Visit The HORROR Mike Channel For Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy Films from no-budget independent movies to big budget Hollywood genre films, the Horror Mike channel covers all of that and MORE! Movie related magazines, comic books, and collectibles are all part of the Horror Mike experience.
Filmmaker Mike T. Lyddon is known for his own genre features such as CUT UP, ZOMBIE! VS. MARDI GRAS, HORROR ANTHOLOGY MOVIE VOL ONE, WITCH TALES, AND FIRST MAN ON MARS. He also loves making videos about his own films and the sci-fi horror movie world at large.
On The Horror Mike Channel, you will see videos on films you know and love such as LIFEFORCE and EVENT HORIZON, and many sci-fi horror movies you’ve never heard of before that are waiting for your eager eyes to gaze upon! Are you familiar with such obscure sci-fi horror gems as ALIEN FLESH EATERS? The film with a trio of academy award winning actors you have to see to believe.
MIND WARP: AN INFINITY OF TERROR? is the controversial 1981 Sci-Fi Horror Movie From New World Pictures. We look at the infamous 1981 sci-fi horror film directed by Bruce D. Clark and starring Edward Albert, Erin Moran, Ray Walston, Sid Haig, and Robert Englund.
Evils Of The Night from 1985 is another relatively unknown genre movie starring Catwoman from Batman and Ginger from Gilligan’s Island who team up in this outrageous 1980s Grindhouse Horror Film.
All of these genre films and hundreds more are waiting to be discovered!
Click HERE to visit The Horror Mike Channel and enjoy the world of genre cinema that you’ve been missing!
PANIC In New Mexico – The 2014 ALIEN Skinwalker Incident
In 2014, images and video surfaced of a strange creature at the side of a road in the Jicarilla reservation of New Mexico. The 2014 ALIEN Skinwalker Incident is considered one of the strangest alien skinwalker encounters on record.
Watch the uncut video on Youtube.
Here are some key documented UFO and alien reports from the state of New Mexico.
UFO’s in New Mexico
UFOs or UAPs including alien and skinwalker sightings in New Mexico are numerous. They have been documented since the infamous 1947 Roswell event.
ROSWELL UFO INCIDENT 1947
Almost everyone is familiar with the Roswell, New Mexico event.
The Roswell UFO incident refers to the rumors and speculation regarding a July 1947 United States Army Air Force “balloon crash” at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Following rumors that the debris came from a “flying disc”, the US military stated that the crashed object was merely a conventional weather balloon.
Alien firefight in Dulce, New Mexico 1979
Phil Schneider was a government engineer who helped design and build military bases. He made waves in 1995 when he began sharing details about having survived a firefight between aliens and the United States military in 1979 at a secret underground base near Dulce.
Schneider died in 1996. Official word is it was a suicide. But fans of his aren’t convinced.
Kirtland Air Force Base UFO Landing 1980
Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico 1980
Area 51 and Wright-Patterson AFB are perhaps the best known Air Force installations with connections to the subject of UFOs. But they are by no means the only ones. The UFO incidents that have occurred at or near Kirtland AFB, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, seem to have been ignored by mainstream news.
On the morning of August 9, 1980, several security guards at the Manzano Weapons Storage Area, adjacent to Kirtland AFB, saw a bright light descend in (a) restricted area. A fourth guard observed a disk shaped light in the vicinity of a bunker used to store nuclear weapons. The incident resulted in a report being filed with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) at Kirtland.
Skinwalker Ranch Utah
While not located in New Mexico, Skinwalker ranch is located in the Uintah basin of Utah.
Utah shares a FOUR CORNERS connection with New Mexico along with Arizona and Colorado.
UFO reports in the Uintah Basin were publicized in the 1970s. Claims about the ranch first appeared in 1996 in the Salt Lake City, Utah, Deseret News. It was also in the alternative weekly Las Vegas Mercury as a series of articles by investigative journalist George Knapp. These early stories detailed the claims of a family that allegedly experienced inexplicable and frightening events after they purchased and occupied the property.
According to Kelleher and Knapp, they saw or investigated evidence of close to 100 incidents. These incidents included vanishing and mutilated cattle, sightings of unidentified flying objects or orbs, large animals with piercing red eyes that they say were unscathed when struck by bullets, and invisible objects emitting destructive magnetic fields.
