Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween!
It's already here! Enjoy the spooks of the day and night, and never let your spirit diminish until midnight. Little Sam might get angry...
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The day before Halloween...
And all through the house, the monsters were stirring, getting ready for a Halloween costume party tonight! Also, there may be a Saw 3D review in the near future.
Here's to enjoying your Halloween Eve, and making the most of it. Because Halloween falls on a Sunday, unfortunately, I have to go back to school - so I'll be doing most of my Halloween celebrating tonight.
Here's to enjoying your Halloween Eve, and making the most of it. Because Halloween falls on a Sunday, unfortunately, I have to go back to school - so I'll be doing most of my Halloween celebrating tonight.
Friday, October 29, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Horror Horizon - November 2
Notable DVD releases for this coming Tuesday. Releases are subject to Blu-Ray release as well.
Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files
Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files
"The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, a modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles (Bergerac) as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby with John Hopkins (Love in a Cold Climate) and Jason Hughes (This Life) as his young assistants. Also starring Jane Wymark and Laura Howard as Joyce and Cully Barnaby. Guest stars include Diana Quick, George Baker, Simon Callow, Annette Crosbie, Elizabeth Spriggs, Harriet Walter, Peter Capaldi, and Julia McKenzie."My Super Psycho Sweet 16: Part 2
"Skye Rotter (Lauren McKnight) is on the run, having fled the Rollerdome massacre from MY SUPER PSYCHO SWEET 16. With nowhere left to turn, Skye heads to the quiet town of Mill Basin and the mother who abandoned her years ago. There, she meets her younger half-sister, Alex (Kirsten Prout), and Alex’s manipulative best friend, Zoe (Stella Maeve). Skye hopes she’s finally found safety in her new family, but she's about to learn she can't outrun her past. While Brigg (Chris Zylka) desperately tries to locate her, Charlie Rotter (Alex Van) comes to town with one bloody mission: to turn Skye's upcoming birthday into a Sweet 16 she'll never forget. You're invited to the year's most killer party...as a weekend rager becomes the savage setting for a Rotter family reunion!"The Terror Within / Dead Space (Roger Corman's Cult Classics)
"In the aftermath of a chemically induced plague that wipes out most of the world, the only survivors are a small group of scientists trapped in a laboratory 500 feet below the ground in the Mojave Desert. But they are not alone. The Terror Within stars Academy Award winner George Kennedy (Cool Hand Luke), Andrew Stevens (The Fury) and Terri Treas (The Nest).
Phaebon had been thought to be a safe and controlled research facility until a distress signal calls for Commander Kreiger (Marc Singer) and his robot Tinpan. Together, they try to save the planet from a spreading virus and an odd and growing cocoon in Dead Space, a loose remake of Forbidden World. Also starring Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Laura Tate."The Visitor
"The soul of a young girl with telekinetic powers becomes the prize in a fight between forces of God and the Devil."War Wolves
"Jack Ford leads a special forces unit back to the United States to hunt down Jake Gabriel, a soldier who has been infected with the werewolf virus that turns man into wolf. Little does Jack know that three of the female soldiers serving in his unit have also been infected and have already transformed into she-wolves. The she-wolves' forces of evil and Ford's special op forces of good, are pitted against each other in the race to save mankind from turning into wolves."Deadfall Trail
"John, Julian and Paul enter the Kaibab National Forest for a three-week survival trip and peyote vision quest. The only items they take with them are a knife, a bottle of water and a garbage bag each. A week into their journey a disastrous turn of events changes everything and the men are forced to ultimately confront the darkest corners of their morality and mortality. Battling the elements and each other, the quest becomes make it out of the forest alive."The Riverman
"A series of interview are conducted with convicted serial killer Ted Bundy in hopes of gaining insight into the Green River killer who is terrorizing Seattle. Based on the best-selling book, The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer by Robert Keppel and William J. Birnes."Demon Kiss
"An attempt to summon a demon using the sacrifice of a prostitute misfires - the evil entity instead possesses the body of the intended victim! With the ability to leap between hosts, how can it be stopped before it tracks down its target?"
31 Days of Halloween: Movie Review - The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers
The audio review:
Coming soon.
Do you live in a small-town community, a sparsely-populated area, or an out-of-the-way farmhouse? Are your nights never plagued with the wash of car lights across your living room walls? Do you live on a dirt road cut back into wide field? If so, you're the type of person The Strangers targets, feeding off of the idea that the ones who seclude themselves from the lights of urban areas are the prey for sadistic individuals who think it's their night job to terrorize innocent people.
The film plays heavily off of the premise of flicks like Michael Haneke's Funny Games; like that film, The Strangers relies on a helpless couple who are attacked by random psychopaths in the middle of the night. They're tortured by sounds and bangings, and finally more physical acts of terrorism until the obvious end. Also like Haneke's film, The Strangers begins with an eerie tone, never allowing us to place our feet firmly on the ground. The couple of the film, James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler), are fairly reticent throughout, which stems from the fact that James proposed and Kristen declined.
The beginning is where the movie captures the most attention. Since we meet James and Kristen at a time of emotional turmoil, we feel like we know them a little more personally. However, their strange relationship is as close as we get to feeling any sort of connection between the two characters. Kristen is robotic and two-dimensional, rarely uttering any audible phrases besides "James!" or "Help!" Even her character before the ruckus is shrouded in secrecy, as though there's a part of her that is being hidden from the audience, but to no special effect. James is a bit more well-rounded, though he too falls into a stereotype of being the macho man-around-the-house, first shrugging of Kristen's claims of masked men breaking and entering and then calmly stepping outside to try to slug the intruders.
As the strangers begin their onslaught of torture, it's easy to get roped into the eerieness of their performance. First, a strange woman draped in shadows knocks on the couple's door at 4 AM, wanting to know if her friend was in the house. They respond no, where she asks a chilling question, one that could only come from someone either drunk or in need of some mental help: "Are you sure?" It is with this simple question that the intensity ramps up instantly; if I were James, I'd already be calling the police, but the characters don't think in this fashion. Instead, he steps out to get a few smokes, leaving Kristen in the house alone. Strange choice of timing, isn't it? It sort of makes the viewer wonder if James is somehow in on it.
The Strangers makes great use of sound; the tormentors pound on doors and windows, turning up the volume on the blows until they're deafening. One of the best scenes in the entire film comes when Kristen is making herself something on the stove; we see, behind her, a bag-headed man staring at her, seemingly wanting her to notice him. It's an unsettling sequence, especially because he doesn't do anything. It is at this point we realize they have come to play. The sound sources also use record players to heighten the tension - we hear loops of a record for a few minutes, where it almost becomes ingrained in our heads, and then it stops, leaving us to conclude someone stopped it inside the house.
But as the strangers make their appearances known, and the characters make less and less intelligent decisions, tedium begins to set in. It's like we're ready to throw in the towel for the characters, let them take the brunt of the torment and be done with it. You see, the film becomes significantly less creepy when the audience can't understand the dumb choices the characters make anymore. Stepping outside to deal with an ax-wielding murderer when he could be anywhere? Come on, man, use your head. Hole up somewhere, and wait it out, and at least you have the advantage when they break the door down.
Slash to the Point: Unfortunately The Strangers suffers from BCS - Braindead Character Syndrome, and it's a buzzkill to the initial spooks that the film delivers. It's gripping for a while, but as the chase wears on and the killers make it evident that they're trying to draw the characters' attention, it's difficult to explain why the characters make the choices they do. The film is somewhat disturbing, but what the tension it creates in the beginning isn't sustained as well through the rest of the film, losing some of the adrenaline it created. There are better films with the same premise out there; still, it's worth your while to let The Strangers in.
The Strangers on Rotten Tomatoes
The audio review:
Coming soon.
Do you live in a small-town community, a sparsely-populated area, or an out-of-the-way farmhouse? Are your nights never plagued with the wash of car lights across your living room walls? Do you live on a dirt road cut back into wide field? If so, you're the type of person The Strangers targets, feeding off of the idea that the ones who seclude themselves from the lights of urban areas are the prey for sadistic individuals who think it's their night job to terrorize innocent people.
The film plays heavily off of the premise of flicks like Michael Haneke's Funny Games; like that film, The Strangers relies on a helpless couple who are attacked by random psychopaths in the middle of the night. They're tortured by sounds and bangings, and finally more physical acts of terrorism until the obvious end. Also like Haneke's film, The Strangers begins with an eerie tone, never allowing us to place our feet firmly on the ground. The couple of the film, James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler), are fairly reticent throughout, which stems from the fact that James proposed and Kristen declined.
