Venganza Media Gazette

Tech, TV, Movies, Games, and More

Corn Connection: Familiar faces in ‘Fields’

corn5

The Now Playing Podcast review of Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror went online Tuesday, and while I won’t spoil the review, I will say the film has something going for it; this entry boasts the most recognizable cast in the series.

That doesn’t mean they’re all A-listers. It just means I know who they are. I’ve seen them on TV or film, some in better productions and some in ones less noteworthy than the fourth Children of the Corn sequel.

Still, it’s a welcome relief after desperately scraping the bottom of IMDB to find connections in the previous Corn films.

Check out some of these names: Kane Hodder, Eva Mendes, David Carradine, Fred Williamson, Alexis Arquette, Ahmet Zappa. There are even more; actors and actresses I recognize from Escape from New York and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and Arquette’s not the only Pulp Fiction alum in the cast.

But as much as I enjoy seeing familiar faces, The Corn Connection doesn’t list their resumes, just their places in the Now Playing Podcast archives.

So let’s get started:

Kane Hodder (Bartender)Friday the 13th Retrospective Series, Daredevil & Elektra Retrospective, Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses & Devil’s Rejects Retrospective Series

I thought it best to get Hodder out of the way first, because he’s Jason Voorhees!

Hodder played the iconic screen slasher in four Friday the 13th films, all of them covered during Now Playing’s first retrospective series in 2009.

I didn’t want to get into Hodder’s stunt credits, because I’m focusing on films where he portrayed a character.

You can also catch Hodder in the Now Playing Podcast review of 2003’s Daredevil, part of the Marvel Movie Retrospective. He also had an uncredited role in Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects, a film reviewed by Now Playing in 2009.

Alexis Arquette (Greg)Child’s Play Retrospective Series, Sometimes They Come Back Retrospective Series

At the time of Children of the Corn V’s release in 1998, Arquette already had a pretty good-sized resume, with roles in Pulp Fiction and Threesome. He was even the vampire DJ in 1992’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer (something I learned just now).

Arquette’s breakout role would also come in 1998, when he co-starred in Adam Sandler’s The Wedding Singer. But this same year he also had a role as Jennifer Tilly’s doomed neighbor Damien in Bride of Chucky, a film that was covered by Now Playing, but was only available to donors.

The actor popped up again earlier this year when Now Playing covered Sometimes They Come Back… Again as part of the ongoing Stephen King retrospective.

Eva Mendes (Kir)Ghost Rider Retrospective Series

Fields of Terror was the first film for Mendes, who was just a few years away from becoming a Hollywood star. Despite appearances alongside leading men such as Johnny Depp, Will Smith and Steven Seagal, Mendes only appears once in the Now Playing Podcast archives; when she co-starred with Nicolas Cage in 2007’s Ghost Rider.

Adam Wylie (Ezeekial)Child’s Play Retrospective Series

Wylie was a child actor in the 90s who many people remember from his role on Picket Fences.

He appeared one other time in a film covered by Now Playing Podcast; 1990’s Child’s Play 2.

Gary Bullock (Farmer)Robocop Retrospective Series

Bullock has credits in two films covered by Now Playing Podcast, playing separate characters in Robocop 2 and Robocop 3. He’s credited as “Hack Doctor” in the former, and “Gas Station Clerk” in the latter.

Edward Edwards (Lilly’s Father)Robocop Retrospective Series

Mr. Edwards’ resume include a number of minor television and film credits, including the the role of “Manson” in 1987’s Robocop.

Danny Goldring (Mr. O’Brien)Batman Retrospective Series

This actor is credited as “Grumpy” in 2008’s The Dark Knight, a film featured in Now Playing’s 2012 Batman Retrospective Series.

I had to research the name Grumpy, and I assumed he was one of the clowns who take part in the bank robbery that opens the film. I was right. Goldring is the one leading the robbery; he’s the one with the most lines, including the memorable, “What bus driver?”

So that’s a pretty good lineup for a Corn sequel. Before sneaking a peek at IMDB for next week’s entry, make sure you listen to this week’s episode of Now Playing Podcast.

Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!

 

September 17, 2014 Posted by | Now Playing Podcast, Podcasts | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Corn Connection: Familiar faces in ‘Fields’

Corn Connection: ‘The Gathering’ surprises with actual stars

“This can’t be right, I know these people.” – Arnie Ccorn4

Now Playing Podcast surprised listeners Monday night with the early release of its Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering review, the latest entry in the Stephen King Retrospective Series.

The film was certainly not in award contention when it hit video stores in 1996, but many of its stars may look familiar to viewers, and one member of the cast would go on to greater fame and an Academy Award nomination.

In this week’s Corn Connection, we’re taking that star’s resume, along with the rest of the Corn IV cast, and pointing you toward their places in the Now Playing Podcast archives:

Naomi Watts (Grace Rhodes) DC Heroes Retrospective Series

Naomi Watts is a household name today, but the 21 Grams and Mulholland Drive actress had just a few indie credits under her belt when she headlined in The Gathering. Her most notable role at the time of the film’s release was alongside Lori Petty in Tank Girl, a poorly-received adaptation of the British comic book.

Tank Girl was reviewed in 2013 as part of Now Playing’s DC Heroes Retrospective Series.

Karen Black (June Rhodes) – Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil’s Rejects Retrospective Series

Karen Black, who passed away last year, had enjoyed a long career before appearing in Children of the Corn IV. Today she is celebrated as a pioneering “Scream Queen” and horror fans may know her best from her role as Mother Firefly in director Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses.

Now Playing reviewed House and its sequel, The Devil’s Rejects, in 2009.

William Windom (Doc Larson)Planet of the Apes Retrospective Series

This actor’s IMDB resume lists more than 250 credits, but he wasn’t a star in the Now Playing universe until this past summer, when the hosts reviewed Escape from the Planet of the Apes, a show that was made available during the Spring 2014 Donation Series.

Marietta Marich (Rosa Nock)The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Retrospective Series

Marich should be recognizable to Now Playing listeners; she played Luda Mae Hewitt, the matriarch of the crazed clan that raised Leatherface in 2003’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its 2006 prequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.

Both films were covered during 2010’s Chainsaw retrospective.

Harrison Young (Drifter)Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil’s Rejects Retrospective Series

Another actor who went on to work for Rob Zombie, Harrison Young starred as doomed father Don Willis in House of 1000 Corpses. You might also recognize him as the elder Private Ryan in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan.

Overall, those are some pretty good connections. Things should pick up next week when Now Playing covers the fifth (of nine!) Corn entries. We won’t spoil it, just go to IMDB if you’re curious.

Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!

September 9, 2014 Posted by | News, Now Playing Podcast, Podcasts | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Corn Connection: ‘The Gathering’ surprises with actual stars