Alien Skinwalker Panic in New Mexico
In 2014, images and video surfaced of a strange creature at the side of a road in the Jicarilla reservation of New Mexico.
The following is an actual news report of the incident originally published on Feb 7, 2014.
HEADLINE: Is a strange alien-looking creature prowling in northern New Mexico?
A Facebook picture circulating Thursday has a lot of people up there worried. The post was shared thousands of times within a few hours and had a lot of people uttering the word skinwalker, a well-known legend in Indian country.
The picture shows an unexplained being lurking on the side of a road.
The story claims that a geologist was working in an oil field in the Lybrook area and saw something odd and decided to take a heat signature of it. The next day, the geologist suddenly quit.
The story spread like wildfire with people on social media saying, “seriously freaking out,” “yikes … I’m driving through there tomorrow,” and “Skinwalker!”
It turns out that the alien skinwalker images were not from a 2014 incident in New Mexico. They are from an insane 1982 sci-fi horror film shot in the UK called XTRO, which is the subject of my next video.
I hope you enjoyed this intro to XTRO, and as always, please like and subscribe. thank you.
BLOOD ISLAND Horror Film Trilogy And NEW Comics: Beasts And Babes
Greetings, fiends, it’s your old pal Horror Mike. Today we are looking at the classic cult horror films of the BLOOD ISLAND trilogy. Brides of Blood (1968), Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1969), and Beast of Blood (1970). I will also show you the NEW Blood Island horror comics.
Watch the entire Blood Island video on Youtube.
All three films were directed by Filipino filmmaker Eddie Romero. They star 1960’s American heartthrob John Ashley along with a bevy of island babes. These include Celeste Yarnall, Angelique Pettyjohn, and Beverly Hills. The first two actresses also had roles in episodes of the original Star Trek TV series.
Buy the BLOOD ISLAND Trilogy Films HERE.
Blood Island Plots
In Brides of Blood, natives of a tropical island have to battle mutations caused by radioactivity from atomic tests. Virgin sacrifices become the norm. A small group of visitors to Blood Island are caught up in the mayhem and must fight for their very lives.
In Mad Doctor of Blood Island, all the Horrifying Nightmares of a Thousand Frightening Dreams in one panic packed movie! A vacationer (John Ashley) arrives on Blood Island and discovers that a mad Doctor Lorca is creating evil zombies.
Beast of Blood finds John Ashley and the lovely Celeste Yarnall at odds with a mad scientist who creates a monster. But after the creature’s head is cut off, Doctor Lorca keeps it alive in a serum he has invented.
BLOOD ISLAND Blu-ray Collection!
BLOOD ISLAND COMIC BOOKS
Artist Stephen Sistilli and others have created a NEW series of Blood Island comic books based upon the original Blood Island universe. They are currently running campaigns for the Blood Island Comic Books on IndieGoGo. (please note: a NEW campaign should go LIVE in March 2025). The art is great and the stories are even more insane that those of the films! If you like uncensored adult oriented horror comics, check out the BEAST of BLOOD ISLAND comics today!
The Howling 1981 Horror Film – The Naked Truth
Today we’re uncovering the naked and hairy truth behind The Howling, the 1981 werewolf horror film directed by Joe Dante and starring Dee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, Dennis Dugan, Belinda Balaski and the enchanting Elizabeth Brooks.
Watch the entire video here.
The Howling Plot
After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a traumatized television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.
1980’s: A Very Hairy Decade
The Howling was released during an early to late 1980s cycle of werewolf horror movies. These included An American Werewolf in London (1981), The Wolfen also from (1981), Teen Wolf (1985), Teen Wolf Too (1987). The Howling II: … Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985), Howling III: The Marsupials(1987), Full Moon High (1981), The Company of Wolves (1984), and Silver Bullet (1985).
On SALE: The Howling Special Edition Blu-Ray.
Rob Bottin Effects Maestro
Rick Baker was originally supposed to do the special effects for The Howling. He left to do An American Werewolf in London (1981), leaving the effects job for this movie in the hands of assistant Rob Bottin. Both this movie and “American Werewolf” were released the same year. Both received praise for their makeup work. Rob Bottin’s most celebrated effect was the on-screen transformation of Eddie Quist. The effect involved air bladders under latex facial applications to give the illusion of transformation.
