and Amazon will be posted here.

Lorber Films has acquired all theatrical and DVD rights in the U.S. and Canada for Nightmares in Red, White an Blue. The company plans to release the documentary in additional film festivals, specialty theaters and college venues starting in July, prior to a DVD release on September 28.

Monster Tribute

Music by NIRWAB composer Paul Casper. Video by Jason Bayless, of Zombie Popcorn.

Coming Soon

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue returns to Rhode Island this weekend for the Roving Eye Documentary Festival. The show starts at 9pm in Global Heritage Hall at Roger Williams University on Friday, April 23rd.

Another screening of Nightmares in Red, White and Blue will take place on Friday, May 28, at the PUFF Movie House in Philadelphia. The show starts at 8:45pm.

We're also gearing up for a festival in San Francisco in early July.... by which time the doc will be available from Warner Brothers video-on-demand AND in limited release in theaters around the country! Theatrical and DVD release details coming soon...

The Gruesome Twosome

Gravitas Ventures has inked a two-picture deal with Lux Digital Pictures Inc. to bring two documentaries to North American audiences via VOD (Video on Demand). NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE and AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE will be made available in over 50 million homes this summer through a distribution agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. GRINDHOUSE is expected in June; NIGHTMARES just prior to the 4th of July.

AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE, directed by Elijah Drenner and co-written by Calum Waddell, makes its world premiere on March 13 at the South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. The doc is narrated by Robert Forster and features interviews with Allison Anders, Larry Cohen, Joe Dante, Don Edmonds, David Hess, Jack Hill, John Landis, Herschell Gordon Lewis, William Lustig, Ted V. Mikels, Fred Olen Ray, Lewis Teague and Fred Williamson.

2010

This week we're kicking off the new year with a pair of screenings at the Festival du Film Fantastique in Gérardmer, France. The festival theme is "evolution of and prospects for fantasy cinema," so it's only fitting that NIGHTMARES IN RED WHITE AND BLUE will appear on a double bill with VIANDE D'ORIGIN FRANCAISE, a documentary about French horror films in the 21st century. Gérardmer 2010 will also feature a tribute to action director John McTiernan (PREDATOR, DIE HARD) and an astute selection of films that use silence to maximum effect (EL TOPO, SOLARIS, ALIEN, etc). For more details, check out the official festival website.

In the upcoming weeks, we plan to announce more festival screenings... as well as the details of a major domestic distribution deal! Keep an eye out.