MMM: Horror Nostalgia 1990s

The 90s were a boom time for Horror TV and movies.  There were many fun, high-quality shows -- just take a look!

Horror TV shows from the 90s:

Forever Knight (1992-1996)
An 800-year-old vampire, Nick Knight (Geraint Wyn Davies) works as a homicide detective while endeavoring to keep the fact that he’s a vampire from his co-workers. By doing so, he hopes to make up for his past evil deeds and become mortal again.
Interesting Note:  Ten years after this Canadian show ended, it’s premise was revived in America in a show called “Moonlight” about a vampire detective.  That show only lasted a year.

The X-Files (1993-2002)
Cast:  David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson
Two FBI agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.
Interesting Notes:

• Recurring use of the number 1013.  Ten Thirteen is the name of Chris Carter's production company; his birthday is October 13, 1956.  The number 1121 also appears often; it's creator Chris Carter's wife, Dori's, birthday.

• The character Senator Richard Matheson is named after Richard Matheson, whose writing inspired "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," the show that inspired Chris Carter to create "The X-Files."

• Props from Mulder's X-Files office are currently on display at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum in Los Angeles.  According to the museum, the famous "I Want to Believe" UFO poster from the office continually had to be replaced on the set as copies kept disappearing.  The poster on display at the museum is reportedly one of the last available copies of the original set-used posters.

• In the early years of the series, Mulder is a firm believer in extraterrestrials and Scully is skeptical.  In reality, Gillian Anderson is the believer and David Duchovny is the skeptic. 

Poltergeist: The Legacy, TV Series (1996-1999)
"The Legacy," a secret society that began many centuries ago, accumulates knowledge and artifacts to fight against the world’s evil.  The Legacy resides in San Francisco in a castle-like house on Angel Island.  Dr. Derek Rayne (Derek de Lint) heads up the team comprised of psychiatrist, Rachel Corrigan (Helen Shaver); priest, Philip Callaghan (Patrick Fitzgerald); ex-Navy SEAL, Nick Boyle (Martin Cummins); and researcher/psychic Alexandra Moreau (Robbi Chong).


 

Millenium (1996-1999)
This series was created by Chris Carter (“X-Files”) and stars Lance Henrikson (the android in “Aliens”).  Henrikson plays Frank Black, an ex-FBI profiler who works for the mysterious Millennium Group that takes a special interest in serial killers and end of the world prophecies.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
A teen moves from the dangerous streets of L.A. to quiet Sunnydale only to learn that every possible horrible creature calls Sunnydale home, and only she can destroy them
Interesting Notes:

• Series star Sarah Michelle Gellar initially auditioned for the role of Cordelia Chase, and Charisma Carpenter, who plays Cordelia, auditioned for the role of Buffy.  Others who auditioned for Buffy and got other roles include Julie Benz (Darla),  Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy Madison),  Julia Lee (Anne) and Mercedes McNab (Harmony).  Other actresses considered for the lead role of Buffy also included Katie Holmes and Selma Blair.

• Bianca Lawson, who played Kendra the Vampire Slayer in season 2, originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia.

• Nathan Fillion (Caleb) originally auditioned for the role of Angel when the show was first being cast in late 1996.

• Danny Strong (Jonathan) originally auditioned for the role of Xander.

• Ryan Reynolds was originally offered the role of Xander.

• Seth Green played Oz, the boyfriend of Alyson Hannigan.  He also played her boyfriend in "My Stepmother is an Alien." 

The Hunger (1997-2000)
Host:  David Bowie
This show was a horror anthology like “Tales From the Darkside,” but with more lurid and erotic stories.

Angel (1999-2004)
The vampire Angel (David Boreanaz), cursed with a soul, moves to Los Angeles and aids people with supernatural-related problems while questing for his own redemption.  A spin-off of the extremely successful “Buffy.”

So Weird (1999-2001) 
Disney Channel: Fiona “Fi” Phillips (Cara DeLizia) experiences supernatural and paranormal things like vampires, werewolves and ghosts while traveling around the country with her brother, her friend and her mom.  Then she posts her experiences on her website called "So Weird."


Horror Films of the 1990s:

Arachnophobia (1990)
Darkman (1990)
Flatliners (1990)
It (1990)
Misery (1990)
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Cape Fear (1991)
Phantom of the Opera (1991)
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Candyman (1992)
Dracula (1992)
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992)
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Body Snatchers (1993)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
The Stand (1994)
Wolf (1994) (I never knew Jack Nicholson could be such a sexy werewolf!)
Copycat (1995)
The Craft (1996)
Diabolique (1996)
The Frighteners (1996)
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Scream (1996)
Thinner (1996)
Anaconda (1997)
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Mimic (1997)
The Relic (1997)
Blade (1998)
The Faculty (1998)
Godzilla (1998)
The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Bone Collector (1999)
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
End of Days (1999)
House on Haunted Hill (1999)
The Mummy (1999)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Storm of the Century (1999)



These TV shows and films are some of the best ever made,  but I have to say I love the ones of the 2000s even more.  Join me tomorrow and see if you agree!

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