The Evil Ad #21

 

Being sole operator of a blog allows me to cheat a little bit, and though I do like to stick to ads in general, sometimes I come across a product that just needs to be showcased - like these Adidas Halloween Superstar shoes.

Adidas has been creating their Superstar line since the 1950s, and an offshoot called the Special Superstar was founded to allow for somewhat off-kilter or oddball designs. The Halloween Superstar was produced to commemorate the holiday of Halloween, but other designs have also prospered, including a Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper shoe.

But what's really on display for The Evil Ad is the great black and orange color scheme on these shoes, which maintain the comfort and design of regular Adidas shoes while featuring prints of ghosts on both the inside sole and the bottom sole of the kicks. I'd really like a pair of these, and they'd go great with my Vans Halloween Specials, so if anyone's still got these lying around, get in touch.

If the headline didn't hook you...

I know that I'm already asking a lot - for you to stay interested in the blog, participation, etc. - but I'm looking for just a little bit more.

Like a blog header design! As you can see above, my blog header is a little outdated, as Christmas is past and I haven't really had a chance to make another low-budget, low-quality design yet. I'm going to make a tentative one just to get rid of the damn thing, but I'm looking for original artwork and a minimalist font for the blog title. If anyone has any graphic art talents and would like to submit art pro bono, I'd give you mucho credit, links on the blog, and a secret gift if you'd be so kind as to design a header for me.

And, as always, I'm looking for some film submissions for review - indie or big-budget or short film, I'm not picky. These can be in online or hard copy form, though I'd much prefer a hard copy for convenience sake as well as the satisfaction of having the complete product in my hand. If you'd like to send me something, please email at rb9589 AT mcla DOT edu with details.

Likewise, if your film or publishing company has press releases that are itching to be posted about, I'm your man. I try to stay away from stealing news articles from big-league websites like Arrow in the Head or Bloody-Disgusting for repetition's sake, as you don't want to read the same story again, so I'd much rather post about a release that a company personally sought me out for. If you've got something you want shared related to horror, shoot me an email and I'll try to get it up as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading! Please, leave feedback about anything you'd like to see here.

Reminder: Viewer Vomit February 1

The deadline for the first "Viewer Vomit" is upon us. Next Tuesday, I will post my review of Night of the Creeps, and, if you so choose, you may send a link to your own review and I will post the link underneath my own review. I have one submission so far, but I'm looking for added participation, so get writing those reviews!

Horror Horizon - February 1

Notable DVD releases for the upcoming Tuesday. Selections also subject to Blu-Ray release.

Let Me In

"From Matt Reeves – the writer/director of Cloverfield – comes the new vampire classic that critics are calling “chillingly real” (Scott Bowles, USA Today) and “one of the best horror films of the year” (Cinematical). In bleak New Mexico, a lonely, bullied boy, Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee of The Road), forms a unique bond with his mysterious new neighbor, Abby (Chloë Grace Moretz of Kick-Ass). Trapped in the mind and body of a child, however, Abby is forced to hide a horrific secret of bloodthirsty survival. But in a world of both tenderness and terror, how can you invite in the one friend who may unleash the ultimate nightmare?"

Monsters

"Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples but crashed upon re entry over Central America. Soon after a new life form began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain 'the creatures'...... Our story begins when a U.S. journalist agrees to escort a shaken tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the U.S. border."

Hatchet II

"Marybeth escapes the clutches of the deformed, swamp-dwelling iconic killer Victor Crowley. After learning the truth about her family's connection to the hatchet-wielding madman, Marybeth returns to the Louisiana swamps along with an army of hunters to recover the bodies of her family and exact the bloodiest revenge against the bayou butcher."

The Prowler

"Famed director Joseph Losey's long neglected masterpiece, scripted by legendary blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, has been restored to its original bleak splendor by the Film Noir Foundation and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. A nefarious cop stalks a lonely, repressed Los Angeles housewife and decides to win her in the traditional film noir fashion - by knocking off her husband!"

Chain Letter

"Six high school friends are bound together again by a sinister chain letter passing into their lives through e-mails and text messages. If the deadly letter isn't passed on, the recipient faces a grisly, unexpected death and nothing can stop it. As time runs out and the deadly letter's rules become more challenging, the survivors must untangle the chilling secret or die trying. Featuring Nikki Reed (The Twilight Saga), Betsy Russell (the Saw series), and Michael J. Pagan (CSI: Miami), this terrifying thriller in the tradition of The Grudge and Final Destination proves death is always watching and waiting and anyone could be next!"