Rob Bottin’s Grueling Effects Work
Joe Dante said makeup artist Rob Bottin was a perfectionist. He spent the entire first day of the memorable transformation of actor Robert Picardo putting makeup on him. It took all day so they couldn’t actually film anything so they had to send the crew home and avoid overtime. It also meant Picardo had to stay in his werewolf makeup overnight so Dante could finally film the scene the next morning. Dante said it was a grueling experience for him.
NEW! The Howling ULTIMATE Werewolf Figure from NECA on Sale for Pre-order.
Elisabeth Brooks is Howling Mad and Buck Naked
Elisabeth Brooks, who played Marsha Quist and appeared nude in one key scene, was always very vocal in her objections to scenes that required full-frontal nudity. She said in an interview with US magazine after this movie was released that “In the past, I’ve always refused to do nude magazine work because I believe in the Bible and have morals.”
She added in the article entitled “Elisabeth Brooks is Howling Mad”, that “I was signed to do the movie on my acting ability alone. I was told the (nudity) would be smoke-screened by a bonfire and that you wouldn’t be able to see anything.” She said she had no issue being totally nude in front of the crew while filming that scene, but she had no idea they would show as much of her nudity as they did in the film. Before she saw the completed movie, Playboy published images of the nude footage, without Elisabeth’s approval, in the magazine’s annual “Sex in the Cinema” retrospect. With no heat waves nor smoke, it showed her disrobing near the embers of a very small blaze and clearly revealed her breasts and pubic hair. This ended up being her only nude scene in a movie during her career.
Banned in Britain
The movie loop playing during the adult shop scene was created just for the howling. The entire loop consisted of two sequences–one with a woman being attacked on top of a car by three men and one with a nude gagged woman on a bed (the sequence shown in “The Howling”). These scenes were to be included in their entirety as part of a DVD release but were banned by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) because of their eroticization of assault.
HAIRY LITTLE GREMLINS
Because of their work in this movie, Joe Dante and Michael Finnell received the opportunity to make the movie Gremlins (1984) for Steven Spielberg. That movie references “The Howling” with a smiley face image on a refrigerator door. Eddie Quist leaves yellow smiley face stickers as his calling card in several places all through this movie. Also James MacKrell’s character as news reporter Lew Landers appears in both “The Howling” and “Gremlins”, which suggest both movies share the same universe.
Werewolves and UFOs and Spielberg Oh My!
A subplot in the film is a series of incidents with mutilated cows. One of the characters blames UFOs for the incidents. These scenes seem to be inspired by several real-life incidents of cattle mutilation during the 1970s, primarily in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. A few news reports connected the incidents with UFO sightings in Kansas and Nebraska.
In one scene, Erle Kenton (played by John Carradine) mentions UFOs and cattle mutilation. Around the time he wrote the screenplay for “The Howling”, John Sayles was also working on a screenplay for Steven Spielberg known as “Night Skies”, which involved UFOs and cattle mutilation. However, the project was dropped when Spielberg chose to make E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) instead.
It’s also interesting to note that John Carradine played the vampire Count Dracula in House of Frankenstein (1944), directed by Erle C. Kenton which is the name of his character in the Howling. Erle C. Kenton most notably directed the early horror classic ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932).
Walter…Walter
Dick Miller’s memorable character in The Howling as the occult book shop owner is named Walter Paisley as was his character’s name in Roger Corman’s horror comedy classic, A Bucket of Blood (1959). You can also see Roger Corman in The Howling as the man waiting standing in front of the phone booth when Dee Wallace is talking to Eddie the Mangler.
Dick Miller has said that with his own movies, The Howling is his favorite.
American Werewolf in London Vs. The Howling
There is a debate in the critical community which werewolf effects are better; this film or An American Werewolf in London (1981). Most critics lean towards “London”; but both movie effects were heralded as revolutionary and highly influential in the world of film. What say you, viewers? American Werewolf or The Howling for special make up effects?