The beginning is where the movie captures the most attention. Since we meet James and Kristen at a time of emotional turmoil, we feel like we know them a little more personally. However, their strange relationship is as close as we get to feeling any sort of connection between the two characters. Kristen is robotic and two-dimensional, rarely uttering any audible phrases besides "James!" or "Help!" Even her character before the ruckus is shrouded in secrecy, as though there's a part of her that is being hidden from the audience, but to no special effect. James is a bit more well-rounded, though he too falls into a stereotype of being the macho man-around-the-house, first shrugging of Kristen's claims of masked men breaking and entering and then calmly stepping outside to try to slug the intruders.
As the strangers begin their onslaught of torture, it's easy to get roped into the eerieness of their performance. First, a strange woman draped in shadows knocks on the couple's door at 4 AM, wanting to know if her friend was in the house. They respond no, where she asks a chilling question, one that could only come from someone either drunk or in need of some mental help: "Are you sure?" It is with this simple question that the intensity ramps up instantly; if I were James, I'd already be calling the police, but the characters don't think in this fashion. Instead, he steps out to get a few smokes, leaving Kristen in the house alone. Strange choice of timing, isn't it? It sort of makes the viewer wonder if James is somehow in on it.
The Strangers makes great use of sound; the tormentors pound on doors and windows, turning up the volume on the blows until they're deafening. One of the best scenes in the entire film comes when Kristen is making herself something on the stove; we see, behind her, a bag-headed man staring at her, seemingly wanting her to notice him. It's an unsettling sequence, especially because he doesn't do anything. It is at this point we realize they have come to play. The sound sources also use record players to heighten the tension - we hear loops of a record for a few minutes, where it almost becomes ingrained in our heads, and then it stops, leaving us to conclude someone stopped it inside the house.
But as the strangers make their appearances known, and the characters make less and less intelligent decisions, tedium begins to set in. It's like we're ready to throw in the towel for the characters, let them take the brunt of the torment and be done with it. You see, the film becomes significantly less creepy when the audience can't understand the dumb choices the characters make anymore. Stepping outside to deal with an ax-wielding murderer when he could be anywhere? Come on, man, use your head. Hole up somewhere, and wait it out, and at least you have the advantage when they break the door down.
Slash to the Point: Unfortunately The Strangers suffers from BCS - Braindead Character Syndrome, and it's a buzzkill to the initial spooks that the film delivers. It's gripping for a while, but as the chase wears on and the killers make it evident that they're trying to draw the characters' attention, it's difficult to explain why the characters make the choices they do. The film is somewhat disturbing, but what the tension it creates in the beginning isn't sustained as well through the rest of the film, losing some of the adrenaline it created. There are better films with the same premise out there; still, it's worth your while to let The Strangers in.
The Strangers on Rotten Tomatoes
Is it already almost Halloween?
Seems just yesterday that AMC started showing their Fear Fest, lights were hung on porches, and jack-o-lanterns carved and placed on window sills. Unfortunately, the month of Halloween is almost up and I'm not ready for it! I haven't even had my annual viewing of Halloween yet, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen this year.
But there are still some great festivities around the corner, including All Hallow's Eve itself! So don't fret - Halloween only comes once a year, but it lives on this blog (and others) all year 'round. And yes, it's plain ol' fine to leave your decorations up until Christmas.
But there are still some great festivities around the corner, including All Hallow's Eve itself! So don't fret - Halloween only comes once a year, but it lives on this blog (and others) all year 'round. And yes, it's plain ol' fine to leave your decorations up until Christmas.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Check out a Myspace Horror Movie Villain Faceoff!
Thanks to Myspace, we now have betting tips for any battle royales in the future involving these legendary horror icons. Check it out below - it's just in time for Halloween, so get your bets in!
Get the latest Halloween buzz on MySpace
Get the latest Halloween buzz on MySpace
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Catch a Halloween Ugly Americans special!
| Ugly Americans | Weds 10:30pm / 9:30c | |||
| Preview - Demonic Manufacturing Plant | ||||
| ||||
Tonight, Ugly Americans goes to Hell: to celebrate Halloween with the family of Callie! Expect super fun holiday madness in this new episode, airing at 10:30 tonight on Comedy Central.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Comic Review - House of Mystery Halloween Annual #2
House of Mystery Halloween Annual #2
The audio review:
Last Halloween marked the first Halloween Annual from the House of Mystery series, a comic issue that used the House of Mystery series as a means of bringing together other DC Comics/Vertigo horror series into one big celebration of the holiday. In my review, I raved about the great wraparound story and the skillful way in which each comic was incorporated into a cohesive whole. Well, I might have hyped the series a bit too much, and quite possibly raised my expectations to an unachievable level, because the second Halloween Annual from the House of Mystery series left me wanting more of what last year's issue provided.
The opening wraparound story by Matt Sturges just didn't really stick for me. The characters we follow into the House of Mystery are old trick-or-treaters, hardened by a curse that keeps them trick-or-treating for eternity. Some of us might not think this such a bad thing, but the "kids" do, as they're mighty sick of the whole thing and attempt to get a gypsy to break the spell. These trick-or-treaters are ne'er-do-wells, full of mischief and malice - and of course, they have witty one-liners to boot. Yet their antics did little to humor me, and their personalities are a bit withering, especially with a comic dedicated to their story. The art by Luca Rossi is excellent, however, utilizing Gothic architecture (and heavy wrinkle lines on the "kids") to highlight the Halloween spirit.
After the trick-or-treaters do their time at the House of Mystery, and murder the gypsy in the process, they travel to the comic Madame Xanadu, written by Matt Wagner. This was my favorite story of the bunch; it's both somewhat related to Halloween and characterizes those pesky little brat trick-or-treaters with a backstory about their childhoods and their dreams of a better future. No wonder they're so mean - their lives have been plagued with terrible parents or role models! The art, illustrated by Brandon Graham, is a wonderful contrast to the plot; whereas the tale is quite dark in its content, Graham illustrates with childlike, fairy-tale images, extending the idea of the dreamlike child in each of the trick-or-treaters.
But the kids don't take Madame Xanadu seriously, and they move on to John Constantine and company in Hellblazer. Constantine tells a backstory of a girl he once loved when he was a kid, who he befriended after a burning of the Guy Fawkes effigy in England. Author Peter Milligan shows the conflict between Constantine's low social status and the higher class of his fleeting love Katie, crafting a emotional story that enhances the mysterious character. But even though the story's fairly well done, it barely fits into the House of Mystery wraparound story, only passingly mentioning the trick-or-treaters at all. Also, Halloween is not highlighted much - Constantine tells the story on Halloween, but the majority of the tale centers around Guy Fawkes Day in England, which falls on November 5.
Next up is iZombie, the new comic series from Chris Roberson and Mike Allred. It's a sort of backstory on the zombie Gwen, who, with her friends, rows out into the middle of a lake and encounters those mischievous trick-or-treaters. They try to trick them into thinking that there's a sea monster in the lake, though Gwen isn't fazed by this trickery. The story is fairly straightforward, and though I loved what I've read of iZombie in the past, I felt like this entry in the Halloween issue was more of a trailer than a full-fledged idea, taking on a sort of Scooby Doo silliness that accomplishes little.
And finally, we're treated to a short chapter of Lucifer by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. I'm not too familiar with Lucifer myself, but we meet a couple of funky demons who lead the trick-or-treaters through some interesting dimensions, trying to find the right time period for the group. But after a lot of searching, the demon figures that the trick-or-treaters are forever doomed to trick-or-treat, and the issue ends as it started - a circle in which the trick-or-treaters never break their curse.
Slash to the Point: Unfortunately, this Halloween Annual was somewhat a disappointment, mostly because of the lack of Halloween storylines and a mish-mash of very good and somewhat lacking ideas. However, the comic still has a great set of characters, and it's nice to see all of the Vertigo comic authors and illustrators coming together on one big piece to commemorate Halloween. While less impressive than the previous year's, this second Halloween Annual still holds enough festive spirit to ring in the haunted holiday of Halloween.
The audio review:
Last Halloween marked the first Halloween Annual from the House of Mystery series, a comic issue that used the House of Mystery series as a means of bringing together other DC Comics/Vertigo horror series into one big celebration of the holiday. In my review, I raved about the great wraparound story and the skillful way in which each comic was incorporated into a cohesive whole. Well, I might have hyped the series a bit too much, and quite possibly raised my expectations to an unachievable level, because the second Halloween Annual from the House of Mystery series left me wanting more of what last year's issue provided.
The opening wraparound story by Matt Sturges just didn't really stick for me. The characters we follow into the House of Mystery are old trick-or-treaters, hardened by a curse that keeps them trick-or-treating for eternity. Some of us might not think this such a bad thing, but the "kids" do, as they're mighty sick of the whole thing and attempt to get a gypsy to break the spell. These trick-or-treaters are ne'er-do-wells, full of mischief and malice - and of course, they have witty one-liners to boot. Yet their antics did little to humor me, and their personalities are a bit withering, especially with a comic dedicated to their story. The art by Luca Rossi is excellent, however, utilizing Gothic architecture (and heavy wrinkle lines on the "kids") to highlight the Halloween spirit.