Pleasures of the Damned: The European Cut (No IMDB)

"When a group of Satan worshiping bikers seek out a book holding the secrets of eternal life, they accidentally resurrect an ancient evil that manifests itself in the zombified forms of cult members that sacrificed themselves to Satan some 200 years ago. Private Investigator Jack Steele, while on a mission to help rescue Evelyn Crane’s brother Tommy from the psychotic cult, may be the only one that can lay the curse to rest for good!"

Bad Biology

"Driven by biological excess, a young man and woman search for sexual fulfillment, unaware of each other's existence. Unfortunately, they eventually meet, and the bonding of these two very unusual human beings ends in an explosive and ultimately over-the-top sexual experience, resulting in a truly god awful love story..."

Virus X

"A group of medical scientists are quarantined inside their lab after being infected with a deadly hyper-mutant form of the H1N1 virus. With only three days left to live, they have no way to escape and no way out. While the deceitful head doctor monitors them from a hidden surveillance room, the scientists must uncover the harrowing truth behind their detainment and force their own way to freedom."

Red River

"Set in a small town in the backwoods of Kentucky, RED RIVER tells the tale of Roland Thatcher: a family man, a business man, a man of god…and a man who doesn’t take kindly to strangers. When a group of ‘city kids’ set up camp of the outskirts of his property, they spark a chain of events culminating in blood-shed, dismemberment and mass murder. As a local, fledgling reporter inches closer to the Thatcher property, the shocking truth about Roland and his ‘family’ may finally emerge…" 

Book Review - A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

A Study in Scarlet

Arthur Conan Doyle's seminal character Shelock Holmes first got his start in A Study in Scarlet, a novel which finds narrator Watson moving in with the eccentric detective and getting roped into the first case of the long-running series. Doyle mainly dwells on the mystery in this opening, leaving the characterization of Holmes fairly open-ended while he effortlessly solves a murder case that has baffled the rest of the detectives on the case.

As an introduction to Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet does little to dispel the fog of intrigue that Holmes seems to carry. Doyle introduces us to the method of ratiocination, a type of observation that involves studying clues closely and then coming to logical conclusions about them, which Holmes practices as a way of solving cases that no one else can figure out. Of course, this astonishes Watson, and since Watson narrates the novel, it is meant to astonish us as well. And while some of the analyses are a little too far-fetched to believe Holmes came to a "logical" conclusion about them, Doyle does an excellent job of keeping the reader's information about the case held at bay.

To modern readers, the case seems simple enough - with the amount of blood at the scene of the crime, modern science would test the DNA and very quickly find the suspect. But in Holmes' time, it took a lot more analysis to uncover the who-dun-it, and along with that process comes a lengthy explanation of the step-by-step deduction. While it reads fairly dryly, it makes sense in the basis of the story - Holmes must explain to Watson, who then explains to us in his diary.

But what seems like a strange shift in the story comes in part two of A Study in Scarlet, where Doyle jumps out of Watson's journal and into Utah, USA, where a character named John Ferrier lives with a group of Mormons. At first, it seems as though one isn't reading the same story, especially since part one ends with the unnamed perpetrator handcuffed. Once given time, part two comes to tell the tale of Jefferson Hope, a man set to marry Ferrier's daughter Lucy. But Lucy is snatched out of his grasp by the Mormons Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson, who fight over who shall marry the girl. After she dies of depression, Hope promises to take revenge on the two who killed his love, which ties us back into the murder mystery Holmes has apparently solved.

The problem with this shift is that it comes out of no where, jumping right into the backstory without so much as a hint that we're getting Hope's story. And while it paints a satisfying picture of why Hope would plot to kill the two men, the implementing of the backstory leaves a bad taste in the mouth, since the transition could have been a lot smoother.

Slash to the Point: It's apparent why Holmes' stories caught fire in the Victorian era, a detective who remains elusive in character with only slight snatches of relinquishing the mysteries behind him. And the art of ratiocination remains an interesting read, if only because, in the age of our advanced technology, it has become even more obsolete in its practice. But it's also evident that A Study in Scarlet is the beginning of Doyle's exploration of Holmes, as the novel lacks some of the finesse that other Holmes stories have.

New news equals good news part 10

After Dark Originals presents two new trailers

The theatrical opening of the After Dark Originals is almost upon us (January 28th), and After Dark has released two new trailers for the flicks Fertile Ground and The Task. Check them both out below.

Fertile Ground

Watch Fertile Ground Trailer in Celebrity & Showbiz  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

The Task

The Zombie Farm out soon on DVD from Maya Entertainment

The Zombie Farm, a new Spanish zombie flick about voodoo rituals and the uprising of the living dead, hits shelves on March 8th from Maya Entertainment. Hearkening back to films like White Zombie, the film's plot features an abused wife who seeks protection from a voodoo potion which backfires and creates an army of the undead. Check out the trailer above.

