Thomas Calabro Movies

The cast of the hit primetime drama Melrose Place reunite for his Sci-Fi Channel original film concerning a remote ski lodge that is overrun by enormous mutant spiders. Ski season is upon us, and as an ambitious team of Olympic hopefuls arrives at the Lost Mountain Ski Resort to train under a retired Olympic skier (Patrick Muldoon), it begins to look as if they may have a shot at the gold after all. The fun quickly turns to fright, however, when a scientist (Vanessa Williams) from a local government lab arrives with an ominous warning about a top-secret experiment gone horribly awry. It seems that government scientists have succeeded in creating a breed of giant spiders capable of surviving in even the most extreme climates, and somehow the aggressive arachnids have managed to escape from the lab. Now, as the snow begins to fall, the flesh-eating spiders scurry out onto the slopes for a hearty winter snack. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

An aspiring writer and inner city grocery clerk discovers a dark secret about the elderly former scientist who employs him in this chilly shocker inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's Cool Air. Attempting to make ends meet while he works on his latest novel, Sam Jackson lands a job in a run-down grocery store owned by the eccentric Dr. Munoz. A retired scientist who claims to suffer from a rare skin condition that requires him to live in sub-freezing temperatures, Dr. Munoz harbors a satanic secret that may ultimately cost Sam his life; the truth is, Dr. Munoz has been dead for years. Having previously made an occult pact that allows him to remain undead as long as he continues to harvest flesh from the living, Dr. Munoz soon captures Sam and gives him a horrifying ultimatum: join him in his dark quest for eternal life, or suffer the slow, painful death in order to provide him with the flesh he needs to continue walking the Earth. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A single mother whose faith in love died with her former husband learns that Christmas miracles can still happen in director Harvey Frost's warmhearted tale of winter magic. Beth Andrews (Crystal Bernard) is a devoted single mother and advertising executive whose current campaign could put her on the fast track to the big time. The holiday season is here, and in order to sell the latest in video game technology, Beth's campaign needs the perfect Santa Claus. As Beth burns the midnight oil night after night and attempts to convince her young son Jake (Dominic Scott Kay) never to have faith in fantasies, the wistful young man pens a letter to Santa asking for a new dad for the holidays. It seems that up in the North Pole the time has come for Saint Nick to pass along the seasonal responsibilities to his son Nick (Steve Guttenberg), but in order to take the position, Nick must have a Mrs. Claus before Christmas Eve. Upon receiving the Christmas request from young Jake, Nick sets his sights on Los Angeles, and Beth Andrews in particular. Despite his best intentions, it's going to take more than a Christmas miracle to convince the dejected widow that love can still conquer all. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Three guys from New Jersey decide they need some male bonding with their fathers -- whether their fathers like it or not -- in this independent comedy. When his grandfather dies, Richie Gallo (Scott Baio) finds himself thinking about his relationship with his family, and realizes that he barely knows his aging father Jimmy (Dean Stockwell). Richie discusses his emotionally distant relationship with his dad with his pals Al (Carlo Imperato) and Philly (Thomas Calabro), and they confess they aren't much closer to their own fathers -- and their fractured family lives have had an impact on their less-than-stable relationships with women. Richie decides they should get closer to their dads before it's too late, so Richie, Al, and Philly fast-talk their fathers Jimmy, Charlie (Joe Viterelli), and Phil (Alex Rocco) into joining them for a long weekend getaway of family bonding, though the older men are hardly enthusiastic about the idea. Star Scott Baio co-wrote the screenplay for Face to Face, which was based on a story he wrote with Adam Ferrara and fellow cast member Carlo Imperato. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

When popular hockey player Matt Clerk dies before his time, he is promptly reincarnated as an Olympic-level figure skater. Only one problem: In his new incarnation, "he" has become a "she" -- Sarah Bryan by name. Retaining his macho-masculine sensibilities despite his curvaceous female frame, the hero (heroine?) has a lot of maturing to do before he's able to go for the gold. Aaron Smolinski plays the protagonist before the metamorphosis, while Nicholle Tom is seen as the "reborn" Sarah. Also in the cast are real-life skating stars Tara Lipinski and Nancy Kerrigan (and please note how no cracks are being made about broken limbs). Made for cable, Ice Angel was first telecast by the Family Channel on March 5, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 

In this made-for-TV movie, Brittney Powell plays Liz, an attractive young woman who is lured into the world of upscale prostitution by the jaded Madame Jacqueline (Deborah Harry). As Liz works her way up the social ladder as a high-priced call girl, she encounters a wide variety of men who have their own reasons for employing her services: David (Thomas Calabro), who cannot satisfy his appetite for sex, Roger (Doug Davidson), who desires the domination his wife will not provide, and Ben (Curtis Armstrong), a lonely but well-meaning divorcee who wants to take Liz away from her profitable but sordid lifestyle. L.A. Johns premiered on the Fox network on June 17, 1997. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In this tense drama, the parents of a runaway girl learn that she is being held captive by a murderous criminal. If they do not meet his demands, their little girl will die. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

There's a lot happening during the 31-episode 1993-94 season of Melrose Place, the sexy, steamy, outrageous, and slightly-more-grown-up spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210. Heather Locklear (as Amanda Woodward) -- a late-first-season, ratings-boosting addition to the cast -- fully becomes the show's star this season as she purchases the titular apartment complex, takes over the D&D advertising agency, and sets her sights on Jake Hanson (Grant Show). Philandering doctor Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro) has an affair with Dr. Kimberly Shaw (Marcia Cross, later of Desperate Housewives), divorces Jane Andrews (Josie Bissett), and then takes up with Sydney (Laura Leighton). Billy Campbell (Andrew Shue) still pines for Alison Parker (Courtney Thorne-Smith), whom he jilted for a fling with Amanda -- their boss -- in Season 1. But, this being Melrose Place, that's just the start of it: Jake breaks up with Jo Reynolds (Daphne Zuniga); Michael becomes paralyzed; Kimberly slips into a coma; Sydney becomes a prostitute; and the other soapy twists that were to be the show's trademark come fast and frisky. Features on this set include select audio commentaries by series creator Darren Star and featurettes such as: "Melrose Place - Meet the Neighbors," in which viewers get the inside scoop on favorite characters; a highlight- and lowlight-filled "Melrose Place - The Best of the Worst"; and an overview of the characters' tangled webs, "Melrose Place: Complex Relationships."

This is one of the many made for TV movies revolving around the popular disheveled character created by Peter Falk - Lieutenant Columbo, of Homicide. In this one, the Lieutenant is called upon to use his expertise to help out the family when his nephew's new bride is kidnapped on their wedding night. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi