Comic Review - Victorian Undead #4-6

Victorian Undead

The audio review:



And so we come to the close of the Victorian Undead series, a comic that has taken Sherlock Holmes and Watson into the land of the undead, and amongst the legions, we find that Holmes' nemesis Prof. Moriarty is behind the invasion. Picking up from where we left off is issue four, which features an opening flashback of Moriarty's transformation into a zombie who retains all of his faculties. This is wonderfully drawn in black and white by Tom Mandrake, who captures the gore of the scene within his noir-like art.


Then writer Ian Edginton takes us on a journey where Holmes and Watson are saved by the military with tanks and guns. At the end of issue four, Holmes has learned of Moriarty's plans, and issue five finds Holmes consulting with the Prime Minister on the issue of the zombie infestation, where Holmes concludes there is little more they can do than raze London and kill Moriarty once and for all. A fantastic sequence drawn by Davide Fabbri is featured in this issue, where the army is overtaken on both sides by a horde of the undead in violent, bone-tearing fashion.

And issue six concludes the miniseries, where Holmes and Watson venture into Buckingham Palace to confront Moriarty. The professor and Holmes duke it out in a grand battle, one that I can assure you is epic enough for the legendary detective, and then London is blown to smithereens and the undead with it. The art in issue six is full of blood and fire, and it's fittingly climactic for the series.

Victorian Undead has been an amazing ride, one that certainly overcomes any notions of what some may find an inane attempt at cashing in on the Sherlock Holmes universe. Yet the comic left me wanting a little bit more in terms of Holmes' detective work; the zombie action is certainly here in spades, but Holmes isn't as investigative as his legacy suggests. Edginton captures much of the Victorian age of writing, and he's certainly not doing a disservice to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literature, but Holmes is lacking certain aspects of his personality. Perhaps one can chalk it up to the immediacy of the situation he finds himself in.

The Evil Ad #2

This edition of "The Evil Ad" is this flyer for McDonald's Halloween coupons. I'm not sure what the date of these are, but judging from the "ten for $1.00" price and the old tagline, it wasn't in the last 10 years. Also, check out the older McDonald's symbol rather than the more updated one the company uses now.

This ad is a pretty simple design. It uses a black background with a happy pumpkin; McDonald's went the way of the light-hearted Halloween symbols rather than a creepy atmosphere because it appeals to children. But the use of the black surface underneath the pumpkin reflects the orange light of the candle, giving an eerie glow to the bottom of the ad. I like that effect, and the ad feels, probably unintentionally, like an homage to the opening of Halloween.

[REC] 2 red band trailer released

Synopsis from the press:

"The highly anticipated sequel to one of the scariest films of all time, [REC] 2 picks up 15 minutes from where we left off, taking us back into the quarantined apartment building where a terrifying virus has run rampant, turning the occupants into mindlessly violent, raging beasts. A heavily armed SWAT team and a mysterious government official are sent in to assess and attempt to neutralize the situation. What they find inside lies beyond the scope of medical science—a demonic nightmare of biblical proportions more terrifying than they could have possibly imagined. Above all it must be contained, before it escapes to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting world outside."

Check out the official website for more details.

Three new clips from upcoming indie flick Women's Studies

New horror film Women's Studies, an independent film directed by Lonnie Martin "about The Ross-Prentiss Women's Academy where female empowerment is taken to murderous extremes," has a few new clips out on the web for enjoyment before the DVD release on June 8. The film stars Cindy Marie Martin, Kelley Slagle, Melisa Breiner-Sanders, and Tara Garwood, with a notable guest appearance by Judith O'Dea (who played Barbra in Night of the Living Dead).







Don't forget to check out the film's official page, which is modeled after an academy's website.

The Evil Ad #1

Today begins a new column that I'm calling "The Evil Ad," serving to highlight the ways in which advertising has used horror and Halloween-related themes as a means to commercialize products. Of course, I'm not criticizing companies for using these techniques; in fact, some of these commercials are so memorable to me because of their subject matter, and they stand as a bit of nostalgia.

First in the series is a Doritos commercial from 1991 around Halloween. Take a look:



It's unfortunate Doritos has discontinued this contest, as I'd love to see Frankenstein in my bag of Doritos. In this commercial, Frankenstein seems to look more like Herman Munster, yet the makers have stayed true to the old stereotypes of moody, cobwebbed castles and the dark stormy nights.

Anyone remember this? A bit before my time, as I would have only been two or three, but I do remember the old Universal Monsters cut-outs that used to decorate stores around Halloween-time in the '90s.

Horror Horizon - June 1

Notable DVD releases for next week:

The Wolfman (Unrated Director's Cut and Original Version) [Blu-Ray and DVD]

"Academy Award® winners Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) and Benicio Del Toro (Traffic) tear up the screen in this action-packed thriller. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is lured back to his family estate to investigate the savage murder of his brother by a bloodthirsty beast. There, Talbot must confront his childhood demons, his estranged father (Hopkins), his brother’s grieving fiancée (Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada) and a suspicious Scotland Yard Inspector (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix Trilogy). When Talbot is bitten by the creature, he becomes eternally cursed and soon discovers a fate far worse than death. Inspired by the classic Universal film that launched a legacy of horror, The Wolfman brings the myth of a cursed man back to its iconic origins."

Ghost Hunters International: Season One, Part One

" This hit spin-off of the popular Ghost Hunters features a new team of all-real paranormal investigators -- Robb Demarest, Dustin Pari, Brandy Green, and Barry FitzGerald -- who use scientific techniques to explore the worlds most famous supernatural locations. From Englands most haunted castles to a cursed Scottish orphanage and even Germanys legendary Frankenstein Castle, youll accompany the team on a nerve-jangling exploration of the eeriest spots around the globe. Episodes: Chillingham Castle, Evil Unearthed, Whispers from Beyond, Haunted Village, Fortress of Fear, Frankensteins Castle, Lamach Castle, Devil Dog, Castle of the Damned, Shattered Spirit."

Slithis (AKA Spawn of the Slithis)

"A nuclear leak creates a mutant Slithis sea monster, which terrorizes the variety of pets, winos, and hippies who hang around Venice, California."

Cornered!

"During their nightly poker game a group of lowlifes are terrorized in their own convenience store by a masked killer."

With Steve Guttenberg! So that's what he's been up to after Casper: A Spirited Beginning.

Ultimate Sci-Fi Movie Marathon

" 6 Sensational Stories, 1 Shocking Collection! Woman in love with a robot! Aliens invade small-town America! Girl’s blood brings immortality! Boy conceived from 3,000-year-old sperm! Get ready for amazing thrills and terrifying chills with six sensational stories, premiering on DVD in one shocking collection. It’s The Ultimate Sci-Fi Movie Marathon that’s at once thought-provoking and fearlessly fun! The Android Affair: A young female intern falls for a robot used for surgical practices. Can she face operating on her android love, or will she risk her career to help him escape? It Came from Outer Space II: Aliens take over the minds and bodies of a small town’s residents, where a brave photographer finds himself the sole survivor and ultimate savior. Deep Red: When the secret to immortality is discovered in a young girl’s alien-altered blood, a detective must save her from a mad scientist out to exploit this lucrative fountain of youth. Evolution’s Child: After accidentally artificially inseminating a woman with sperm from a Bronze Age caveman, a doctor must protect the secret of the supernatural-powered child’s ancestry. Night Visitors: A grad student finds herself on the run from nefarious agents, with her young nephew in tow, after discovering that her dead brother had stolen top-secret evidence of alien existence from a government lab. Control Factor: When a voice in his head orders him to kill his wife, a man must race to stop a government mind-control plot and save the free will of a nation."

Killer Swarm

"Deadly black bees threaten to wipe out an entire city. With venom three times as deadly as an Africanized bee, one sting is a guaranteed death sentence. Scientists are working quickly to create an antidote, but time is running out and an attack by a massive swarm of the deadly bees is imminent."

Rampage

"The boredom of small town life is eating Bill Williamson alive. Feeling constrained and claustrophobic in the meaningless drudgery of everyday life and helpless against overwhelming global dissolution, Bill begins a descent into madness. His shockingly violent plan will shake the very foundations of society by painting the streets red with blood."

Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill!

" From Chad Ferrin, the acclaimed director of the cult hit Someone s Knocking at the Door, comes this twisted and frightening low-budget shocker, a stylish and totally original confection where gore, violence, suspense and humor all intersect for a creepy and shocking good time. It s Easter, sixteen-year-old Nicholas favorite holiday. When the mentally and physically disabled youth s mother, Mindy, begins a relationship with a psycho killer, bizarre events begin to unfold - especially after Nicholas takes a seemingly normal rabbit into the house. But when home intruders, prostitutes and street trash are murdered in bizarre and gruesome ways, just who is the bunny-masked killer committing these horrendous crimes?"

The Unsaid

"A seemingly-untroubled adolescent carries disturbing secrets that compel a psychiatrist to unearth the patients gruesome past."

Long Time Dead

"A group of college students at an all-night party dare each other to play a Ouija board. But what starts out as fun rapidly turns into a nightmare when the glass spells out the message "ALL DIE" and a demon is awakened with an appetite for vengeance against those who summoned him. One by one, the students fall prey to a succession of disturbing murders. With time running out and the body count growing, the remaining friends realize they can't trust anybody, not even each other."

Book Review - Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Heart-Shaped Box

The audio review:



Joe Hill's first novel deals with the age-old tale of personal ghost hauntings - where in this case the ghost is attached to a suit he used to own - but Hill throws in a few twists that surely were part of the reason why this novel, and his career as an author of horror, skyrocketed after the book's release. The brief overview of the plot doesn't hint at the character development of semi-retired rocker Jude (aka Justin) or the way Hill infuses a claustrophobic atmosphere throughout, and what at first seems like a tired topic soon becomes a fresh take on old-fashioned ghost stories.

Hill has a tight rein on his characterization, and though our main character Jude has his flaws which are evident from the beginning, the old creative writing technique of giving your characters a little bit of both flavors (good and evil) is at full effect here. This is especially true as the reader works through the novel; Jude, who once felt like a womanizer, soon reveals his love for his girlfriend Georgia and becomes a stronger man for it. Because Hill develops Jude throughout the novel, there's an enlightening effect when Jude changes because of his ghostly experience; the book doesn't rush the process, doesn't cut corners, and the characters are so much more detailed due to the time spent on them.

Most effective here, though, for me as a horror reader, is Hill's interpretation of the ghost story. Heart-Shaped Box takes the idea of lingering ghosts and expands it; there's little to do here with an unhappy ghost who lingers because it needs help finding its way to the afterlife. No, Hill's ghost is plain ol' out for revenge, and it's apparent that Hill's great at writing very evil characters, because there's not much to like about this ghost. The height of the fright stems from the fact that the ghost is there day, night, and in between, and not only can he manipulate other people, he can also manifest in crowded areas. Nowhere is safe for Jude and Georgia, which creates that environment I mentioned before of claustrophobia and dread. Hill creates a few eerie scenes by just the placement of the ghost; maybe he shows up sitting in a dark room, or maybe he speaks through a man's electronic voicebox. There were a number of times where I was sufficiently creeped out while reading the book late at night; attribute that to both the tension that Hill creates through the situation and the new ways he finds to change the usual haunting scares.

Hill lingers a bit too long in the beginning, though. It takes a while to get to the real bulk of the story, and once we're there, the book seems to drag on with chase after chase while the characters try to figure out how to get rid of the ghost. It creates a lot of good development, but at the expense of dropping some of the pacing. There's also a problem with exposition; characters spew out verbal diarrhea, a problem that Hill has corrected to an extent in his more recent book Horns. Yet the exposition is littered throughout, and characters tend to feel unrealistic as they thoroughly explain their past to both Jude and the reader.

The most excruciating flaw is Hill's reliance on "daddy problems," a theme that extends throughout the book. It appears as though it's done intentionally as a sort of connection between the characters, but there's a certain point where the reader must decide whether this all-encompassing explanation cuts it, and in all honesty, something a bit more creative (or even gender-defying) could have been relevant to the plot.

But Hill is in impressive form with Heart-Shaped Box, providing a gratifying experience that is both genre-specific and original in its approach. It's not always the case where a writer can hit both the homage to older ghost classics while providing an update to the field, but when it's done right, like in this case, it's a pleasant surprise that smacks of nostalgia.

Back from hiatus

After a two-day camping trip full of hiking, canoeing, swimming, sunburns and bug bites, I'm back with a bunch of stuff to post in the next few days. Hopefully, I will have time to post a review of Joe Hill's novel Heart-Shaped Box today, and then, sometime this week, a review of issues 4-6 of Victorian Undead. See you soon!

Moon Minis - Date Night

Date Night

The audio review:

 


It might be fair to think of director Shawn Levy's Date Night as a buddy cop film without the cops, replacing the buddies with a husband and wife who could be best friends themselves. The film follows all of the themes of the aforementioned genre, and yet it transcends the cliches because the connection between Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil Foster (Steve Carell) is much stronger here, due to the characterization and the chemistry between the two stars.

Though for a film that has such comedic greats as Fey and Carell, and with Levy a director accustomed to filming comedies, Date Night remains almost wholly unfunny throughout. There are a few good sequences, like an inspired chase scene with a twist or Mark Wahlberg showing up as a good-looking detective missing a shirt, but for the most part, the movie chooses to focus more on the serious side of the plot rather than the jokes.

Even so, it doesn't exactly hinder the movie because the lack of humor allows Date Night to focus on the theme of the couple revitalizing their love life, and it succeeds because of the acting chops of Carell and Fey, who show that they can rise above the roles that they're used to. The two play it less quirky and more straightforward, and the film is more rewarding because of their plain-Jane personalities.

So Date Night isn't very funny, but it's saved by smart writing and a cast that is already likable without putting them in the shoes of Claire and Phil. It's heartwarming (and probably just a little bit suited toward the older, married crowd) and it doesn't have most of the stupid jokes you're apt to see in comedies these days. With that said, your mother will love it (mine did), but it depends on if you're looking for humor - not so much - or a good story - somewhat derivative but with enough creative additions to keep the viewer satisfied.

Date Night on Rotten Tomatoes

New Predators trailer; Adrien Brody cashes in on the horror genre

Note Adrien Brody is starring in this new reboot and Splice that releases June 4. And they're both new life forms! Is it the rise of a new genre hero, or just a coincidence? Either way, this new Predators footage has me at least a little excited.

Thanks to Bloody-Disgusting for the video.

Horror Horizon - May 25

Notable DVD releases for this week:

True Blood: The Complete Second Season

,

"Welcome back to Bon Temps, home to mystery, Southern sensuality and dark secrets. For Sookie Stackhouse, life is more dangerous than ever after she and Bill become more deeply involved. Meanwhile, Tara finds herself under a lover’s spell; Sam puts his trust in an unlikely ally; Jason becomes involved with an anti-vampire sect; Eric becomes interested in Sookie after he recruits her to investigate the disappearance of his 2,000-year-old maker; and Maryann is revealed to possess a power that can control almost everyone in town. Then, after making a shocking discovery, Sookie, Bill and Sam must form the last line of defense against a diabolical plan that raises this award-winning series to bloody new heights.