After the trick-or-treaters do their time at the House of Mystery, and murder the gypsy in the process, they travel to the comic Madame Xanadu, written by Matt Wagner. This was my favorite story of the bunch; it's both somewhat related to Halloween and characterizes those pesky little brat trick-or-treaters with a backstory about their childhoods and their dreams of a better future. No wonder they're so mean - their lives have been plagued with terrible parents or role models! The art, illustrated by Brandon Graham, is a wonderful contrast to the plot; whereas the tale is quite dark in its content, Graham illustrates with childlike, fairy-tale images, extending the idea of the dreamlike child in each of the trick-or-treaters.
But the kids don't take Madame Xanadu seriously, and they move on to John Constantine and company in Hellblazer. Constantine tells a backstory of a girl he once loved when he was a kid, who he befriended after a burning of the Guy Fawkes effigy in England. Author Peter Milligan shows the conflict between Constantine's low social status and the higher class of his fleeting love Katie, crafting a emotional story that enhances the mysterious character. But even though the story's fairly well done, it barely fits into the House of Mystery wraparound story, only passingly mentioning the trick-or-treaters at all. Also, Halloween is not highlighted much - Constantine tells the story on Halloween, but the majority of the tale centers around Guy Fawkes Day in England, which falls on November 5.
Next up is iZombie, the new comic series from Chris Roberson and Mike Allred. It's a sort of backstory on the zombie Gwen, who, with her friends, rows out into the middle of a lake and encounters those mischievous trick-or-treaters. They try to trick them into thinking that there's a sea monster in the lake, though Gwen isn't fazed by this trickery. The story is fairly straightforward, and though I loved what I've read of iZombie in the past, I felt like this entry in the Halloween issue was more of a trailer than a full-fledged idea, taking on a sort of Scooby Doo silliness that accomplishes little.
And finally, we're treated to a short chapter of Lucifer by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. I'm not too familiar with Lucifer myself, but we meet a couple of funky demons who lead the trick-or-treaters through some interesting dimensions, trying to find the right time period for the group. But after a lot of searching, the demon figures that the trick-or-treaters are forever doomed to trick-or-treat, and the issue ends as it started - a circle in which the trick-or-treaters never break their curse.
Slash to the Point: Unfortunately, this Halloween Annual was somewhat a disappointment, mostly because of the lack of Halloween storylines and a mish-mash of very good and somewhat lacking ideas. However, the comic still has a great set of characters, and it's nice to see all of the Vertigo comic authors and illustrators coming together on one big piece to commemorate Halloween. While less impressive than the previous year's, this second Halloween Annual still holds enough festive spirit to ring in the haunted holiday of Halloween.
31 Days of Halloween: Horror Horizon - October 26
A little late, but here are today's relevant horror releases. Subject to Blu-Ray release as well.
Alien Anthology [Blu-Ray]
House (The Criterion Collection)
Cannibal Girls
Alien Anthology [Blu-Ray]
"Brace yourself for a whole new breed of Blu-ray: Four powerful films...eight thrilling versions...in dazzling, terrifying, high-def clarity with the purest digital sound on the planet. Two bonus dics and over 65 hours of archival and never-before-seen content, including the totally immersive MU-TH-UR mode feature, makes this definitive Alien collection!"This has a ridiculous amount of special features; I think it should be named Alienthology.
House (The Criterion Collection)
"How to describe Nobuhiko Obayashi’s indescribable 1977 movie HOUSE (Hausu)? As a psychedelic ghost tale? A stream-of-consciousness bedtime story? An episode of Scooby-Doo as directed by Mario Bava? Any of the above will do for this hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl who travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s creaky country home and comes face-to-face with evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano, and other ghoulish visions, all realized by Obayashi via a series of mattes, animation, and collage effects. Equal parts absurd and nightmarish, HOUSE might have been beamed to Earth from some other planet. Never before available on home video in the United States, it’s one of the most exciting cult discoveries in years."Maniac (30th Anniversary Edition)
"Frank Zito is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer, yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a Maniac."Altitude
"After a mysterious malfunction sends their small plane climbing out of control, a rookie pilot and her four teenage friends find themselves trapped in a deadly showdown with a supernatural force."Lake Placid 3
"Get ready for a living, feeding nightmare when a swarm of gigantic crocodiles terrorizes a secluded country lake. When local wildlife is brutally mauled and campers are reduced to carcasses, biologist Nathan Bickerman (Colin Ferguson) knows a voracious predator is on the loose. So does a feisty female hunting guide (Yancy Butler) out for her next trophy. As the body count rises, the local sheriff tries to keep things quiet and keep the tourists coming. But when the horrifying, hulking truth emerges, can anyone stop these cold-blooded killers before they claim their next victim? Lake Placid 3 is pulse-pounding, adrenaline-pumping, pure horror film fun."Psychomania
"The cult classic known as the greatest British zombie biker movie ever made returns with the ultimate full-throttle restoration: Nicky Henson (THE WITCHFINDER GENERAL), Beryl Reid (THE BEAST IN THE CELLAR) and Oscar® winner George Sanders (ALL ABOUT EVE, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED) star in this beloved 70s mind-blower about a motorcycle gang who burst from their graves to crush a world of psychedelic hippie pleasures under the wheels of black leather occult mayhem. You ve got to believe it s come back: PSYCHOMANIA from veteran horror director Don Sharp (KISS OF THE VAMPIRE), the blacklisted Hollywood screenwriters of HORROR EXPRESS, and featuring some of the wildest cycle stunts of the decade has now been restored from the only uncut 35mm print in existence and packed with new Bonus Features produced exclusively for this edition."AKA The Death Wheelers.
Cannibal Girls
"Released in 1973 and directed by a then-largely unknown Ivan Reitman , Cannibal Girls quickly acquired a reputation as the B-movie concoction of the 1970s. Canadian audiences had never before experienced such a rich blend of camp, gore and comedy. On top of the films overt B-movie presentation, the theater-going public was also introduced to the warning bell experience: just prior to a scene of particular malice, the easily upset viewers would be warned by the sound of a bell, at which point they could shut their eyes."Mutants
"Like David Cronenberg's The Fly, co-writer and director David Morley s fright flick Mutants turns the horror genre on its head and makes it personal. It s one thing to kill a zombie. But what if the zombie was someone you loved? ER doctor Sonia (Helene de Fougerolles) and her boyfriend Marco (Francis Renaud) take refuge in an abandoned base when a pandemic has turned almost everyone in the world into a flesh-eating monster. But one of the creatures infects Marco and soon Sonia is fighting off zombies, dealing with her own pregnancy and desperately hoping for a cure as Marco literally disintegrates before her eyes. Finally, Sonia faces the truth: the one man worth fighting for has become the one man she must fight against to survive."The Dead Outside
"A neurological pandemic has consumed the population. Drug-resistance has mutated the virus into a ravaging psychological plague, rendering the 'the dying' desperate, paranoid and violent. Two survivors come together on an isolated farmhouse in desperate circumstances- April, a young mysterious girl with a dark past has survived alone for months..."Eulogy For a Vampire
"A handsome young drifter is found unconscious near a remote monastery, where he joins forces with a vengeful spirit as he seduces and converts each of the monks to join his league of the undead."Haunted Office
"Three office employees discover that their place of employment can be far more terrifying than any haunted house in this horror anthology. In the first tale, a newly-hired employee (Karen Mok) gets the shock of her life upon entering the bathroom stall that her co-workers avoid at all costs. The shocks keep coming when handsome suitor Ken (Stephen Fung) realizes that one of the women he's pursuing may not be what she seems in the second tale, and the trilogy winds to a close with the story of a devoted longtime employee named May (Helena Lo) who loses her pension when she is fired one day before her official retirement. But after working at the same place for 45 years, May vows to ensure that her presence will still be felt there long after she's gone."Death Tube (No IMDB)
"A young girl gets hooked on a website called “Death Tube,” which broadcasts actual murders in real time. At first she didn’t believe it was real, until she is brought into the site itself. The killing game is about to begin."Eyes of the Chameleon
"Sara is stuck in Las Vegas working a dead end bartending job. A chance meeting with a member of the occult triggers a psychotic break and she descends into a world of group sex, unrepentant drug use and rampant violence. As she spins faster and faster out of control, her friends are slowly killed off in mysterious and brutal ways. Is Sara being stalked by an unnamed killer or is she the one guilty of the murders?"
Monday, October 25, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Pick It Apart: The Orphanage - "Un, Dos, Tres, Toca la Pared"
What makes a good scene good? What makes a scene spookier than another, using the same subject matter? When we write reviews, it's easy to focus on a couple key aspects of a film without ever truly looking at the requisite parts that make the movie a whole. In "Pick It Apart," we'll do just as the title states: examine a particular scene from a horror movie and analyze why it's such an effective or integral part of the film.
At this point in the film The Orphanage, we're already acquainted with Laura, and her son has already gone missing. She knows about the ghosts and the bodies of the children who were poisoned by a crazed caretaker. And we've seen all sorts of creepy or eerie events happen in the house that seem to indicate the ghost children mean some type of harm to the residents of the mansion.
So it's not a far stretch to conclude that Laura is in dangerous waters by trying to summon the children with a child-like game of "Un, Dos, Tres, Toca la Pared," a Spanish game very similar to "Red Light, Green Light" where children must try to reach the game master when he or she is turned around.
But what's creepy about a child's game? For one, Laura must turn her back to the darkness and, most likely, the kids who will be creeping up on her. Likewise, so too does the camera, which follows the point of view of Laura as she plays the game. The first "un, dos, tres, toca la pared" reveals nothing, as a slow pan of the camera shows. The second: still nothing. Even before the third, we hear the snap of wood, and then, after the phrase, see an opened door, with light shining through and contrasting with the darkness of the room. An even slower pan hints some event is about to go down, and it mimics the apprehension and fear of Laura.
Fourth knock, and we see one child, illuminated in the light and yet still enveloped in darkness. Fifth, and now the children have multiplied, and more importantly, they have gained ground on Laura. The camera is shaky and hesitant, and the lack of sound makes the children's approach unbearably tense. Sixth, and they're almost to Laura, and we silently pray for her to never turn around again. And yet she does, counting off a seventh knock, where the camera slips in to see behind her. And, just to throw us off, a hand reaches up and tags Laura even before she's finished her counting.
Whew. A tense scene made tenser by great camera placing and lighting, and a complete lack of sound. The real suspense is in the consistency of the camera pans; since the camera pans so slowly right from the opening of the game, it leaves us wondering what exactly could happen, although we have a fantastic feeling. And though the light behind the children will be revelatory later on in the film, the contrasting shadow textures on the children create a very ominous tone.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: New news equals good news part 3
Daria Nicolodi to appear at Italian Invasion III
Daria Nicolodi, long-term lover of famous director Dario Argento, will make her first appearance at a convention this October 29-31 weekend at the Chiller Theatre Expo. Nicolodi, who starred in films Tenebre, Mother of Tears, Deep Red, and other Argento works, will join other characters for the 30th anniversary of City of the Living Dead.
The Chiller Theatre Expo is being held at the Hilton Parsippany in New Jersey.
Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave #1 releases 11/3
The new comic book Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave, dedicated to providing updated versions of classic Bela Lugosi stories, will be on sale in comic book stores on November 3. The comic features a number of great horror artists and will be released by Monsterverse Entertainment.
From the press release:
The Chiller Theatre Expo is being held at the Hilton Parsippany in New Jersey.
Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave #1 releases 11/3
The new comic book Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave, dedicated to providing updated versions of classic Bela Lugosi stories, will be on sale in comic book stores on November 3. The comic features a number of great horror artists and will be released by Monsterverse Entertainment.
From the press release:
"The first issue contains stories and art by such notables as Kerry Gammill (SUPERMAN and SPIDER-MAN ), James Farr (whose XOMBIE online animated and comic book series is being brought to theater screens by Dreamworks in a live-action production by top writer/producers Orchi and Kurtzman), Chris Moreno (WORLD WAR HULK), John Cassaday, Rob Brown (voted online as horror artist of the year for BANE OF THE WEREWOLF), Derek McCaw, Rafael Navarro (creator of the Xeric Award winning series SONAMBULO), Martin Powell and Eisner Award- winning artist Terry Beatty (THE BATMAN STRIKES), Brian Denham (IRON MAN, ANGEL), Bruce Timm and more. The book also features an article by leading Lugosi researcher and author Gary D. Rhodes."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Movie Review - Scanners
Scanners
The audio review:
There's a tendency to think that reading minds would be a really great power. If your wife or husband is in a tizzy, just read their mind and you'll have the solution. Or if you're unsure how to answer your boss' ambiguous question without causing a ruckus, power up your mind control and have at it. But Scanners looks at a different side of mind reading, not reveling in the idea of knowing people's inner secrets or if that hot girl behind the McDonald's counter really is looking at you. Instead, it's a much harsher, bloodier world for those scanners who can control and read minds, because each time they do, they risk physically harming themselves, or they can never quite block out the thoughts of those around them.
At first it appears as though Scanners lacks a significant plot arc. Sure, we meet Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), an innocent scanner who doesn't really know how to control his scanning abilities, and we meet an arch nemesis named Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside), who wants to wreak havoc on Earth with his capabilities while assembling a masterful group of scanners to do his bidding. Okay, okay, it's a crazy scheme, but what's there in the plot that can't be found in any hero-vs.-villain flick? For a while, not much, as Cameron attempts to track down Revok while avoiding his mercenaries.
But quickly, director David Cronenberg moves the film into different territory; it's not so much an action film, and it never truly becomes science fiction. Instead, it becomes a political dialogue about the overuse of medication and the effects that it could have on humanity, and the best aspect of the idea is the fact that it features a disease that cannot be seen with the naked eye. It's not a sickness that manifests physically, but instead a mental, inward disease. And for a film created in 1981, Scanners shows incredible foresight, in light of the recent superbugs and antibiotic-resistant diseases plaguing the world today.
However, there's also some great special effects in Scanners, even for the 1980s. You've probably heard of the famous exploding head scene, and it still looks pretty slick compared to today's standards. There's a ton of great facial expressions, because it's tough to show scanners using their powers without having the actors contort their faces into visages of extreme discomfort.
Yet Scanners doesn't always read the audience's mind. The love story between Cameron and Kim (Jennifer O'Neill) happens far too quickly, and it's difficult to find anything within it to relate to because the other parts of the plot rush it along. There's also the problem of character development; Cameron seems a bit robotic in his personality, and one wonders about his undying devotion to the cause. There's a twist at the end of Scanners that, with the release of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back a year earlier, seems like it would be a bit hokey.
Slash to the Point: Scanners is a great mind-bending film, and though the complexity of its story seems like it could intimidate viewers, the simplicity of the actual plot endears itself to sci-fi action-ites. Of course, it still retains that weird atmosphere of a Cronenberg-directed film, and if those types of scientifically-fueled films aren't a giant part of your repertoire, Scanners might not attract your attention. But the main theme of medicinal overuse still has relevance in our overly medicated population, and we would do well to watch the film again and note the striking resemblances between fiction and reality.
Scanners on Rotten Tomatoes
The audio review:
There's a tendency to think that reading minds would be a really great power. If your wife or husband is in a tizzy, just read their mind and you'll have the solution. Or if you're unsure how to answer your boss' ambiguous question without causing a ruckus, power up your mind control and have at it. But Scanners looks at a different side of mind reading, not reveling in the idea of knowing people's inner secrets or if that hot girl behind the McDonald's counter really is looking at you. Instead, it's a much harsher, bloodier world for those scanners who can control and read minds, because each time they do, they risk physically harming themselves, or they can never quite block out the thoughts of those around them.
At first it appears as though Scanners lacks a significant plot arc. Sure, we meet Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), an innocent scanner who doesn't really know how to control his scanning abilities, and we meet an arch nemesis named Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside), who wants to wreak havoc on Earth with his capabilities while assembling a masterful group of scanners to do his bidding. Okay, okay, it's a crazy scheme, but what's there in the plot that can't be found in any hero-vs.-villain flick? For a while, not much, as Cameron attempts to track down Revok while avoiding his mercenaries.
But quickly, director David Cronenberg moves the film into different territory; it's not so much an action film, and it never truly becomes science fiction. Instead, it becomes a political dialogue about the overuse of medication and the effects that it could have on humanity, and the best aspect of the idea is the fact that it features a disease that cannot be seen with the naked eye. It's not a sickness that manifests physically, but instead a mental, inward disease. And for a film created in 1981, Scanners shows incredible foresight, in light of the recent superbugs and antibiotic-resistant diseases plaguing the world today.
However, there's also some great special effects in Scanners, even for the 1980s. You've probably heard of the famous exploding head scene, and it still looks pretty slick compared to today's standards. There's a ton of great facial expressions, because it's tough to show scanners using their powers without having the actors contort their faces into visages of extreme discomfort.
Yet Scanners doesn't always read the audience's mind. The love story between Cameron and Kim (Jennifer O'Neill) happens far too quickly, and it's difficult to find anything within it to relate to because the other parts of the plot rush it along. There's also the problem of character development; Cameron seems a bit robotic in his personality, and one wonders about his undying devotion to the cause. There's a twist at the end of Scanners that, with the release of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back a year earlier, seems like it would be a bit hokey.