David Allen Stop Motion Animation
Stop-motion animation by David W. Allen, and puppetry was intended to give the werewolves an even more non-human look.
The stop-motion animation of the film was handled entirely by effects genius David W. Allen. Here is some unused footage of the animated werewolves for The Howling.
Written by John “Piranha” Sayles
Director Joe Dante and screenwriter John Sayles had previously collaborated about three years before The Howling on Piranha (1978). Sayles also had a role in the director’s later movie Matinee (1993). Sayles also wrote the memorable screenplay to ALLIGATOR from 1980. In The Howling, Sayles has a brief role as the coroner.
Horror Mike’s Old Stomping Grounds
“The Other Side Bookstore” seen in the film is actually the old Cherokee book store that your old pal Horror Mike used to frequent in his teen years. Cherokee along with Larry Edmunds were the prime places in La La Land to find rare movie posters, magazines, books and comics.
In one scene in the store, a patron played by none other than Forrest J Ackerman is seen carrying a few issues of his beloved “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine.
I hope you enjoyed this video about The Howling. As Always, please like and subscribe. thank you.
HUMANOIDS From The Deep 1980 Sci-Fi Horror Movie and Action Figure
HUMANOIDS From The Deep 1980
The Naked Truth Behind The 80s Sci-Fi HORROR Film. Humanoids from the Deep aka MONSTER is a 1980 sci-fi horror movie produced by Roger Corman starring Doug McClure, Ann Turkel, Vic Morrow, the voluptuous Lisa Glaser and Linda Shayne as the titillating Miss Salmon. Watch the video here.
Corman Adds More Gore and Nudity
Roger Corman felt that the picture needed more nudity, gore, and monster shots throughout, so he ordered scenes shot that showed the humanoids attacking and ripping the clothes off of other nubile young women. Director Barbara Peeters was a feminist who hated that idea and refused to shoot the scenes. Corman said he’d hire a second director and would get her feedback before using the new footage. She agreed to that. But Corman ended up never showing the new footage to her or the cast and other crew. They didn’t see them until the preview of the film. Peeters was furious, protesting that they were inserted purely to show gratuitous nudity. Corman also edited out many of the scenes dealing with the plot and character development in order to make room for the nudity and
Humanoids from the Deep action figure ON SALE NOW!
Humanoids From the Deep Action Figure
Typically I don’t like action figures because they rarely look like the character they’re supposed to be modeled after. However, the Monstarz four inch action figure based upon Humanoids from the Deep is spectacular.
None other than special effects master Rob “The Thing” Bottin created the Humanoid creatures and I could not believe the detail Monstarz got into this figure, the articulation is great and the price is right! Available in regular or glow in the dark at the Etsy Monstarz studio store.
Dead Alive 1992 Rat Monkey of Sumatra
Dead Alive aka Braindead from 1992 directed by Peter Jackson. This gory zombie cult classic movie features the fan favorite Rat Monkey of Sumatra that causes massive mayhem in the quaint 1950s New Zealand town of Wellington.
Watch the Dead Alive Video Here.
Lionel’s mum gets bitten by the infamous rat monkey while she spies on her son’s date at the local zoo. After Lionel takes her back to the house, she succumbs to the rat monkey’s deadly bite and dies…but not quite! She returns from the dead a ravenous, blood thirsty monster who infects many more. Soon, the quaint town of Wellington is overrun by insane flesh eating zombies!
More than thirty years after the release of this splatterific cult zombie movie masterpiece, you can own your very own life-size RAT MONKEY of SUMATRA as seen in the film!
MONSTARZ presents SIMIAN RATICUS aka the Sumatran Rat Monkey, a life-size 10″ high perfectly detailed foam latex replica of the original creature.
After the rat monkey attacks one of the other monkeys in the zoo, the zoo keeper tells Lionel and Paquita about it’s sordid history. “Story goes, these great big rats come scuttling off the slave ships and raped all the little tree monkeys. The natives use them in black magic rituals. Don’t ask me how, probably suck the blood of virgins, eh, eh?”
The excellent stop motion animation of the rat monkey was performed in part by director Peter Jackson himself. Now you can own a legit piece of horror film history with a finely detailed life-size replica prop of Simian Raticus!
