Chadwick H. Saxelid's Blog: Ghoulies, Ghosties, and Long-Leggedy Beasties, page 20

The Thing (1982) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - June 20, 1982
I would not be able to see The Thing until Saturday, June 26. But, if I had been in San Francisco at the time, I totally would have tried to attend this preview screening at the Royal Theater. 

Alien (1979) - Trading Card #59

With spirits high following the recovery of Kane, the Nostromo crew gathers together for a hardy supper.

Another card, another continuity error. This image is not from the infamous dinner scene. It is from earlier in the film, when Dallas explains to the rest of the crew that the ship has been diverted so they can investigate a signal of unknown origin.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - Soundtrack

The best thing about this score is Silvestri's instantly memorable five-note fanfare for Cap. Yet that fanfare also has an ironic weakness. Its rousing chest-thumping projection of strength, resilience, and nostalgic Americana is ill-suited for subtler or gentler referencing or interpolation within the narrative underscore. While the fanfare is great for a dramatic punctuation whenever Cap does some heroic feat, or makes a dramatic entrance, it is ill-equipped for anything else.
Which is appropriate for Cap, considering how every conflict is rooted in Cap's rigid and inflexible beliefs standing firm against beliefs and forces that oppose him. Making the fanfare's ballsy intractability a perfect auditory representation for how out of step the man is with just about everyone and everything around him. Nice.

Ben (1972) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - June 19, 1972
Although the original Willard was a yet another seeming staple of our syndication channels and afternoon movie time slots, I remember its sequel Ben as being a tad more scarce on that front. My memory has it that I might not have seen it until I was able to rent it on home video, although I also recall watching it when it was on The 3:30 Movie.

But does it really matter?

Picking up right where Willard ended, Ben and his army of rats proceed to do nothing all that interesting. The one great thing about this movie is its Academy Award nominated song, performed by the late Michael Jackson.

The Blair Witch Project (1999) - Trading Card #61

The House
In the middle of their final night, Heather and Mike were awakened once again by the distant, anguished cries of what appeared to be Josh. "Somebody! Please!" the muffled voice shouted. "That can't be him," said Mike. "Somebody! C'mon, help me! Heather!" Mike grabbed the video camera while Heather took the 16mm camera and both followed Josh's voice through the woods. They finally came upon an old, abandoned house...

No tale of the supernatural would be complete without a spectral and spooky dilapidated house for the spirit(s) to infest. Right?

When they arrived at the house, I had no idea that it was supposed to be Rustin Parr's. Parr being the fictitious child murderer mentioned during the interviews with the townspeople.

The filming location was a dilapidated place known as Griggs House. After the release of The Blair Witch Project it became something of a tourist attraction and was being picked apart by opportunistic visitors, which only caused further damage and increased danger of injury to those venturing inside.

Although an attempt was made to preserve the house, it was demolished. So it goes.

The Day of the Triffids (1963) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - June 18, 1963
I never really understood just how bungled this film adaptation was until I had the pleasure of reading John Wyndham's source novel. The difference between the two is akin to that between night and day.

That sad fact acknowledged, this 1963 movie does have some stilted b-movie charm to it, if taken on its own terms.

Alien (1979) - Trading Card #59

Only hours after Kane's horrifying experience, he appears to have totally recovered. Some simple investigating reveals the lifeless remains of the once-fearsome monster.

Okay, that is one whopper of a continuity error they got there. I'm guessing no useable, or workable, images of the lifeless Face Hugger were available or allowed, so they used this image from a memorable set piece later on in the film. 

Capricorn One (1978) - Soundtrack

I remember looking forward to seeing Capricorn One, way back in 1978, because I thought it was going to be about a rescue mission to retrieve astronauts that had crashed on Mars. When I learned that the astronauts never got off of terra firma, my interest cratered and I did not see the film until it made its television debut. 

It comes as no surprise that the very first thing I noticed about the movie was its score, which Jeff Bond's liner notes describe as opening with a "vivid, percussive anthem for orchestra."
For far too long I had to make do with the truncated 35 minute re-recorded soundtrack album, which smoothed and softened the score's tough, astringent, and avant-garde touches into a more retail market friendly symphonic sound.
Listening to the actual film music now, I agree with Bond's closing observation that Goldsmith's "score is more complicated, uncompromising and experimental than its re-recorded album indicated."
A fact that also explains why Goldsmith would continue to mine and explore the themes he created for Capricorn One, leading him to craft the memorable 5/8 musical powerhouses for the Rambo films and so many others.

Alien (1979) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - June 17, 1979
A month or so after its exclusive San Francisco screenings began unspooling at the Northpoint, Alien finally opened at theaters and drive-ins closer to me. I am pretty sure that we saw it at the Hayward Festival.

The Blair Witch Project (1999) - Trading Card #60

Heather's Confession
"I just want to apologize to Mike's mom, and Josh's mom, and my mom. I am so, so sorry for everything that has happened. Because in spite of what Mike says now it was my fault. Because it was my project and I insisted... I insisted on everything. I insisted that we weren't lost. I insisted that we keep going. I insisted that we walk south...everything had to be my way. And this is where we ended up. And it's all because of me that we're here now... hungry, cold... and hunted." 

And here we have one of the most iconic upshots in horror cinema history. Everybody knows it. No pun intended.