True Blood: The Complete Second Season includes all 12 episodes of this critically acclaimed series from Alan Ball, writer of the Academy Award®-winning Best Picture American Beauty and creator of Six Feet Under. Loaded with special features, this essential 5-disc set is certain to quench the curiosity of True Blood fans everywhere."

The Road

" From Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country For Old Men, comes the highly anticipated big screen adaptation of the beloved, best-selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Road. An all-star cast are featured in this epic post-apocalyptic tale of the survival of a father and his young son as they journey across a barren America that was destroyed by a mysterious cataclysm. A masterpiece adventure, The Road boldly imagines a future in which men are pushed to the worst and the best that they are capable of - a future in which a father and his son are sustained by love."

I Know What I Saw

"Director and host James Fox assembles the most credible UFO witnesses from around the world to testify on the subject and share their experiences and observations. Air Force generals, astronauts, military and commercial pilots, government and FAA officials from seven countries gather at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to tell stories that, as former Arizona governor Fife Symington states, 'will challenge your reality.' These accounts reveal a behind-the-scenes U.S. operation whose policy, in the eyes of some observers, seems to involve confiscation of substantiating evidence from close encounters--to the extent that even Presidents have failed to get straight answers."

City of the Living Dead (Blu-Ray & DVD)

"The Seven Gates Of Hell have been torn open, and in three days the dead shall rise and walk the earth. As a reporter (Christopher George of PIECES) and a psychic (Catriona MacColl of THE BEYOND) race to close the portals of the damned, they encounter a seething nightmare of unspeakable evil. The city is alive - with the horrors of the living dead!
Directed and co-written by the legendary Lucio Fulci (ZOMBIE, THE BEYOND), CITY OF THE LIVIND DEAD features some of the maestro's most shocking and controversial sequences of all time. Blue Underground proudly presents the definitive version of Fulci's hallucinogenic masterpiece of horror: freshly transferred in brain-ripping High Definition from its original uncensored negative and loaded with exclusive new Extras!

EXTRAS:
"The Making of CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD" - Interviews with Star Catriona MacColl, Co-Star Michele Soavi, Production Designer Massimo Antonello Geleng, Assistant Makeup Effects Artist Rosario Prestopino, Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi, Cinematographer Sergio Salvati, and Camera Operator Roberto Forges Davanzati
"Acting Among the Living Dead" - Interview with Star Catriona MacColl
"Entering the Gates of Hell" - Interview with Star Giovanni Lombardo Radice
"Memories of the Maestro" - The cast and crew reminisce about working with Lucio Fulci
"Marketing of the Living Dead" - Poster & Still Gallery
English Trailer
Italian Trailer
Radio Spots/Still Gallery"

Babysitter Wanted

" Angie applies for a babysitting job and finds herself on a remote farm before the Stanton family and their little boy, Sam. But Angie's first night of work might just be her last when she must fight for her life to protect herself and the child. But is everything as it seems? Babysitter Wanted turns the classic "babysitter in peril" horror story absolutely on its head. Suspenseful, funny, gory and defying expectations every step of the way, this is one of the most enjoyable and critically acclaimed roller coaster rides in recent horror cinema history."

Class of Nuke 'Em High (Blu-Ray)

"Created by the same lunatics who brought you the smash cult classic THE TOXIC AVENGER, CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH takes place in the radioactive halls of Tromaville High School, where a dangerous leak turns great minds into great mutants. Expose yourself to outrageously awesome doses of science fiction, horror action and bizarre humor. This nuclear age movie has something for everyone... and everything. Your entertainment level will shoot right off the meter!"

Tell Tale

"A chilling re-imagining of Edgar Allen Poe s timeless story The Tell Tale Heart. Hardworking single dad Terry (Josh Lucas) has a new lease on life, he has recovered from a recent heart transplant and met a beautiful woman. But things go awry as he becomes haunted by his own heartbeat and realizes that he must delve into the shocking death of the donor who saved his life."

Tromeo and Juliet (Blu-Ray)

"Body Piercing. Kinky Sex. Dismemberment. The Things That Made Shakespeare Great!

See Shakespeare the way he was meant to be seen: the Troma way! Directed by Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger) and written by James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead), Tromeo & Juliet moves the classic tale of star-crossed lovers from 16th century Verona to a crumbling pre-Giuliani New York, where young Tromeo (Will Keenan) and Juliet (Jane Jensen) must defy their families' endless feud in order to be together for eternity. Set to a kick-ass soundtrack featuring Motorhead, Sublime, and the Wesley Willis Fiasco, Tromeo & Juliet is the most over-the-top erotic-action-comedy since Romeo & Juliet debuted on the stage in 1596!

SPECIAL FEATURES
- Four audio commentaries with cast and crew including writer James Gunn, director Lloyd Kaufman, Oscar-nominee Frank Reynolds and co-star Sean Gunn
- Deleted scenes (including the long-lost Ron Jeremy scene)
- Fan reenactments of classic scenes
- Interviews with cast and crew including stars Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis, Sean Gunn and Lemmy
- Slithering Through Hollywood: Lloyd Kaufman s video diary of the James Gunn film Slither
- Getting Hostel with Hollywood: James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman visit Eli Roth s birthday party"

Finale

" Death is stalking a small town plagued with a rash of apparent suicides. But one grieving mother believes that there are darker forces at work and plunges herself into a supernatural nightmare to uncover her dead sons association with an evil cult. Her behavior grows increasingly paranoid and bizarre as she races against time to battle the terrifying demon unleashed to destroy her entire family in this atmospheric descent into horror."