If you can’t find the Rat Monkey of Sumatra on Monstarz’ studio site, please try this
Ebay link for more options.
Dateline: Florida
Independent comics publishers INDY PLANET have added Mike Lyddon’s acclaimed book Pre-code Horror Comics: Original Art Edition to their line up.
This large format 126 page art book features twelve complete original art horror stories from artists such as Bob Powell, Sid Check, Eugene Hughes, Robert Webb, and more.
This book also features dozens of original art comic book covers and their final full color published versions along with some preliminary sketches illustrating the process of creating memorable pre-code horror cover art!
BUY Precode Horror Comics: Original Art Edition on sale now!
Pre-Code Horror Comics – Original Art Edition 2024
Pre-code Horror Comics: Original Art Edition is a new 126 page large format book that contains 12 full length original art horror stories from artists such as Bob Powell, Sid Check, Eugene Hughes, Robert Webb, and more.
Edited by genre filmmaker and pre-code horror comic book fanatic Mike T. Lyddon (First Man on Mars, Witch Tales, Haunted Thrills), the book also features dozens of original art comic book covers and their final full color published versions along with some preliminary sketches illustrating the process of creating memorable pre-code horror cover art! Golden age comics masters including Harvey Comics’ legendary Warren Kremer, Lee Elias, John Chilly, Bernard Baily, and L.B. Cole, to name a few.
PLUS: We’ve added a few rarely seen UNPUBLISHED pre-code horror comics covers
that are sure to delight!
Buy it on INDY PLANET (U.S. and International)
NEW Customer Reviews!
“Great collection reprinting original art from classic pre-code horror comics! Highly recommended!” Captain October
“Super cool Pre-Code Horror stuff, great production value on the book, highly recommended for horror and comics fans!” cbetch
“Absolutely Fantastic Book!” wordsandpastimes
“Love the book, it’s amazing – packed with all the comic horror one needs!” Patrick B.
“A very unique horror comic and one every horror fan should have. Its an amazing deal from an amazing renaissance man that creates comics, movies and videos that are must see TV on Frightday Nights.” The Vinkris Collection
Some more examples from the book:
Return of the Ghoul from SPLASH of HORROR
Splash of Horror is now on INDY PLANET!
Volume one is a 64 page full color and black and white comic book all about the pre-code horror comics of the 1950’s! Presented in comic book format. Lyddon carefully sized the images to approximate the original dimensions as published in the golden age horror comic books.
Splash of Horror is filled with full color splash pages and fantastic black and white selections from Stanley Morse and Eerie Publications. Eerie pubs was originally owned by publisher Myron Fass. Fass was also a comic book artist in the 1950’s. Splash of Horror was edited by Mike Lyddon. Lyddon is an indie filmmaker responsible for the documentary HAUNTED THRILLS, and feature films such as FIRST MAN On MARS and WITCH TALES.
About the Author
Filmmaker Mike T. Lyddon is a pre-code horror comics fanatic who made the recent documentary HAUNTED THRILLS. The short doc won six awards for best short doc and was an official entry in 22 film festivals worldwide. He also shot a feature film based upon pre-code horror comic book stories called WITCH TALES. It is currently for rent on Amazon. While his pre-code horror comics collection is mostly reprints from Yoe Books and PS Artbooks, he does have a few original golden age horror comics. He likes to talk about them on his HORROR MIKE channel on Youtube.
Comic Book Titles and Artists
Splash of Horror presents a wide variety of pre-code comic book titles. These include Adventures into the Unknown, Voodoo, Journey into Fear, Weird Chills, Web of Evil, and many more. The array of fantastic comic book artists include Jack Kirby, Lin Streeter, Iger Shop, Bob Powell, Jack Cole, and Ross Andru. These artists represent some of the best from the golden age of comics.
Go to INDY PLANET and get your copy of SPLASH OF HORROR Today.
Dateline: Gatorville Fla.
Indie sci-fi horror filmmaker Mike T. Lyddon’s First Man on Mars / Witch Tales Blu-Ray combos have officially SOLD OUT. Many thanks to those who bought the combo or solo blu-rays of either movie, it is greatly appreciated and you are a true patron of the indie movie world!
