Nick's Pix: "THE CHINA SYNDROME"

The beautiful Lake Theater in downtown Oak Park. Home of the Classic Cinemas 'Nick's Pix' Film Series.

Every second Wednesday of the month, I am honored to host a fun movie screening at the beautiful Lake Theater in Oak Park.

We call it Classic Cinemas 'Nick's Pix' Film Series, and each month I show a movie that I love, and have chosen to share with my fans and movie freaks alike. Each movie is introduced by me, and followed by an informative and fun talk, loaded with behind-the-scenes stories and facts about the movie, and some trivia with great prizes given away.

It's a terrific night out, a great way to meet and hang out, and a cool opportunity to see an outstanding movie on the big screen in a gorgeous & legendary movie palace!

Check out this video interview I did with the cool guys from #oakparkill, previewing my entire season.

I am so excited about my next 'Nick's Pix' film THE CHINA SYNDROME, one of the best thrillers of the 70's.

It's directed by James Bridges, and stars Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas (who also produced), and Wilford Brimley. It follows a television reporter and her cameraman who discover safety coverups at a nuclear power plant.

"China syndrome" is a fanciful term that describes a fictional result of a nuclear meltdown, where reactor components melt through their containment structures and into the underlying earth, "all the way to China."

THE CHINA SYNDROME premiered at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or while Lemmon received the Best Actor Prize.

It was theatrically released on March 16, 1979, twelve days before the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which gave the film's subject matter an unexpected prescience, leading it to become a critical and commercial success.

The film received four nominations at the 52nd Academy Awards: Best Actor (for Lemmon), Best Actress (for Fonda), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Art Direction.

A great film that is rarely shown on the big screen! Get your tickets NOW at classiccinemas.com/nick

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That's me in the lobby of the Lake Theater next to the poster featuring the first 4 films in my 'Nick's Pix' Film Series. Hope you can make it out!

PHICTION: Tales from the World of "Phantasm."

In the spring of 1979 a low-budget horror film called "Phantasm" was released, and to put it mildly, I lost my (almost) 14 year-old mind. I had never seen anything like it (and I had seen HUNDREDS of horror movies by that point in my life), I loved it, and became obsessed with it.

It was so crazy, it got to the point where I went to the theater to see it over 100 times that summer...I am not kidding, over 100 times in the theater from the summer of 1979, well into 1980.

The insane originality of the movie, the cool gore and special effects, the outstanding and haunting score, the scary characters, the legendary flying "Silver Sphere" that flew through the air before drilling into victims' skulls and draining their blood...EVERYTHING about "Phantasm" rocked my world.

But, my favorite thing about the movie was the fact that a 14 year-old kid (played magnificently by the awesome Michael Baldwin) was the hero of the movie.

Michael Baldwin, the 14 year-old protagonist of "Phantasm." And my hero.

This kid (my age, who dressed like I did, talked like I did, etc.) got to do the coolest shit in the world, like ride bad-ass motorcycles, drive an incredible muscle car, shoot shotguns, fight with demons and dwarves, get sucked into another dimension, look at boobs, and save the day from the evil "Tall Man."

In short, Michael became my hero, and I vicariously lived my horror fantasies through him every week while seeing "Phantasm" over and over again in big old movie theaters.

Cut to MANY years later: I am now a host/moderator/presenter with The Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, and I am told that the entire cast, and Don Coscarelli, the writer/director of "Phantasm," will be attending the convention, and I will meet them, moderate their Q&A, and hang with them.

To say it was a dream come true is a massive understatement, as they were nicer, kinder, and cooler than you could ever imagine, and, incredibly, I became friends with all of them. We have stayed in touch for over almost 20 years (sadly, the great Angus Scrimm, who played The Tall Man passed away in 2016) and I am thrilled anytime I get to see them, or talk to them.

I am unbelievably thrilled that Don Coscarelli will be returning to Flashback Weekend in a couple of weeks to promote his new book, "Phiction," and he will be my guest, on stage (with my co-host Esmeralda Leon), for "The Nick D Podcast LIVE" on the convention stage at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 at 12:30pm (Central). It's gonna be AMAZING, you can't miss it.

Me and the great Don Coscarelli, writer/director of "Phantasm" and author of "Phiction." This was taken at The Flashback Weekend Horror Convention a few years back.

So, the book...it is magnificent.

Here's what I wrote to Mr. Coscarelli right after reading "Phiction":

"These stories are beautifully written, remarkably detailed, and compelling to read. The styles of the narratives vary in such smart fashion, that each story seems as if it could have been written by a different author, and yet they are undeniably connected on every creative level.