Slash to the Point: Scanners is a great mind-bending film, and though the complexity of its story seems like it could intimidate viewers, the simplicity of the actual plot endears itself to sci-fi action-ites. Of course, it still retains that weird atmosphere of a Cronenberg-directed film, and if those types of scientifically-fueled films aren't a giant part of your repertoire, Scanners might not attract your attention. But the main theme of medicinal overuse still has relevance in our overly medicated population, and we would do well to watch the film again and note the striking resemblances between fiction and reality.
Scanners on Rotten Tomatoes
Thursday, October 21, 2010
New Giveaway! Enter to win THE DEAD PATH by Stephen M. Irwin
I've got a new giveaway for ya, and this time it's a book courtesy of Random House. Stephen M. Irwin's newest novel, The Dead Path, hits stores soon, but you could be one of the first to have it by entering this giveaway.
That's right. I'm giving it away for free, out of the kindness of my heart and my love for my fans. So that means you must do the work. This time things are going to work a little bit differently. Instead of just submitting your name and address to my email, you've also got to name your favorite horror novel, short story, or author. Your choice won't affect the outcome, as I'll still pick randomly, but if I get submissions without the requirement above, they will be THROWN OUT!
Still want to play? Awesome. Simply send an email to rb9589 AT mcla DOT edu with the subject "The Dead Path Giveaway." In the body, include your name and address, plus your favorite horror novel, short story, or author. Easy. And if you want to impress me more, click "Follow" on that nifty Google box on the sidebar. It'll brighten up my day.
Official contest rules: Submissions will be sent to a PR representative for dispersal of book. If you are uncomfortable with your address being sent to the company, please do not enter. Contest open to the world, not just the USA. One entry per household address. No entries will be accepted via comment post so do not bother.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: the cover is glow in the dark!
The contest ends Halloween, October 31st at midnight! The winner will be notified the next day via email.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: New news equals good news part 2
Magnet Releasing takes US rights to Vanishing on 7th Street and Black Death
Magnet Releasing has again been busy, this time taking the rights to two new films for the United States. Vanishing on 7th Street stars Hayden Christensen and John Leguizamo, and was directed by Brad Anderson, notable for his horror flicks Session 9 and The Machinist.
The plot is as follows:
Tune in tonight at 10:30 for an all new episode of Ugly Americans, featuring a sleazy sex scandal.
Have your artwork featured in Radical Comics' Abattoir
Remember that Darren Lynn Bousman comic Abattoir I posted about earlier? Well, now's your chance to be featured in it with your own drawing. Radical Publishing is hosting a contest where participants draw their own recreation of Abattoir's character Jebediah Crone.
All you have to do is draw a scene from Abattoir #1 featuring Jebediah Crone and send it in to promotions@radicalpublishing.com by November 10. Winners will be selected by Radical Publishing's Art Director Jeremy Berger.
Official rules:
Magnet Releasing has again been busy, this time taking the rights to two new films for the United States. Vanishing on 7th Street stars Hayden Christensen and John Leguizamo, and was directed by Brad Anderson, notable for his horror flicks Session 9 and The Machinist.
The plot is as follows:
"When a massive power outage plunges the city of Detroit into total darkness, a disparate group of individuals (Christensen, Leguizamo, Newton) find themselves alone. The entire city’s population has vanished into thin air, leaving behind heaps of empty clothing, abandoned cars and lengthening shadows. Soon the daylight begins to disappear completely, and as the survivors gather in an abandoned tavern, they realize the darkness is out to get them, and only their rapidly diminishing light sources can keep them safe."
While Vanishing on 7th Street deals with the dark, Black Death deals with medieval Europe during the time of the black plague. The film stars Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne, and was directed by Chris Smith. The film won some awards a week ago at Screamfest, taking home medals for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Musical Score.
From the press release:
"[Sean] Bean stars as Ulric, a grim emissary from the Church, who leads a young monk (Eddie Redmayne) and a band of violent vigilantes and war veterans through the English countryside. Armed with blood-chilling torture devices, their mission is to stamp out suspected paganism in a village that remains untouched by the black plague, even as the rest of Europe grimly succumbs to the pestilence."
Sex scandals a problem for councilman on new episode of Ugly Americans
| Ugly Americans | Weds 10:30pm / 9:30c | |||
| Preview - Councilman Sex Scandal | ||||
| ||||
Tune in tonight at 10:30 for an all new episode of Ugly Americans, featuring a sleazy sex scandal.
Have your artwork featured in Radical Comics' Abattoir
Remember that Darren Lynn Bousman comic Abattoir I posted about earlier? Well, now's your chance to be featured in it with your own drawing. Radical Publishing is hosting a contest where participants draw their own recreation of Abattoir's character Jebediah Crone.
All you have to do is draw a scene from Abattoir #1 featuring Jebediah Crone and send it in to promotions@radicalpublishing.com by November 10. Winners will be selected by Radical Publishing's Art Director Jeremy Berger.
Official rules:
"Winner #1 will be announced on November 17th with runner ups featured on Radical Publishing’s Facebook page. Each artist is limited to one illustration and all illustrations are judged exclusively by Radical Publishing’s Art Director, Jeremy Berger.
That’s not all. After the release of ABATTOIR #6, Radical will hold a contest for fans to pick the best entry amongst the five individual winners. The winning illustration will then be featured in the ABATTOIR trade paperback collection."Visit the Radical Publishing website for more information.
31 Days of Halloween: Comic Review - Ryder on the Storm #1
Ryder on the Storm
The audio review:
(Please excuse my roommate in the audio review.)
This new three-part comic series from Radical Publishing drew me in from the very beginning. The gritty atmosphere of mysterious main character Ryder's futuristic city and the noir-ish stylings of writer David Hine draw attention to the fact that something's amiss within the new case that Ryder has taken on as part of his detective agency. He feels it too, noting that he normally gets a bad feeling about his cases at some point.
Ryder, with his gruff and to-the-point demeanor, is a PI living in the rough streets of a futuristic city. Illicit and hallucinatory drugs like Godspeed plague the citizens; bodies are found floating in the river all the time, a detail that Ryder hardly notices as he passes by a crime scene where investigators are extracting a skeletal body. The neighborhood is ravaged with crime, and the panels mimic the disjointed and dark world of the comic because of Wayne Nichols' bold images.
Immediately, Katrina Petruska turns up on Ryder's doorstep, a femme fatale who is implicated in her boyfriend's murder after finding him with seven holes drilled into his head. Her demeanor slightly misleading and untruthful, Ryder begins to delve into the case with caution in mind, knowing that behind the murder, somehow, is the city's most powerful family, the Danton's. It turns out Petruska's boyfriend was investigating the Danton's, who he suspected were ancient daemons infused with a lot of physical power. After following Petruska to a sadomasochistic rave party, Ryder finds out all too quickly that the Danton's are, in fact, a family of daemons, after he battles a giant behemoth with clawed hands and a beast-like visage. He's saved by Charles Monk, a mystifying individual who carries a gun that shoots green bullets which make a daemon claw its own eyes out. After touching one of these bullets, Ryder's in for a big surprise - a new limb.
Ryder on the Storm is filled with a sense of action and movement; even as Ryder gives exposition in his noir-like narrative, or when he gains information from suspects, there's still the grit of the city working in the background. It's evident that the city is a city of vice, from the cage match brawls of a former cop to the Godspeed drugs that pepper the crime scene, or the S&M themed "performance" of the orgies at the Lust Garden. All of this is heightened thanks to Nichols' dirty images and the color palette: a deep gray or black with occasional colorful outbursts.
Ryder is a challenge to decipher, like all good noir detectives are, and his backstory remains hidden. However, it would be great to see some background exposition of Ryder's former life, or at least the cases he has covered so far. When he remarks on his past cases, he says he generally gets a bad feeling from all of them, but it's difficult to tell whether he's like a John Constantine who covers supernatural cases for a living or just a regular guy who gets caught up in the weirdness of the situation. But it looks like Ryder will be progressing continually into new territory until the last issue, where the case will likely be resolved.
Slash to the Point: Ryder on the Storm #1 is a great introduction to the character and the city. It jumps right into the plot arc without stopping for extraneous exposition, and that's a good thing, because it maintains Ryder's mysterious morals and keeps the reader on edge, craving more from the action. Issues two and three are likely to pick up quickly where the first left off, and that seems pretty promising to me. It's easy to get swept away in the storm.
The audio review:
(Please excuse my roommate in the audio review.)
This new three-part comic series from Radical Publishing drew me in from the very beginning. The gritty atmosphere of mysterious main character Ryder's futuristic city and the noir-ish stylings of writer David Hine draw attention to the fact that something's amiss within the new case that Ryder has taken on as part of his detective agency. He feels it too, noting that he normally gets a bad feeling about his cases at some point.
Ryder, with his gruff and to-the-point demeanor, is a PI living in the rough streets of a futuristic city. Illicit and hallucinatory drugs like Godspeed plague the citizens; bodies are found floating in the river all the time, a detail that Ryder hardly notices as he passes by a crime scene where investigators are extracting a skeletal body. The neighborhood is ravaged with crime, and the panels mimic the disjointed and dark world of the comic because of Wayne Nichols' bold images.