Here’s the good news: You can still get the brand new 2023 limited signed and numbered blu-ray release of FIRST MAN ON MARS at a special low Halloween price!
Additionally, you can watch WITCH TALES on Amazon. Witch Tales is the perfect Halloween movie that literally takes place on Halloween night. A seductive witch hosts tales of terror adapted from pre-code horror comic book stories of the 1950’s, but when a group of trick or treaters comes along, she quickly develops other more sinister plans for All Hallows Eve!
Critics rave about WITCH TALES –
“WITCH TALES is a great anthology horror film that doesn’t hold back on the gore..”
– Ciao Handy
“SPOOKY and DISGUSTING” –House of Tortured Souls
“Delightful cartoonishness and plenty of practical gore…WITCH TALES is an enjoyable romp” – RUE MORGUE
“EFFECTIVELY GROSS EFFECTS” – Voices from the Balcony
“Lyddon knows how to tell a FRIGHT-FARE story well” – Ghastly Grinning
So settle back during Halloween season and watch WITCH TALES.
And don’t worry about the rats. They don’t bite…much!
21st Century Sci-Fi and HORROR Films Part 2-A
Greetings, fiends, today we’re continuing with our look at top sci-fi and horror films from the 21st century beginning with a great horror-comedy from 2010, PIRANHA 3D.
Piranha 3D was directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes remake) and stars Elisabeth Shue, Richard Dreyfuss, Ving Rhames, Jerry O’Connell. and Jessica Szohr.
Watch the 21st Century Sci-Fi and HORROR Films Video Here.
Piranha 3D Plot
Spring breakers and Lake Victoria locals try to avoid becoming fish food after an underwater tremor unleashes a swarm of prehistoric man-eating fish.
Buy the special edition Piranha 3D blu-ray in 3D!
The Ninth Gate (2000)
Hired by zealous occult scholar Boris Balkan to verify the authenticity of his most prized possession, unscrupulous New York City rare-book dealer Dean Corso is unaware that his life is in grave danger. Because, whether he likes it or not, forces beyond comprehension have already chosen him. And right from the start, thick mystery shrouds the diligent book detective’s peril-laden mission. Now, in this soul-condemning quest for clues, there is no turning back–from afar, a cryptic woman with a penetrating gaze follows Corso’s every step. But as the intricate mystical engravings of the diabolical leather-bound opus unfold their unfathomable secrets, only one will receive the key to dark enlightenment. However, the question remains. Who is worthy of the tome’s glorious black gifts and the ultimate truth of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows?
Buy The Ninth Gate Blu-ray on SALE HERE.
Hell Baby (2013)
An expectant couple who moves into the most haunted house in New Orleans call upon the services of the Vatican’s elite exorcism team to save them from a demonic baby.
Starring:Thomas Lennon, Rob Corddry, Leslie Bibb, Alex Berg, Keegan-Michael Key.
Directed by:Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon
Watch Hell Baby on Amazon Prime
The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu (2011)
Jeff is an ordinary guy that is stuck at a dead end job with a boring life, but when a strange old man gives him an Ancient relic and tells him that he is the last bloodline of H.P. Lovecraft, He and his friend Charlie embark on an adventure to protect the relic piece from falling into the hands of the Starspawn and his minions that wish to reunite the relic and release Cthulhu back into the world.
Starring:Kyle Davis, Devin McGinn, Matt Bauer, Honor Bliss
Directed by:Henry Saine
Watch The Last Lovecraft for FREE Now.
Geek War (2010)
There’s a mysterious VHS tape in the comic book shop of eccentric owner Deathbone. He has priced the tape at $1500, & in 25 years nobody could afford it… until now. Thus begins the Geek War. Two nerds fight to claim the tape as their own from the clutches of Tangerine, a hot dorky girl who bought the tape first. They pull every trick to seduce her in hopes of getting it from her.
Starring Jesse Ames, Andrew Baltes, Raine Brown, Billy Garberina, and Meredith Host.
Directed by Chris Seaver.
Watch Geek War For FREE Now.
Did Elon Musk Remove AI Sci-Fi Film Colossus The Forbin Project?
Watch the entire video here.