Jolene Houser Support Book available; proceeds go to Jolene Houser's medical bills

Jolene Houser, co-artist on David Doub's graphic novel Dusk, was recently involved in a serious car accident; she sustained multiple injuries that left her with some serious medical bills. To help with her fees, Doub assembled a crack team of artists to create the Jolene Houser Support Book, with 32 pages of sketches from 17 artists. All proceeds will go to Jolene Houser. Those interested can grab the book from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Doub is also donating proceeds from sales of his graphic novel Dusk Vol. 2 from now until May 31. You can pick up the comic from most bookstores.

Death Metal Debauchery #15: The PIG DESTROYER Edition

You might know of Pig Destroyer because of Scott Hull, a huge influence in the new wave of grindcore and what it has become today. Hull has helped produce a number of death- and grind-influenced recordings, and is also one of the main members in the digi-grind band Agoraphobic Nosebleed. But unlike ANb, Pig Destroyer hearkens back to the old-fashioned way of doing grindcore, with real drums and a pummeling assault on the senses.

Explosions in Ward 6 (1998, Reservoir Records)

Pig Destroyer/Gnob (1999, Robo Records)

38 Counts of Battery (2000, Relapse Records)

Prowler in the Yard (2001, Relapse Records)

Benümb/Pig Destroyer Split (2002, Robotic Empire)

Painter of Dead Girls (2004, Robotic Empire)

Terrifyer (2004, Relapse Records)

Phantom Limb (2007, Relapse Records)

Natasha (2008, Relapse Records)

The Evil Ad #20

Here's a great commercial from Nike featuring not one, not two, not even three, but four (!) horror genre conventions sure to tickle your slasher-flick fancy. A sexually nubile heroine with a small top stands in front of a mirror when suddenly a neutral mask-wearing killer pops up behind her, prompting a sound-effects laden scream from the woman, who then takes off full tilt for the woods with the pursuant on her heels. Sound familiar? Well, there's a Nike spin to it.

Horror Horizon - January 25

Notable DVD releases for the coming Tuesday. Selections are subject to Blu-Ray release as well.

Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (Unrated also available)

"Witness the last diabolical act of a legend as the final pieces of Jigsaw's puzzles are revealed! As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen. But Dagen hides his own dark secrets, ones that will unleash a wave of unrelenting terror and suffering in this heart-stopping finale to the most successful horror movie series of all time."

Dead Space: Aftermath

"The year is 2509 and not only has Earth lost contact with the Ishimura and Isaac Clarke, but now also the USG O'Bannon, the first responder ship sent to rescue them. Four crew members of the O'Bannon have survived. But what happened to the rest of the crew? What were they doing? What secrets are they keeping? All to be revealed...in the Aftermath! Dead Space: Aftermath is a fast paced, horrifying thrill ride told through the perspective of the four survivors by several renowned international directors."

Santa Sangre

"In the 1970s, his legendary films El Topo and The Holy Mountain  redefined movies as both art and entertainment while changing the face of cinema forever. And in 1989, visionary writer/director Alejandro Jodorowsky returned with his modern masterpiece: It is the story of a young circus performer, the crime of passion that shatters his soul, and the macabre journey back to the world of his armless mother, deaf-mute lover, and murder. It is an odyssey of ecstasy and anguish, belief and blasphemy, beauty and madness. It is unlike any movie you have ever seen before...or ever will. Axel Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra and Guy Stockwell star in this epic of surreal genius, now fully restored and featuring more than five hours of exclusive Extras that reveal the mind behind one of the most provocative and unforgettable motion picture experiences of our time. On DVD for the first time ever in America."

House of Bones

"Psychic Heather Burton (Charisma Carpenter, ''Angel'') and a team of TV ghost hunters travel to investigate a haunted house surrounded by rumors of paranormal activity. Upon their arrival they find a foreboding house with a mind of its own, and as darkness falls, the house begins to kill the crew one by one. With time running out, will they be able to outwit this terror and make it out alive?"

Primal

"Horror fans, get ready to celebrate the return of Ozploitation! When six friends go camping in the beautiful but forbidding outback of Australia, it turns into a hunting trip...and they re the prey. One friend goes skinny dipping and awakens something deadly, something evil, something...primal. Soon friend is turning against friend in director Josh Reed s witty and scary nightmare that features a sexy cast of rising Australian stars falling under the curse of the evil that lies within. Like Cabin Fever, it s a classic chiller that will make you glad you stayed home."