All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

" Zel is a fortune teller. She works out of her century-old house removing clients' aches and pains, advising gamblers, and channeling cranky spirits for a quick check in with their loved ones. Zel is very good at her chosen profession, but also receives some unique assistance. For as long as she can remember she has shared her home with a group of ghosts -- a priest, a bride, a mute child, some washed up vaudevillians and a noisy, sight-impaired group of musicians, who pass on incredible knowledge and abilities from beyond the world of the living. All goes on at the family homestead as it has for generations, until a mysterious light appears in the woods. The ghosts suddenly realize they are trapped, and forge a rebellion, tormenting Zel with all the aggravation and insanity they can muster. And when Zel uncovers the origins of these spirits, she is forced to choose between her comfortable if strange existence and letting go of the only family she has ever known."

The Landlord

"Tyler never has trouble finding tenants for his cozy little 3-unit apartment building... he just has trouble keeping them alive to pay rent! You see, Tyler's building is haunted by a pair of 5,000-year-old demons with an insatiable appetite for flesh. And no matter how nicely Tyler asks, he cannot keep them from devouring the tenants. The demons never listen to Tyler, and why should they? After all, they have an all-you-can-eat human buffet and Tyler as their pet monkey. But things could change when Tyler take a liking to the newest tenant, a desperate young woman running from demons of her own."

GOTH

A Japanese novel of six short horror stories which has been adapted into manga and now to a live-action film directed by Gen Takahashi.

Someone's Knocking At the Door

"In this genre-defying grind-house throwback, a group of drug-addled, sexually deviant medical students are systematically terrorized by Wilma and John Hopper. The Hoppers, serial murderers and rapists, mysteriously return from the 1970s, and bring horrifying psychedelia with them. With comedy, subversion, satire and true gore, the students must face escalating attacks, shocking circumstances and visceral disgust."

It Waits (Blu-Ray)

" It is a vengeful beast of Native American legend, sealed deep within a cave for over one thousand years. Nearby in a remote forest outpost, troubled young ranger Danielle St. Clair (Cerina Vincent) is struggling to confront dark demons of her own. But when the creature is accidentally released from its secret tomb, Danny s inner conflicts meet a flesh-and-blood nightmare: A monster that hunts without equal, slaughters without mercy and savors the taste of human torment. Now its wait is over. And tonight, one woman must face and destroy its flesh-ripping fury ... alone!"

Submission of a Woman

" Luisa and Giorgio have plans for a very special weekend, but not even in their worst nightmares could they have foreseen the evil that is about to be unleashed on them. While waiting for the babysitter they get assaulted by a viciously violent sex maniac. The man wreaks disastrous havoc on their lives. Giorgio ends up beaten to a pulp, while helpless Luisa and the babysitter have to witness the horror. But the worst of all fate awaits beautiful Luisa. But no woman is as dangerous as a woman who seeks revenge."

The Shadow Within

" Propelled by grief over the death of Maurice s twin brother, Jacques, at birth, his mother, Marie, falls under the influence of Madame Armand, who convinces Marie to force her son to act as a medium to the next world. As Jacques asserts himself through Maurice, he comes to the realization that they both desire the same thing, their parents love. Only Jacques does not want to return to the living, he wants them all to join him in the afterlife!"

Pep Squad

"A daringly anarchic vision of American society, PEP SQUAD chronicles the days leading up to a Kansas high school's senior prom. Eight girls are nominated for the coveted title of prom queen, but before anyone can collect the crown, they must survive the psychological and physical attacks from their classmates. At Oak Hill High, the students are jaded, the principal is a lecherous creep, and friends stab each other in the back for one night's fleeting honor in this masterful satire that plays like "a BLOOD SIMPLE remake by JOHN HUGHES" (New Times L.A.). Special features include a commentary track, as well as a feature length documentary about the trials of making PEP SQUAD and other independent films in rural Kansas."

The Hanged Man

"Seven irrevocably damaged social misfits come together in an internet chat room, looking for understanding and compassion, but ultimately making a suicide pact.
One by one, they come together in a remote, abandoned barn to await their "savior," chipping away the mask of cyber nicknames, fictional personas, and the anonymity of the Web.
SoCo, a volatile and brooding misanthrope is the most eager and first to arrive. Spaceshot, most openly vulnerable; Miles, who dreads the inevitable; Flash, a redneck cowboy distraught over a secret he's shared just once; X-Factor, doomed to repeat the sins of her mother; LT56, a middle-aged survivor of a life-altering tragedy; and Dwarfstar, the organizer, the prophet ... the one bringing the solution of a painless peace.
But as the sun sets and Dwarfstar is yet to appear, emotions rise, the woods whispers its secrets and the facades fall aside, revealing that one of them isn't who they profess to be ... and one of them was dead before they arrived.
A taut psychological thriller full of twists and turns, starring Adam Hatley (Twelve Monkeys), and Brandon Gibson (TV's Fanarchy and Static)"

In my mailbox:

Here's another edition of "In My Mailbox," even though it's a little late.

