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Things often end up going out of control while filming or reading for intense scenes in a film and Val Kilmer’s The Doors is no stranger to this. The 1991 film was based on the short life of musician Jim Morrison and was titled after his rock band. The film focuses on many elements of the late singer’s life including his experience with hard drugs. The role of the vocalist was played by Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan played his girlfriend, Pamela Courson.

A still from Oliver Stone’s The Doors (1991) | Bill Graham Films

However, before Meg Ryan was cast in the role, another actress read for the part – Caitlin O’Heaney. Unfortunately, things took a wrong turn for the actress who stated that she was punched in the face by Val Kilmer during a reading as the actor took method acting to a whole new level.

Caitlin O’Heaney...

Armand Mastroianni's 1980 "He Knows You're Alone" might have borrowed a number of shots from John Carpenter's 1978 film "Halloween." It might have drawn from that movie's score, and it might have conceived of its unstoppable villain in a similar way. But it doesn't deserve to be left in the margins of the '80s slasher movie boom, especially given that it isn't a lesser entry in the genre.

Despite the movie being a decent-sized hit at the time of its release, grossing nearly $5 million per BoxOfficeMojo, it has largely been forgotten, outside of an early Tom Hanks appearance as a jogger. Compared to the best-known entries in the slasher subgenre of horror, there wasn't any kind of easy iconography to get absorbed into mainstream pop culture. Its relatively low budget means that there's fairly limited coverage and occasional bits of technical cost-cutting. But there's a strong sense of dread throughout,...

In the 2021 documentary "Val," movie star Val Kilmer makes a delicate confession. "I have behaved poorly." He then adds, "I have behaved bravely, bizarrely to some." It's a moving film in large part because this once vibrantly talented performer has lost his voice to throat cancer, and you're inclined to accept the apology and let the past be the past. The archival footage shot by the actor is so lovingly strung together that it would feel jarringly inappropriate to reckon with what a jerk he could be during the height of his stardom.

According to a very well-sourced 1996 Entertainment Weekly article by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh, Kilmer got into a shoving match with his "Batman Forever" director Joel Schumacher. ​​"He was being irrational and ballistic with the first Ad, the cameraman, the costume people," he said. "He was badly behaved, he was rude and inappropriate. I was forced to tell him that...

Like many '60s rock stars, Jim Morrison lived fast, died young, and became a music icon. Known for his soothing voice, poetic lyrics, and public antics, The Doors' leadman was celebrated for pushing boundaries with his music and lyrics after bursting onto the rock scene in the late '60s. In addition to pushing boundaries on stage, Morrison exposed himself on stage, mocked concert audiences, and experimented with hard drugs. In 1971, "The Lizard King" joined the tragic 27 club when he died of heart failure in a french bathtub. It's suspected that drugs contributed to Morrison's death, but an autopsy wasn't performed.

Never one to shy away from a controversial event or character, Oliver Stone co-wrote and directed "The Doors," a biopic focused on Morrison and his chaotic life. After portraying an elite navy pilot in the '80s hit, "Top Gun," Val Kilmer grew his hair, slid into skintight leather pants,...

Now playing on Amazon Prime, “Val” is a documentary that reveals an insider’s perspective of what it’s like to be a Hollywood actor. Like Oscar-winner “Amy,” archival footage is the secret sauce — in this case, shot by subject Val Kilmer himself and saved over the decades in a cavernous vault. Kilmer brought in editor Leo Scott a decade ago to digitize that footage. Several years later, Scott and another editor-director, Ting Poo, pitched Kilmer on turning his trove of material into a first-person documentary narrative about his so-called Hollywood life.

With any non-fiction film like this, getting access and keeping it is key to success. And yet the question when it comes to this sort of celebrity profile is always: How honest and authentic is the story? What has been left out? And, in the case of a film like “Val,” if the filmmakers work for the subject,...

Now playing on Amazon Prime, “Val” is a documentary that reveals an insider’s perspective of what it’s like to be a Hollywood actor. Like Oscar-winner “Amy,” archival footage is the secret sauce — in this case, shot by subject Val Kilmer himself and saved over the decades in a cavernous vault. Kilmer brought in editor Leo Scott a decade ago to digitize that footage. Several years later, Scott and another editor-director, Ting Poo, pitched Kilmer on turning his trove of material into a first-person documentary narrative about his so-called Hollywood life.

With any non-fiction film like this, getting access and keeping it is key to success. And yet the question when it comes to this sort of celebrity profile is always: How honest and authentic is the story? What has been left out? And, in the case of a film like “Val,” if the filmmakers work for the subject,...

