“31 Nights Of Terror” The 2012 Annual 4E Awards

Anyone who is a fan of horror or science fiction knows who Forry Ackerman was. He gave more to the industry than anyone else. He coined the term sci-fi and inspired the likes of Stephen King, John Landis, Steven Spielberg, and many others. He was the editor of Famous Monsters Of Filmland and held the largest collection of movie memorabilia anywhere in his famed Ackermuseum.

I’ve been lucky enough to have counted Uncle Forry as a friend since 1991, when I first visited the Ackermuseum. I’ve spent many hours and meals with him and miss him greatly.

I was invited to write and perform an original song tribute to Forry in January of 2000. It was my honor to perform the piece in front of a room of invited guests with Forry by my side. I was told that the plaque, containing the lyrics, remained one of his prized processions until the day he died, long after most of his collection had been sold.

In honor of Forry, Upcomingdiscs will present our award for the best that horror home video had to offer from one Halloween to the next. I call them 4E based on a keychain Forry once gave me that said “4E 4E remember me with every key”. Upcomingdiscs will remember Forry each and every Halloween with the annual 4E Awards.

This year the selections were made from among the staff here at Upcomingdiscs.

To be eligible a film must have been released on home video since last Halloween.

And now … the third Annual 4E Awards. (click continue to see our selections).Best Release: Cabin In The Woods

The Avengers wasn’t Joss’s only winner in 2012. This one is a hoot and took the award by as close to unanamous as we’ve ever had here.

Runner up: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Steven Spielberg wasn’t the first out with an Abe Lincoln film in 2012. This one is a ton of fun.

Best Director: Drew Goddard for Cabin In The Woods.

They threw everything but the kitchen sink into this film. You gotta give props to the guy who kept it all together.

Runner Up: Declan O’Brien for Wrong Turn 5.

I had to break a tie here, but Declan is one of the most resourceful guys out there.

Best Story: Cabin In The Woods.

Starting to see a pattern here at all. Our staff really liked this movie..

Runner Up: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Hey, it’s Honest Abe and Vampires now that’s a story.

Best Actor: Michael Fassbender in Prometheus.

No question his outstanding performance was the best thing about this prequel.

Runner Up: Ian Somerhalder in The Vampire Diaries.

This guy can say more with a look than most actors can in hours of trying. This is the face of evil.

Best Actress: Jessica Lange in American Horror Story: The Complete First Season

Not since she made out with King Kong has Jessica looked this good on screen.

Runner Up: Sara Paxton in The Innkeepers.

Best Music: Henry Jackman for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

The music never intrudes and it helps create some outstanding atmosphere.

Runner Up: Marc Streitenfeld in Prometheus.

Some pretty creepy stuff here.

Best Make-Up: The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season.

KNB delivers film effects on a television budget..

Runner Up: Cabin In The Woods.

There’s just about every kind of creature ever known here. You’ve got to watch the film like a zillion times just to see it all.

Best Classic Re-Release: Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Blu-ray Collection

If you’re a horror fan this is where it all started. Universal gives us great restored versions of 8 of the best horror films of all time.

Runner Up: Jaws.

This is one of the best films of all time…period. It looks better than ever on this Blu-ray release. I’m afraid to go in the water all over again.

Well … that’s what we think. Feel free to leave your own comments and your own choices.

Happy Halloween … until next year when you’ll experience another 31 Nights Of Terror 

Until then let me leave you with my tribute to the classic monsters. It’s called Man Created A Man. Enjoy 🙂