American Vampire #2

I can't wait to start in on this. I recently reviewed the first issue, which blends two connecting tales into one series that left me impressed at first taste.


Victorian Undead #4-6

Soon to be reviewed, this series has left me wanting more with each successive issue. I'm in the middle of issue 4 and it's probably the best out of the series so far!

iZombie #1




This series made its premiere back in the Halloween special of House of Mystery, and it hooked me there. I can't wait to find out what the first official issue has in store.

I've got a lot of comic reading to do! If you'd like to send me review copies of horror-related goodness, let me know via comment or email at rb9589 at mcla dot edu.

Season finale of Vamped Out now streaming

Check it out here, along with the other episodes in the series, or you can watch below.

LOTT D News: How to Survive the Strange Episode 1 now online!

Fellow LOTT D-er Bryan at Cinema Suicide has posted the first episode of his new horror comedy web series, "How to Survive the Strange," on his blog. Check it out here, or you can also see it embedded below. There's a contest that goes along with it - check the site for more details.

How to Survive the Strange - Ep1 - Claw Hammer Zombie Kill Technique - watch more funny videos

Movie Review - The Broken

The Broken

The audio review:



Breaking mirrors is a superstition many people share, and it's one of the more common ones followed today, like throwing spilled salt over the shoulder or not opening an umbrella in the house. The Broken takes this superstition and expands upon it, realizing that maybe a broken mirror doesn't signal bad luck - instead, it's a doorway to another world, where our reflections live in total darkness, envious of their happier clones.

The premise isn't entirely original, and it has shades of other influential films: a little bit of The Thing, a little bit of Invasion of the Body Snatchers... you get the idea. But the way that The Broken is able to distinguish itself from the pack is in its execution, which keeps the viewer tense throughout. The film starts out slow; we meet a few of the characters, especially main character Gina (Lena Headey), who we follow throughout her day. There's a birthday party for Gina's father, where a mirror mysteriously breaks for no reason, and then the weird stuff starts to happen. She sees herself driving a car, and she follows the person into her apartment. After, she gets in an accident, where she loses memory of the crash but is for the most part unharmed. We see her friends and family acting strange, and finally, it's revealed that the mirrors can be gateways to the dark world.

Normally, I hate the use of the mirror shot in horror movies. It's overdone, it doesn't generate much tension besides the initial shock, and even challenging our expectations by not having anything in the mirror has become tedious. But in The Broken, it's not only effective but necessary for the film. There are a lot of sequences where creepy things appear on-screen, like a memory of a dark, staring family that looks just like Gina's except they are much more unpleasant.

Fortunately, these pop-ups are paired with a tense atmosphere through the entire movie. The film may start out slow, but it's this lengthy build-up that makes every twist later on feel even more suspenseful. The key is that the film doesn't show the clones early on; instead, the audience knows there is a sinister force stalking Gina, but it's a mystery as to exactly what they look like or what they want.

Some could argue that the inclusion of dream sequences, which provide some of the most heart-pounding scenes, are cheap because they don't add a lot to the narrative. To argue that opinion, these scenes are actually quite effective in furthering the plot when the film reveals the twist. At times, it's a bit difficult to understand what is being shown on-screen, especially when the clones break out of the mirror. But it does wrap around nicely at the end, although it leaves some questions unanswered, like why the beings decided to break out at this specific point.

Yet The Broken doesn't do everything right. The clones aren't as shocking as the film seems to hype them to be; instead, they're just paler versions of the characters (and a bit angrier). There are a few scenes that feel unnecessary, because they're never brought up again. And there's the problem of jumping from character to character at random intervals. Most of the film focuses on Gina, but at times, the story will switch to her family to show that they are being attacked as well. The switch doesn't really work because those branches of the story aren't vital, nor do they add much to Gina's side of the story.

The Broken is surprisingly inviting in its plot. It may seem a little unoriginal, but the effectiveness of Ellis' direction makes up for any real damage from the lack of creativity. There's not much violence, except for one brutal scene, but that's because The Broken isn't about the visual horror. Instead, it lingers in the psychology of knowing that mirrors can lead to people we don't know, who would be glad to take our place - a lesson for when we forget the good in our lives.

The Broken on Rotten Tomatoes

Closed for the Season one-sheet open for season

From director Jay Woelfel's synopsis:

A young woman, Kristy, wakes up inside of a rusted car. She steps out to find herself beneath the skeleton of a wooden rollercoaster in the middle of the night in the abandoned ruin of Chippewa Lake Park. She hears a voice calling out for help and soon finds a man impaled on a fully grown tree in the center of the rollercoaster. He says he was riding the coaster and was thrown off. But the coaster could not have run for decades… She runs for help and comes across even more impossible sights in the overgrown ruin that extends in every direction. She’s being assaulted on all sides by ghosts of the park’s history. She finally manages to find a lone house where things seem to be normal. The occupant is a young man, James, whose parents are the caretakers of the park. Together they go to investigate the things Kristy saw. Initially they find no trace of anything unusual, but soon realize they are now both trapped in the web of stories from the 130 year history of the park. These urban legends are now true events that lay in wait amid the rust and weeds to play deadly games with Kristy and James. This fantastic world seems to be orchestrated by a Carny, in clown makeup, who once ran the rollercoaster, but died long ago. It is his abandoned car that Kristy awoke in. He tells them that the only way to escape the park is for them to relive and survive these stories and ride the rides one last time. He acts as their guide, but is it to salvation, or damnation?"