Immediately, Katrina Petruska turns up on Ryder's doorstep, a femme fatale who is implicated in her boyfriend's murder after finding him with seven holes drilled into his head. Her demeanor slightly misleading and untruthful, Ryder begins to delve into the case with caution in mind, knowing that behind the murder, somehow, is the city's most powerful family, the Danton's. It turns out Petruska's boyfriend was investigating the Danton's, who he suspected were ancient daemons infused with a lot of physical power. After following Petruska to a sadomasochistic rave party, Ryder finds out all too quickly that the Danton's are, in fact, a family of daemons, after he battles a giant behemoth with clawed hands and a beast-like visage. He's saved by Charles Monk, a mystifying individual who carries a gun that shoots green bullets which make a daemon claw its own eyes out. After touching one of these bullets, Ryder's in for a big surprise - a new limb.
Ryder on the Storm is filled with a sense of action and movement; even as Ryder gives exposition in his noir-like narrative, or when he gains information from suspects, there's still the grit of the city working in the background. It's evident that the city is a city of vice, from the cage match brawls of a former cop to the Godspeed drugs that pepper the crime scene, or the S&M themed "performance" of the orgies at the Lust Garden. All of this is heightened thanks to Nichols' dirty images and the color palette: a deep gray or black with occasional colorful outbursts.
Ryder is a challenge to decipher, like all good noir detectives are, and his backstory remains hidden. However, it would be great to see some background exposition of Ryder's former life, or at least the cases he has covered so far. When he remarks on his past cases, he says he generally gets a bad feeling from all of them, but it's difficult to tell whether he's like a John Constantine who covers supernatural cases for a living or just a regular guy who gets caught up in the weirdness of the situation. But it looks like Ryder will be progressing continually into new territory until the last issue, where the case will likely be resolved.
Slash to the Point: Ryder on the Storm #1 is a great introduction to the character and the city. It jumps right into the plot arc without stopping for extraneous exposition, and that's a good thing, because it maintains Ryder's mysterious morals and keeps the reader on edge, craving more from the action. Issues two and three are likely to pick up quickly where the first left off, and that seems pretty promising to me. It's easy to get swept away in the storm.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Movie Review - Dark Night of the Scarecrow
Dark Night of the Scarecrow
The audio review:
Color me surprised when I learned that this film was a made-for-television special - after I had already watched it! Suffice it to say that Dark Night of the Scarecrow gives no indication that it's edited for content or mass produced to make a few bucks like some of today's TV flicks (I'm looking at you, Lifetime). Instead, it delivers a deliberately slow-paced slasher full of tension and thick atmosphere that rivals its slasher counterparts of the time.
The film starts out with mentally handicapped Bubba (Larry Drake) playing games with a little girl from town as a creepy postal worker/safari guide (Charles Durning, with his crazy hard hat) looks on through binoculars. Perhaps this scene sounds pleasant enough, causing no disturbance with the townsfolk; but unfortunately, Bubba is not the little girl's age, and instead is about thirty years her senior. Right off the bat, the cat's out of the bag - the town's got a problem with the older man hanging around with young kids, and they seemingly miss the explanation that though Bubba has matured physically, his mentality is still at the same age as the kids'. When the little girl is attacked by a dog and is brought home by a crying Bubba, things get worse for the poor man when a few of the town's less level-headed individuals take up their shotguns and drive off on a handicapped hunt. Bubba runs, hiding himself in a scarecrow costume, but the townies have dogs that sniff him out, and, trapped in the scarecrow suit with no where to run, Bubba is treated to some angry mob "justice" just before the police radio in to say that it really was a dog that attacked the little girl.
Man is this an intense scene. The viewers are treated to some good ol' dramatic irony; we know that Bubba didn't do anything, but the townies are too ignorant to recognize this, and as they hunt down the innocent man and murder him in cold-blood, the shivers pick up. For a television special, Dark Night of the Scarecrow delivers some disturbing tension immediately, especially as the camera pans in on the eyes of the helpless Bubba inside the scarecrow mask. Not one or two shots kill Bubba, but over twenty according to a lawyer, and the camera doesn't shy away from detail.
If you're not hooked from there, you probably have a short attention span anyway, and so Dark Night of the Scarecrow isn't for you. Because after this scene leaves the viewer itching for more, the plot drops out from under us for a while and meanders down a long, dusty trail. It's slow going; there's a court scene that finds the killers not guilty, some exploration of the killers' lives and the apparent lack of guilt they feel, and then the perpetrators are picked off one by one in implied gory fashion.
While the pacing might not endear itself to contemporary horror viewers, it does do one thing that most current horror films don't do: actually explore the characters before they die, fleshing out who they are, their motives, their individual characteristics. And even if we don't like them very much, we either end up feeling a bit sorry for them or hating them even more, but there's never a time where one feels nothing after the death of a character. So while Dark Night of the Scarecrow might seem slow, it's ultimately building a great deal of suspense - one could say a ball that picks up speed and suspense as it rolls to its conclusion.
When the deaths do occur, they're generally full of eeriness. First, a scarecrow that looks creepily similar to Bubba before he died appears on the victim's property. Then, they meet some sort of horrible demise that generally relates to their farming work or machinery. Most deaths are gruesome and creative, and, obviously, shouldn't be wished on anyone. The emphasis here is on creative; being buried by falling grain and falling into a wheat tiller are good examples of the types of deaths you'll see here.
The ending makes it known that the killer is Bubba all along, whereas much of the movie keeps the viewer guessing. Here is where Dark Night of the Scarecrow makes a slight wrong turn - instead of showing us the killer, it would have been more effective to leave the killer a secret, although having Bubba turn up as the scarecrow and talk to the little girl is fairly creepy.
Slash to the Point: Dark Night of the Scarecrow was a real step forward for TV movies, and even though it might seem tame in comparison to the slashers of the late '70s and early '80s, I would rank the film in the same range as those classics. It's instantly affecting because of the brutal murder of an innocent man, and the tension and characterization of the film is phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and pick up the latest remastered edition on DVD.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow on Rotten Tomatoes
The audio review:
Color me surprised when I learned that this film was a made-for-television special - after I had already watched it! Suffice it to say that Dark Night of the Scarecrow gives no indication that it's edited for content or mass produced to make a few bucks like some of today's TV flicks (I'm looking at you, Lifetime). Instead, it delivers a deliberately slow-paced slasher full of tension and thick atmosphere that rivals its slasher counterparts of the time.
The film starts out with mentally handicapped Bubba (Larry Drake) playing games with a little girl from town as a creepy postal worker/safari guide (Charles Durning, with his crazy hard hat) looks on through binoculars. Perhaps this scene sounds pleasant enough, causing no disturbance with the townsfolk; but unfortunately, Bubba is not the little girl's age, and instead is about thirty years her senior. Right off the bat, the cat's out of the bag - the town's got a problem with the older man hanging around with young kids, and they seemingly miss the explanation that though Bubba has matured physically, his mentality is still at the same age as the kids'. When the little girl is attacked by a dog and is brought home by a crying Bubba, things get worse for the poor man when a few of the town's less level-headed individuals take up their shotguns and drive off on a handicapped hunt. Bubba runs, hiding himself in a scarecrow costume, but the townies have dogs that sniff him out, and, trapped in the scarecrow suit with no where to run, Bubba is treated to some angry mob "justice" just before the police radio in to say that it really was a dog that attacked the little girl.
Man is this an intense scene. The viewers are treated to some good ol' dramatic irony; we know that Bubba didn't do anything, but the townies are too ignorant to recognize this, and as they hunt down the innocent man and murder him in cold-blood, the shivers pick up. For a television special, Dark Night of the Scarecrow delivers some disturbing tension immediately, especially as the camera pans in on the eyes of the helpless Bubba inside the scarecrow mask. Not one or two shots kill Bubba, but over twenty according to a lawyer, and the camera doesn't shy away from detail.
If you're not hooked from there, you probably have a short attention span anyway, and so Dark Night of the Scarecrow isn't for you. Because after this scene leaves the viewer itching for more, the plot drops out from under us for a while and meanders down a long, dusty trail. It's slow going; there's a court scene that finds the killers not guilty, some exploration of the killers' lives and the apparent lack of guilt they feel, and then the perpetrators are picked off one by one in implied gory fashion.
While the pacing might not endear itself to contemporary horror viewers, it does do one thing that most current horror films don't do: actually explore the characters before they die, fleshing out who they are, their motives, their individual characteristics. And even if we don't like them very much, we either end up feeling a bit sorry for them or hating them even more, but there's never a time where one feels nothing after the death of a character. So while Dark Night of the Scarecrow might seem slow, it's ultimately building a great deal of suspense - one could say a ball that picks up speed and suspense as it rolls to its conclusion.