Stars: Nick Damici, Ethan Embry, Tom Noonan, Tina Louise, Rutanya Alda, Caitlin O’Heaney, Lance Guest, Erin Cummings, Larry Fessenden | Written by Eric Stolze | Directed by Adrián García Bogliano

Nick Damici has been a familiar face in the horror genre for years now. Primarily working with writer/director Jim Mickle, on whose films he has also co-written, this gruff, large but still oddly charming presence has impressed before but he was never given a true lead part until this film. With Mickle uninvolved, although long-time cohort Larry Fessenden produces and pops up in a cameo role, Damici takes centre stage in Late Phases, a film with the wonderfully juicy premise of a blind ‘Nam veteran getting revenge on a werewolf after it kills his best friend.

It feels appropriate to base this review around Damici as he is the chugging motor which drives the film and the beating heart which actually makes you invest in it.

We’re only a little over a month away from Halloween now, kiddies, and Tuesday’s home entertainment releases are primed to get you ready for the haunting season. John Carpenter’s classic adaptation of Stephen King’s Christine is making its way to Blu-ray on September 29th, as well as the cult slasher film Savage Weekend, which is being presented by the fine folks over at Kino Lorber.

For those of you Cannon Films fans out there, Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films documentary is arriving on DVD this week and Kevin Bacon’s latest outstanding thriller, Cop Car, is also coming to Blu and DVD September 29th. A handful of indie horror films are also being released this week, and for those of you out there with genre-loving progeny, a few fun movies perfect for younger viewers will arrive on home media as well.

Christine (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment,...

In this morning's round-up, we have details on not one, not two, but three slasher films. Savage Weekend, Angst, and The Mutilator are set to be released on Blu-ray between late summer and early fall.

Savage Weekend: From Kino Lorber: "Coming September 29th! On Blu-ray and DVD! From a Brand New 2015 HD Master!

Savage Weekend (1979) Starring Christopher Allport, David Gale, Caitlin O'Heaney, Jeff Pomerantz, William Sanderson and Yancy Butler. Written and Directed by David Paulsen.

Blu-ray, packaging, and extras all produced by Walt Olsen (Scorpion Releasing). Another one of his recommendations!

Special Features:

On camera interview with star William Sanderson On camera interview with star Caitlin O'Heaney On camera interview with star Jeff Pomeranz Original Theatrical Trailer"

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Angst: Gerald Kargl's Angst will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 18th.

Blu-ray.com reports that "Independent U.S. distributors Cult Epics will release on...

There’s a lot of talent that worked on Late Phases. Adrian Garcia Bogliano, director of tight little Argentinian genre exercises like Cold Sweat, Penumbra and Here Comes the Devil, directs Nick Damici, a filmmaker in his own right and the capable leading man of indie horror darlings Mulberry Street and Stake Land. Damici is supported by immediately recognizable character actors like Lance Guest, Tom Noonan, Ethan Embry, Caitlin O'Heaney and Tina Louise. It’s produced by Larry Fessenden, one of the hardest working producers in B horror, who brought us The Innkeepers and The House of the Devil. Makeup legend Robert Kurtzman (Oz the Great and Powerful, Hostel, Hulk) did the creature effects. The names may not be household, but for horror fanatics, Late Phases...

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A while back we passed along the news that Nick Damici (Stake Land) is heading up the cast of Late Phases, the first English-language horror film from Here Comes the Devil director Adrian Garcia Bogliano. Now we're stoked to announce that principal photography has officially begun on the film in upstate New York, with new cast members added to the lineup.   Along with Damici, the starring lineup now includes Ethan Embry (Cheap Thrills), Erin Cummings (Spartacus), Lance Guest (Halloween II, The Last Starfighter), and  Tom Noonan (Manhunter, House Of The Devil). Supporting players will include cinema & TV veterans Tina Louise, Karen Lynn Gorney, Caitlin O'Heaney and Rutanya Alda.   Late Phases is the story of a blind vet who discovers that residents of a retirement community are falling victim to what at first seem to be dog attacks... but as he soon learns firsthand, the truth turns out to be much more terrifying.

Tales of the Gold Monkey was a fun 80s series from the prolific mind of Donald Bellisario, the man who brought you NCIS, Quantum Leap, Magnum P.I., Jag and more Now it has been announced that Fabulous Films and Shout! Factory will be releasing a DVD set of the complete series June 8, 2010. Included in the DVD are the 2 hour pilot movie and the 20 subsequent hour long episodes -- uncut. Extras include: a brand new 36 minute "Making Of" documentary featuring Stephen Collins, Caitlin O'Heaney, writer/producer Tom Greene and director Harvey Laidman, episode commentary by Tom Greene (5 episodes); series synopsis; stills gallery; Caitlin's original costume gallery; artefacts gallery and a 24 page Collectors Booklet.