I love films like this - from The Funhouse to Dark Ride, amusement parks are great places for horror because of their massive amounts of people and their mysterious appearances and disappearances. Part of the draw is the fact that they quickly stake down a site and move on a week later. Can't wait for what Closed for the Season has for us.

Check out the official site. The film will be screening soon.

Thanks to Arrow in the Head for the poster.

Comic Review - Victorian Undead #2 & 3

Victorian Undead

 

The audio review:



Sherlock Holmes and Watson resume their investigation of the zombie outbreak that has been plaguing London in Ian Edginton's Victorian Undead. In the second and third issues, the two detectives explore an underground catacomb where the first zombie was uncovered, and with thorough analytical skills, they stumble upon a buried village bedecked with dead bodies. Most are dead, but some rise from their slumbers to attack the duo, who escape after the government comes in with grenadiers and destroys the cache. Soon, the undead story is out - it's happened once before, and it's threatening to do it again. In the third issue, we find that another cache of zombies has been released into town, causing a mass panic as the zombies feast and Holmes tries to put the whole case together.

Edginton maintains the verbose, witty dialogue of Watson and Holmes throughout these two issues, and it feels a natural fit for both the author and characters. It's not out of the ordinary to read in this comic a phrase like, "I note you've bathed, shaved, and dressed, since if I am not mistaken nightshirts do not come with French cuffs and cufflinks!" But it never feels forced or out of touch with dialect, creating a realism throughout the series.

Edginton's plot moves very smoothly as well. These issues pick up directly where the first left off, and once the reader starts in, it's not difficult to pick up the story arc again. Edginton pairs action with exposition in a way that never slows the pacing down. The second issue does both at the same time, and the suspense of Holmes and Watson venturing down into the abyss is heightened by the dark gloss of Davide Fabbri's art.

The same is true of issue three, which is split half and half between exposition of the original zombie outbreak and then the new outbreak itself. This is where the violence of the series really makes itself known - we've waited a while for the epic zombie terror, and Edginton and Fabbri deliver with bone-crunching panache. Fabbri's zombies look fantastic, each dripping with gore as a hungry gleam fills their vacant eyes. And even though the first outbreak happens during daylight, it's still suspenseful stuff.

As the narrative progresses, the investigation has sucked me in just as much as Holmes is with his own detective work. However, Holmes hasn't made many deductions of his own yet; evidence of his status as one of the greatest detectives has yet to surface. But it's evident that Edginton is working his way toward a climactic finale, one that will put Holmes' intelligence to the test as the characters struggle to find an answer to this horrifying mystery. What at first seemed like a whacky, almost blasphemous, idea for a Holmes story has quickly shown itself to be a serious jaunt into the Holmesian universe.

Horror Horizon - May 18

Notable horror DVD releases for this week:

The New Daughter

"Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner stars in this brand-new thriller as John, a newly divorced father who moves into a rural South Carolina home with his adolescent daughter Louisa and young son Sam. But when Louisa begins to behave in a bizarre and increasingly violent manner, John must uncover the truth behind her transformation. Is the former owner s shocking secret to blame? And how far will a father go to protect his daughter from an ancient evil determined to take her over?"

Gamera: The Giant Monster

"During the height of the Cold War, East-West tensions lead to a nuclear disaster when a Soviet bomber is shot down over U.S. airspace in the Arctic! Massive radiation from the atomic explosion awakens an ancient, gargantuan creature, a long-forgotten legend of the lost continent of Atlantis: Gamera! Unleashed from its glacial tomb and proving impervious to all man-made weapons, the colossal chelonian smashes a cataclysmic swath across the globe! Can the scientists of the world, led by Dr. Hidaka (Eiji Funakoshi), find a way to stop this invincible supermonster . . . or is mankind doomed?

Directed by Noriaki Yuasa (who would oversee all eight of the original Gamera entries of the 1960s and 1970s) and created by the same studio that brought Zatoichi to the screen, Daieis titanic terrapin became the only true rival to Tohos King Of The Monsters. Gamera was able to hold its own at the box office and secured a place in the hearts of kaiju eiga (Japanese Monster Movie) fans around the world.

Now, for the first time on DVD, Shout! Factory presents the original Japanese version of Gamera with new English subtitles and anamorphic widescreen from an all-new HD master created from vault elements!"

The Navy vs. the Night Monsters

DVD release of the 1966 film starring Edward Faulkner and Anthony Eisley.