When the deaths do occur, they're generally full of eeriness. First, a scarecrow that looks creepily similar to Bubba before he died appears on the victim's property. Then, they meet some sort of horrible demise that generally relates to their farming work or machinery. Most deaths are gruesome and creative, and, obviously, shouldn't be wished on anyone. The emphasis here is on creative; being buried by falling grain and falling into a wheat tiller are good examples of the types of deaths you'll see here.
The ending makes it known that the killer is Bubba all along, whereas much of the movie keeps the viewer guessing. Here is where Dark Night of the Scarecrow makes a slight wrong turn - instead of showing us the killer, it would have been more effective to leave the killer a secret, although having Bubba turn up as the scarecrow and talk to the little girl is fairly creepy.
Slash to the Point: Dark Night of the Scarecrow was a real step forward for TV movies, and even though it might seem tame in comparison to the slashers of the late '70s and early '80s, I would rank the film in the same range as those classics. It's instantly affecting because of the brutal murder of an innocent man, and the tension and characterization of the film is phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and pick up the latest remastered edition on DVD.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow on Rotten Tomatoes
Monday, October 18, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Threadless offers dreadfully scary T-shirt deal!
T-shirt masters Threadless are now running a fantastically frightful deal on their website shop: any scary tee for just $10!
Pick from a series of different spooky t-shirts, or, opt in for the new "Trick or Tee" deal - a mystery T-shirt chosen by the guys and gals at Threadless for $5.
These are killer deals, and it's only available for the next two weeks, so get on it!
31 Days of Halloween: My Favorite Halloween Specials Part 2 - Bewitched's "Trick or Treat"
This one's an oldie but a goodie. Bewitched has a Halloween-ish feel to it anyway, and it had a few different Halloween episodes over the course of its eight year run. In this episode, after Darrin and Samantha skip the annual Halloween party held by the witches, Darrin finds himself growing a bit more back hair than he used to, along with some other surprise features that might leave him hungry for raw meat.
This episode is best paired with the Boy Meets World episode "Who's Afraid of Cory Wolf?"
Sunday, October 17, 2010
31 Days of Halloween: Horror Horizon - October 19
Notable DVD releases for this Tuesday. Selections are also subject to Blu-Ray release.
Predators
Assault of the Sasquatch
Cheezy Trailer Extravaganza Box Set (No IMDB)
The Maze
Predators
"Robert Rodriguez presents Predators, a bold new chapter in the Predator universe. Adrien Brody stars as Royce, a mercenary who reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors mysteriously brought together on a jungle planet. But when these cold-blooded human “predators” find themselves in all-out war against a new breed of alien Predators, it’s the ultimate showdown between hunter and prey."Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition)
"One of the most shocking films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is now available on Blu-ray featuring perfect picture, a newly created 5.1 audio track and bonus features that take you beyond the movie! Join the Master of Suspense on a chilling journey as an unsuspecting victim (Janet Leigh) visits the Bates Motel and falls prey to one of cinema’s most notorious psychopaths - Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Named #1 on the AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills list, this notorious film has become a cultural phenomenon. Featuring one of the most iconic scenes in film history - the famous “shower scene”, Psycho is “still terrifying after all these years” (Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide)."The Rocky Horror Picture Show (35th Anniversary Edition)
"Fasten your garter belt and come up to the lab and see what's on the slab! It's The Rocky Horror Picture Show Special Edition, a screamingly funny, sinfully twisted salute to sci-fi, horror, B-movies and rock music, all rolled into one deliciously decadent morsel. And now there's even more to make you shiver with antici...pation: two additional musical numbers, "Once In A While" and "Superheroes", never seen theatrically or available on video! The madcap, musical mayhem begins when rain-soaked Brad and Janet take refuge in the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite mad scientist from outer space who is about to unveil his greatest creation - and have a bit of fun with his reluctant guests! Join Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon and rock star Meat Loaf in the most popular cult classic of all time."Night of the Demons
"Angela (Shannon Elizabeth) is throwing a decadent Halloween party at New Orleans' infamous Broussard Mansion. But after the police break up the festivities, Maddie (Monica Keena) and a few friends stay trapped behind. Trapped inside the locked mansion gates, the remaining guests uncover a horrifying secret and soon fall victim to seven vicious, blood-thirsty demons."Tales from the Darkside: The Final Season
"This 30-minute horror/fantasy anthology series follows in the vein of The Twilight Zone. Each week presents another standalone story of horror fantasy, and/or science fiction. Some episodes are gruesome, a few are of a lighter comedic style. Like many such shows, Tales... adapted the work of famous genre authors of the period such as Harlan Ellison, Stephen King, and Clive Barker. Many episodes also featured veteran actors of the 40's and 50's that saw very little work in their later years."The Psycho Legacy
"The Psycho Legacy follows the indelible filmmaking legacy left by the Psycho movies and unravels the screenwriting, casting and directing of all the movies, examining their undeniable longevity and success. Interweaving ultra-rare and never-before-seen interview footage of Anthony Perkins and dozens of interviews including Robert Loggia, Olivia Hussey, Henry Thomas, Diana Scarwid, Tom Holland, Hilton Green, Mick Garris and many more, The Psycho Legacy is the first documentary to unite and explore decades of Psycho movies in one place, revealing surprises and insights into what is considered the grandfather of modern horror."Mirrors 2
"When Max, who is recovering from a traumatic accident, takes a job as a nighttime security guard, he begins to see visions of a young mysterious woman in the store's mirror."Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl
"Transfer student Monami has a secret and a past that has caught up with Mizushima. Deceiving Mizushima into eating a token gift of chocolate, laced with her blood, he is then catapulted into Monami's vampire world of blood, death and love. Jilted girlfriend Keiko has other ideas. With a sudden twist of fate, she is then transformed into the hideous and unforgiving Frankenstein Girl, and the battle for Mizushima's heart begins."Giallo
"An FBI agent with deep rooted past issues is on the prowl for the infamous Serial Killer, " Giallo ( Yellow) " as he is known. No ordinary Killer ...he seeks victims that are beautiful women only to disfigure and eventually kill them off. This time he has captured a beautiful model and our Agent ( Brody) must find him before he commits his latest victim's fate."The Lost Tribe
"On a remote tropical island, an archeological team unearths a prehistoric secret so dangerous that none of them will live to reveal it. Then, when a group of friends is shipwrecked on the island, they discover the terrifying truth about what the scientists found – it’s very much alive, freakishly strong and has a taste…for humans. Golden Globe nominee Lance Henriksen (Terminator, Aliens) stars with Emily Foxler (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), Nick Mennell (Friday the 13th, Halloween) and Brianna Brown (Knocked Up) in this pulse-pounding horror-thriller from the director of Marine 2."
"Six people are trapped within the confines of their old high school during their 10th high school reunion with a psychotic, masked preacher who kills them off for their sinful lives they have made for themselves."Assault Girls
"When a video-game company creates an immersive gaming environment where players wage war against gigantic sand-dwelling monsters, three gorgeous gals armed to the teeth (Meisa Kuroki, Hinako Saeki and Rinko Kikuchi) accept the challenge and jump into the virtual desert. But as they blaze their way into the game's higher levels, they face ever-more ferocious foes. Yoshikazu Fujiki also stars in this sci-fi action flick from director Mamoru Oshii."The Demon
"Cameron Mitchell, star of Mario Bava s seminal giallo/slasher BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (1964) and THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (1978), plays Colonel Bill Carson a private investigator with psychic powers who is hired by a couple whose daughter was carried off into the night by an inexplicable outline of unknown terror. The Mother (Moira Winslow), who herself left to die, pleads with Mitchell after the police have turned up nothing. Can the psychic investigator find the daughter and stop the demon from adding to his killing spree?"Colin
"Our hero Colin is bitten by a Zombie; he dies and returns from the dead. We follow him as he wanders through suburbia during the throes of a cadaverous apocalypse."Forgive Me For Raping You (No IMDB)
"In this extreme sexploitation horror shocker, a psychotic priest travels through a seemingly idyllic suburban landscape and uses his collar to secure the trust of a series of beautiful young women before subjecting these poor beauties to increasingly sadistic bouts of sexual assault."I'm hesitant to post this as I don't approve of these baseless types of films solely focused on sexual assault and abuse, especially when it relies on purely explicit images. "Director Bill Zebub has trimmed all of the filler from the standard serial killer movie and replaced it with a near constant barrage of depraved sexual horror. 'Most serial killer films favor soap opera dialogue and speculation-depictions of the killer doing anything but the vile deeds for which he became famous. This movie shows ONLY the deranged part of the serial killer's story,'" it says on one website, which sounds unbelievably exploitative. Watch at your own risk.