Almost two years ago, I discovered that one of my favorite science fiction films, Colossus: The Forbin Project from 1970 was suddenly removed from all streaming rental platforms.
Original AI COLOSSUS The Forbin Project
Based upon the 1966 novel Colossus by Dennis Feltham Jones, the classic 1970 sci-fi film Colossus the forbin project, directed by Joseph Sargent and starring Eric Braeden as Charles Forbin, tells the story of Charles Forbin, a scientst who creates a massive AI super computer called COLOSSUS that is capable of independently regulating the U.S. national defense. But his dream becomes a waking nightmare when it’s discovered that the Russians have built an equally sophisticated computer called GUARDIAN and that these two doomsday machines have linked.
Arriving at the conclusion that humans will destroy themselves and the world if left to their own devices, Colossus gives Forbin and humanity an ultimatum: Live in peace under the rule of Colossus as slaves or face extinction as a species.
So I made a video about it called “Colossus the forbin conspiracy” that you can find on my youtube channel. (show original thumb)
Colossus Sci-fi Film Missing from Major Platforms
As of December, 2024, Colossus the forbin project is still absent from all streaming rental platforms. Here are screenshots I grabbed only a few days ago – Amazon, Roku, Vudu-Fandango – The film is simply not available for rent or download from legitimate platforms. And yes, I know you can probably find it on illegal pirate sites. Whoopty doo.
The fact remains that, if it’s not on the major media platforms, Colossus is in effect being suppressed from the public, in other words, censored from view.
Colossus The Forbin Project Physical Media
The last DVD release of Colossus the forbin project was in 2004 and the last blu-ray release was by Shout Factory in 2018 and is still selling hundreds of copies per month. This is not some obscure science fiction film. Colossus was a major theatrical release by Universal Pictures in 1970 and today you’ll find it on many top 50 science fiction films of all time lists.
Theories behind the removal of Colossus
In my previous video, I posed several theories as to why the film was removed from the major platforms such as Universal got tired of making easy money on an old property and they yanked the film from distribution. Stupid theory.
Or….Universal is secretly planning a remake and they shelved the “outdated” original so it doesn’t interfere with the planned remake. Low degree of probability but it is possible. Around 2010 there were talks about a Colossus remake starring Will Smith (puke) but fortunately that never went through.
Another interesting theory concerns the current hysteria and hype surrounding AI. Universal may have removed the film because of its grim, Frankenstinian depiction of artificial intelligence gone rogue on its creators, taking over the world and enslaving humankind.
I now believe that the last theory is partially correct and the rest of the answer lies with Elon Musk and his new AI supercomputer called….wait for it…COLOSSUS.
Colossus: The Musk Project
Recently, a viewer left a comment about Colossus The Forbin Project and Elon Musk’s latest AI Supercomputer theorizing that Musk may have had Universal remove the film from all streaming platforms to protect the name of his new project called Colossus.
I was aware of Musk’s project and for months I simply thought “Hey, that’s cool he named it after the original Colossus the Forbin Project.”
But after that comment, things took a dark turn and I believe that it is possible that Elon Musk paid off Universal to remove the film from online distribution to stem the flow of bad press related to his own supercomputer project. Very easy to do when you’re worth 450 billion dollars.
Sifting through interviews with Elon Musk and the numerous articles published about his X AI Colossus supercomputer, I didn’t find one mention of Jones’ original book or the film adaptation Colossus the forbin project. It’s almost as if history is being erased. Eerily reminiscient of a certain book….“The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.”
But even more sinister is the idea of someone having a film removed for their own financial gain. Especially if it is someone like Elon Musk who tauts his social media platform X as the online haven for free speech, then turns around and makes a back door deal with a film distributor to completely remove a film from all video rental/download platforms, especially a landmark science fiction film like Colossus The Forbin Project which I consider to be incredibly relevant to what’s going on today with AI and supercomputers. It is a cautionary tale and one that needs to be seen, not censored.
However, if you take a good look around, you’ll see that people today are not only less interested in the past, they consider themselves separate and superior to it and that narrow minded hubris will certainly spell trouble for the future.
Or to quote Orwell one more time- “Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”
Once again, this is just another theory. I am not accusing anyone of doing anything, I’m simply posing the question.