The Disappeared

"One night in a London housing project playground, 8-year-old Tom Ryan vanished without a trace. He was never found. But for his guilt-ridden older brother Matthew (a startling performance by Harry Treadaway of CONTROL), the terror has just begun: He has started seeing and hearing what may be the ghost of the missing boy, who is now trying to lead him to the shocking truth behind his disappearance. You can hide a secret, but can you ever bury the horrors of the past? Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the HARRY POTTER films) co-stars in this disturbing debut chiller from co-writer/director Johnny Kervorkian that Electric Sheep Magazine calls a tense and absorbing experience...Kervorkian shows plenty of talent for building a creeping sense of terror and delivering genuinely heart-in-your-mouth shocks."

Mutant Vampire Zombies from the Hood!

"MUTANT VAMPIRE ZOMBIES FROM THE 'HOOD! follows an unlikely group of inner-city survivors who fight to flee a city now free of gang-bangers, but infested with blood-sucking, sex-starved zombies instead. C. Thomas Howell plays the last man standing in the L.A.P.D. who must team up with the survivors of two rival street gangs as they fight their way across the city to the home of a brilliant scientist and his beautiful and brilliant daughter."

What aren't they!

The Monster and the Ape

"A thrilling fifteen-chapter serial of a mechanical monster gone mad!"

From 1945. (Thanks, ClassicFlix, for the image.)

Vamps and the City

I think you get the connotation.


AVH: Alien vs. Hunter

"A galactic hunter and his nemesis have crash-landed on planet Earth. A small town bears witness to an intergalactic battle between predator and prey, and must survive their encounter with a ferocious extraterrestrial."

Hard Ride to Hell

"A lonely stretch of Texas desert highway leads a group of campers on a one-way ride to hell after witnessing an obscene blood sacrifice. Now, with a group of biking devil worshipers on their tail, they are pawns in an ancient battle between good and evil. Pursued to a decrepit old church in a ghost town, the campers fall victim to a new hell a strange young boy harboring a terrifying secret and a priest with a terrifyingly divine mission of his own."

Tokyo Gore Police 1.5

"In the near future, the Tokyo Police Corporation is locked in a bloody war with the engineers. These genetically modified super-criminals can bio-fuse their open wounds with weapons, turning self-mutilation into a combat form. Ruka, the daughter of the police chief's murdered right-hand man, is now the top engineer hunter. With cold-blooded efficiency she cuts through the psychotic engineers and tracks down their home base, a truly bizarre fetish club. Nothing keeps her from her sworn duty, even when she finds out the truth behind her father's death."

Southern Gothic

"In the sleepy Southern town of Redemption, a new kind of terror is about to awaken: For burned-out strip club bouncer Hazel Fortune (Yul Vazquez of AMERICAN GANGSTER), life has become downward spiral of self-destructive behavior until he s befriended by the young daughter of the club s new dancer. But when the girl is kidnapped by psychotic vampire preacher Enoch Pitt (a totally unhinged performance by William Forsythe of THE DEVIL S REJECTS), Fortune must battle a night-breed of evil to stop Pitt s blood-crazed crusade. And when the reborn meets the undead, there will be hell to pay. Nicole DuPort (TOOTH & NAIL) co-stars in this moody new shocker from writer/director Mark Young that combines arthouse and grindhouse for a ferocious new spin on vampire horror."

Invasion of the Pod People

"Melissa, an up-and-coming rep for a modeling agency, has it all: a great boyfriend, nights out on the town and a gang of friends to party with. When her friends and co-workers begin to act strangely, Melissa becomes suspicious of their behavior and its cause. What she will discover is an all-out alien invasion, breeding from within their hosts of warm human bodies."

I Am Omega

An obvious play off of I Am Legend.

Book of Lore/Grave Mistakes

"BOOK OF LORE: Twenty years ago, in the town to Latonsville, a notorious serial killer known as “The Devil’s Left Hand” kidnapped eleven babies and left local police stumped. When Rick (Aj Hyde) discovers his girlfriend has been murdered in the same grotesque fashion as The Devil’s Left Hand crimes, he begins a quest to unravel his town’s unspeakable past. Using a cryptic encyclopedia of local murders called The Book of Lore, Rick and his friends race against time to unlock the secrets of the past. GRAVE MISTAKES: When a grave robber tries to barter with an eccentric antiques dealer, the two trade stories rather than goods. Tales of zombies, vampires, and ghosts are told upstairs while an unspeakable horror waits in the basement."

Haunting of Winchester House

"The Winchester mansion has fueled centuries of legends, and one family is about to realize just how true they can be... When the young family moves into the mansion to act as caretakers, their daughter is abducted by sinister spirits. To get her back, they'll discover--in a terrifying, paranormal game of wits--just why the house holds its reputation as one of the most haunted places in America."

Freakshow

"Betray one, and you betray them all... In this gory nod to Tod Browning's 1932 horror cult classic, Freaks, a travelling sideshow circus discovers their wealthy owner is being deceived by a seductress who's out for his money. They exact sadistic, bloody revenge...and no body part is spared!"

Monster

"On January 17, 2003, a 7.8 earthquake hit Japan. Thousands were feared dead. This catastrophic event was caught on tape by two American filmmakers. Their footage--discovered in 2007--reveals that it wasn't an earthquake that struck Japan. It was something else..."