One of Britain's great classic film companys,
Hammer Horror Productions are to get a new revival... from the Dutch of all people! Dutch producer
John de Mol has acquired the rights to the whole Hammer back catalogue (around 300 films!!) and the plan now is to release 2 or 3 movies a year under it's new banner. Talk is also under-way about a U.K. based T.V. series, which would be absolutely awesome. From
Variety...
"Hammer is a great British media brand that has lain dormant but lived on in people's imaginations. It is more intelligent and character-driven than traditional American 'goreography,' and we intend to capitalize on this and make it a global brand,"
I'm in two minds over this. Although it's absolutely superb that Hammer Horror is making a return, there is a great sadness to the fact that something extremely British, has been shipped off to the Dutch. However, if they can produce some killer horror movies under the studio's label, then I will be very happy to see them return. I loved how outrageous the
Peter Cushing and
Christopher Lee movies were from the 50's, 60's and 70's. It was kinda of our answer to the Universal Horror which had dominated the market the for the previous couple of decades. My favourites for anyone taking note...
The Hound of the Baskervilles,
The Curse of Frankenstein,
Dracula Maybe this will mean we get to see some cool new Hammer Horror DVD's too. Or how about a Christopher Lee cameo in one of the new movies? How cool would that be?