The inclusion of the insightful, fun, and informative intros and afterwords with each tale is ingenious. I adored all 6 stories very, very much, but my favorites were, of course, the stories that are directly connected to the first film.

My favorite story has to be "Behind the Mortuary Door." What a lovely backstory for The Caretaker, and listen, over the last  45 years of repeatedly watching "Phantasm," I have come up with some of my own backstories about that guy, none of which are as great, deep and wonderful as the one in "Phiction."

Now, I like to think of myself as The First & Original Phantasm Phan (having seen the movie during its initial opening weekend, and well over 100 times in the theater in 1979/80, and thousands of times since), and as that Original Phan, I was suitably astonished by these works. I think that "Phiction" is not only a welcome addition to the incredible Phantasm Universe, it is also an impressive collection of remarkable short-story horror fiction that I can proudly display on my bookshelf next to Poe, King, Dahl, Barker, Bradbury, and Lovecraft.

Well done Mr. Coscarelli....well done. The Tall Man would be proud....and you have made this "Phantasm" super-fan incredibly happy."

So, come on out to Flashback Weekend, pick up a copy of "Phiction," meet Don, get the book signed, and hang out for our live Podcast show....you won't regret it.

Esmeralda Leon and myself getting ready to host the LIVE version of The Nick D Podcast at Flashback Weekend!

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GEORGE ROMERO: A Tribute.

We recently passed the 7th anniversary of the death of the remarkable filmmaker George A. Romero. So, I wanted to share some Romero stuff here on my nickdigilio.com blog...so here goes.

Here I am with the great George A. Romero at The Flashback Weekend Horror Convention. It was a dream come true to know him.

First, this is what I wrote on July 16, 2017, upon hearing of George's passing:

"OK, I'm gonna give this a shot.

I am absolutely crushed by the death of George A. Romero, completely crushed. He was not only one of the most important and significant filmmakers that has ever lived; the inventor of an entire genre of movies; a maverick of independent thought; an icon in the world of horror; a satirist on the level of Mark Twain; a storyteller beyond reproach; a magnificent comedic mind....and, a helluva nice guy.

I had the honor of getting to know Mr. Romero over many years through my radio show, and my association with Flashback Weekend horror convention, and to say it was an amazing experience would be a massive understatement. 

He was kind, funny, generous and also very cantankerous when he wanted to be. He was also one of the most important artists that has ever lived, and a true inspiration to anyone who has worked in the world of cinema.

A true giant, who has left behind a treasure trove of work to be cherished and watched over and over again. I love him and his work...always have, always will. His movies truly changed my life.

He was an amazing man, and there is now a huge chasm in the horror world, and the real world in general.

Rest in Peace George Romero. 

Say Hi to Bub for me."

This is a shot from outside of our car at The Midway Drive-In during the Dusk to Dawn George Romero Fest. This is the opening of one of his zombie masterpieces "Day of the Dead."

Just this past May, I was honored to host a "Dusk to Dawn Romero Fest" at The Midway Drive-In, and I was even more thrilled that my girlfriend (THE creative force behind this website, by the way) Julie, was there with me.

Me and my lovely girlfriend Julie, getting ready to enjoy the Romero Fest at The Midway Drive-In.

It was a special night, and here are some details of the wonderful event:

Flashback Weekend’s Midway Drive-In Dusk to Dawn Romero Fest! 

It all happened on Sat. May 18, 2024, for the 45th Anniversary of George A. Romero’s “DAWN OF THE DEAD” in a very rare Drive-In showing!

It was held at the Flashback Weekend owned and operated Midway Drive In, located in Dixon, IL.

There were FOUR (4) George A. Romero classics presented, it was all hosted by me.

This was the schedule:

5:00PM – Gates opened. Vendors sold horror T-Shirts, posters, Blu-Rays, books, and more!

8:15PM – Pre Show started – Vintage coming attractions 

Followed by “NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” (1968)  - followed by “DAWN OF THE DEAD” (1979) – followed by “DAY OF THE DEAD” (1985) – followed by  “THE CRAZIES” (1973)

I spoke between movies and got to hang out with horror followers, cool people, and Romero fans from all over the place.

It was an incredible way to honor George, celebrate his work, and remember him for the incredible contributions he made to film and culture. A truly GREAT night/morning.

Rest in Peace George, we all love you, and miss you.

Celebrating 45 Years of "Dawn of the Dead" at The Midway Drive-In this past May.

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