Assault of the Sasquatch
"When a merciless bear poacher is caught and arrested deep in the woods of a state park, he and his truck are taken to a neglected precinct in the heart of a dying city. Unbeknownst to the authorities, the impounded truck holds a deadly cargo in the form of the legendary Sasquatch! Now, stuck in an unfamiliar world, the creature will let nothing and no one stop it from coming face-to-face with the unscrupulous man who ruthlessly ripped it from its environment. Taking an inventive and action packed approach, "Assault of the Sasquatch" breaths new and exciting life into the immortal legend of Bigfoot."Zombie Nightmare
"Tony Washington (Thor) foils a robbery at a local grocery store only to be run over and killed by a group of savage suburban teens. But the horror has only just begun, for in the darkest recesses of Tony's backyard, a voodoo ceremony takes place which resurrects Tony into a superhuman zombie avenger. One by one, Tony's ruthless killers are graphically and brutally murdered as the undead Tony takes his gory revenge! The stage is set for a bone-chilling climax as the authorities (Adam West and Frank Dietz) finally come face to face with the dead rising from the grave."The Swamp of the Ravens b/w I Eat Your Skin
"SWAMP OF THE RAVENS: Dr. Frosta (Ramiro Oliveros) has been conducting illegal and immoral experiments on the recently deceased in an effort to conquer death and perfect the mental control of his subjects. All that Simone (Marcia Bichette), his estranged girlfriend knows is that the doctor works too hard and doesn t give her enough attention. The police inspector (Fernando Sancho) assigned to the case is getting closer and closer to catching and stopping the doctor. Also, Dr. Frosta has been dumping the dead rejects from his experiments into the swamp. Unfortunately, the dead are now undead, and the swamp water is infested with living corpses bent on a showdown with the mad doctor! RT: 83 min., Color, 2.35:1(anamorphic), 1974 ZOMBIE: Best-selling author Tom Harris is working on his next book and schedules a trip to the aptly-named Voodoo Island. Engine problems force their plane to land on the beach where Tom meets a native skinny-dipper and the zombie who is stalking her. The zombies have been created by Dr. Billedeaux with radioactive snake venom but are under the control of a voodoo witch doctor whose plan is to sacrifice the doctor s lovely daughter. Filmed in 1964 as Voodoo Blood Bath this movie went unreleased until 1971 when it was retitled and placed on a double-bill with I Drink Your Blood."Aaah! Zombies!!
"Zombies. You know 'em, you love 'em. But what do they think of you? In this hilarious twist on the Classic Zombie Tale, we see the world through Zombie eyes when a barrel full of Toxic Goo transforms four friends in to the Walking Dead, and suddenly, it seems every one else has gone mad. In the most unique Zombie story in years, the Zombies embark on a bumbling quest to find the "Truth", completely unaware of their rotting undeadness. After all, Zombies are people too."AKA Wasting Away.
Cheezy Trailer Extravaganza Box Set (No IMDB)
"This box set contains over 500 trailers, including those from the following movies: Slaves In Bondage, Pin-Down Girl, A Taste Of Flesh, Tomorrows Children, I Passed For White, Hitler's Captive Women, Reform School Girls, Let Me Die A Woman, Satan In, High Heels, Valley Of The Dragon, The Cyclopes, The Green Slime, The Incredible Melting Man, Attack Of The Puppet People, Mysterious Island, Flesh Eaters, The Brain Eaters, The Atomic Man, Day Of The Animals, Invisible Invaders, The Giant Spider Invasion, Forbidden Planet, Planet Of Vampires, Future World, and hundreds more!"Horno
"Life imitates art when several sex crazed, flesh eating zombies, crash a film shoot about a zombie outbreak spread by sodomy."The Mafu Cage
"Two strange sisters live in a crumbling mansion, where they keep a pet ape, which belonged to their late father, locked in a cage. While one of the sisters seems to be keeping her head on straight, as it were, the other appears to be sinking further and further into barbarism and insanity."AKA Don't Ring the Doorbell.
The Maze
"Five friends break into a closed corn maze in the middle of the night and decide to play a harmless game of tag. Little do they know that a psychopathic killer has decided to play along. As they wander aimlessly through the maze the murderer follows closely behind, taunting them and watching their every move. The game turns deadly when the kids decide to separate and weaken their chances of survival. When the mutilated body of the maze owner is found they realize that something is terribly wrong. As they race to find the entrance of the maze, the murderer cleverly forces them to follow the path that he wants. Manipulating everyone to his vicious will, the killer taunts his victims and leads them further into the depths of the maze. After succumbing to hours of torture will anyone make it out of the maze...alive?"Bikini Bloodbath Christmas
"After being stalked by a Killer Chef in Bikini Bloodbath, and then again by the same back-from-the-dead Killer Chef in Bikini Bloodbath Carwash, Jenny and Sharon are back. This time Ms. Johnson is in a coma, and the girls, along with their new friends, find themselves working at Mrs. Johnson's(Ms. Johnson's British cross-dressing sister) Bong Shoppe. Team Bong Shoppe is embattled in fierce competition for holiday business with a Christian Deli across the way. Things get a little crazy and in the heat of the moment Jenny once again accidentally resurrects the Killer Chef. Still, in the true spirit of Christmas the girls put their rivalry and self preservation instincts aside and invite everyone to a big holiday bash with eggnog! Mysteriously people at the party start disappearing to death. Who could be killing them? It could be anybody at the party! Who will live? Who will die? Who's top's will come off? And most importantly, who will win the epic eggnog wrestling match?"Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
"Gonzo doesn't begin to describe this wild women-in-prison film. A mad mix of outrageous exploitation, flamboyant art movie, and energetic comic book, this manga-inspired cult classic is actually the second film in a series, but you hardly need the history. Matsu (Meiko Kaji, Lady Snowblood) is an innocent woman in jail who defies the sadistic warden and brutal guards with silent stares and sudden strikes. Nicknamed "Scorpion" for her lethal, lightning attacks, she is systematically abused, tortured, and humiliated by the vengeful warden while she plans her escape."Scream Dream
"One of the girls in a rock band is fired from the band. She is, in reality, a witch, and possesses the body of the girl who replaces her in order to take revenge on the rest of the band."Zombie Christ (No IMDB)
"On the third day He rose from the grave, but NOT as the Savior... Three Days after the Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene goes to the grave of her friend and teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Her heart is open to the promise of Resurrection and Salvation.... Instead of a Savior, she encounters Satan's most horrifying creature: the Flesh-Eating Zombie Christ! Now Mary and Simon called Peter must try to destroy the Zombie Christ, protect the other disciples, and preserve the Gospel -- which hasn't even been written down yet. And the super-charged Zombie Christ isn't the only threat lurking in the Wilderness of Judea...."The Living Dead Girl
"Gloomy and atmospheric, this is Rollin at his best and one of Redemption's bestsellers. Available uncut for the first time, with over 4 minutes restored from the original. Will appeal to hardcore fans and mainstream gore-fiends alike. A toxic spill revives a beautiful, dead heiress (Francoise Blanchard as a zombified Paris Hilton lookalike) who, with the help of her childhood friend, must quench her overpowering bloodlust. An unholy mix of sex, zombies & vampires with a stunning & extremely gory finale."Deadlands 2: Trapped
"When the U.S. government unleashes a highly toxic bio-weapon on the residents of a small Maryland city, all Hell breaks loose as six strangers find themselves seeking refuge inside a local movie theatre from the bloodthirsty, infected citizens roaming the streets."The Bisbee Cannibal Club (No IMDB)
"Vegetarians are disappearing from the little town of Bisbee, AZ. When a group of locals discover that their secret hallucinatory cactus garden has been used as a human barbecue and burial site, the existence of the Bisbee Cannibal Club becomes horrifyingly apparent. They form a vigilante gang, calling themselves "The Bisbee Cannibal Hunters," to avenge their garden, save a vegetarian or two from being eaten and try to survive the Cannibal attack from the legions of flesh eaters now running amok. Bonus Features includes the award winning short, A Road Kill Cautionary Tale."Dolla Morte
"A Masterpiece of Lo-Fi Madness and Satanic Silliness! So disgusting and so demented - it had to be filmed with dolls! Nothing and no one is sacred in a this special re-release of Bill Zebub's (Breaking Her Will, Zombiechrist) long lost and out of print experiment in delirious doll destruction. In the tradition of Robot Chicken and Team America, Bill Zebub's DOLLA MORTE slaughters sacred cows using all of your beloved toys from childhood, conjuring up a hilarious and sickening spoof of religion, government and war that pulls no politically incorrect punches! Plus, it features all of the sex, violence, humor and religious irreverence you've come to expect from Bill Zebub, only with dolls! DOLLA MORTE pits the President of the United States against Dracula in a battle to suck all the blood out of humanity, kill the pope, and crucify as many beautiful women as inhumanly possible, all on orders from Hitler! A disturbing classic of perversion and plastic!"
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