Alligator

"Tourists on a tropical island anger an island god, who turns himself into a giant alligator and stalks them."

Interview with a Serial Killer (No IMDB)

"When Ellen Carter--a well-known crime novelist--advertised a room for rent, she was looking for a female tenant. But when a polite, male dentist named Leslie Steckler turned up on her doorstep, she decided to make an exception. 

Now Carter has reason to believe that Steckler is the White Angel, a serial killer who has brutally murdered more than a dozen blonde, white-clad women. When Steckler discovers that Carter also has a murderous past, he uses his findings as leverage to convince her to write his biography. But Carter must make a choice--finish the story or kill off its main character...before he kills her."

Disturbed

"When deranged serial killer Charles Mason escapes from death row, the quiet town of Quartz Hill is in for a blood bath. On his hunt for the children of Congressman Fontaine--against whom he seeks revenge--Mason leaves a trail of victims brutally murdered. Now it is up to Ashley Fontaine to protect her siblings while her parents are out of town...before Mason settles the score."

A Flat

"Someone else's past can change the course of your life. A spate of unexpected events jolted Rahul as soon as he landed from U.S. to pacify his lost love Preeti. First, the mysterious death of his dad when he visited the flat. Followed by the baffling disappearance of Preeti. And Now suddenly Rahul finds himself trapped in his own Flat. Completely cut off from the world. The only companion he has is a Ghost. A ghost that will not let go of him. The Flat becomes Rahul's soul searching journey. Is it a trap or is it a figment of his imagination. Soon he realizes that he was not fair with his own soul-mate Preeti. The fact that someone else's past can actually change the course of your life gives him the shudders. He must find the solution if he has to come out of this quagmire. Or the ghost will not spare him." 

Book Review - American Assassin by Vince Flynn

American Assassin

Vince Flynn has spent much of his career detailing the life and exploits of his character Mitch Rapp, and with American Assassin, the author takes a step backwards in Rapp's life. The novel is a prologue for the special ops protagonist of Flynn's series, attempting to give a beginning and motive to Rapp's career as a CIA agent. What follows is a complex and political tale of terrorist events that tie into the Pan Am bombing in 1988.

After his girlfriend is killed in the bombing, Mitch Rapp is lost until an operative named Irene Kennedy approaches Rapp with a proposition to join a special operatives force specializing in counter-terrorist tactics. With revenge on the mind, Rapp accepts, and he's thrown into a grueling training session with a gruff, unlikeable instructor named Hurley, who quickly finds Rapp a high-achieving, exemplary recruit for the cause. Rapp is accepted, and after an American spy is captured in Lebanon by a terrorist named Sayyed, the team mobilizes for a cluster of missions that will hopefully return the spy home safely while taking terrorist threats out in the process.

American Assassin has a good mix of action and exposition, and where political novels can easily turn into hundreds of pages of mumbo-jumbo trying to explain complicated official affairs and CIA operative code in layman's terms, Flynn is able to transcend that by pairing the exposition with training or adventure. The beginning of the novel is mainly focused on Rapp's training and building a rapport with Hurley, who, with his rough-and-tough demeanor, could have become an unlikeable character. But this is not the case, as Hurley, through a torture sequence that's excruciatingly painful, releases some inner thoughts that show the true man beneath the hardened military exterior. 

But while other characters are intelligently developed, like the terrorist Sayyed and his Russian foe Ivanov, the characterization of Rapp seems somewhat lacking. Even as the protagonist, we spend little time in Rapp's head, instead jumping to other people and places. Rapp has a strong background - a drive for vengeance, a sense of loss for his girlfriend, and a questionable attitude about politics, life, and death. Flynn gives us a little of this in the form of lamentations or remembrances, but it feels like weighty moments could have been used to further the relationship between Rapp and the audience through even more confessional sections. It's obvious that Flynn has characterized Rapp before in other novels, but for readers coming to American Assassin first, they're lacking that sense of knowing the character that might keep them coming back for Rapp's authentic personality.

Slash to the Point: American Assassin offers up an interesting and complex weave of national terrorism along with the coordination and political ties that help the CIA accomplish its tasks. It's full of action, and it has a plot line that is tied directly to real-life events, tracing what could have happened at that moment in time. Villains have their own personal flaws and worries, realistically portraying leaders who are constantly under stress of assassination. But Rapp himself, the main character and essence of Flynn's series of novels, is strangely shoved in the background here, gagged up, and forgotten about. 

Movie Review - The Invasion

The Invasion

The Invasion is yet another remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; after the initial film in 1956, a remake was released in 1978 to fairly warm reception, and then, in 2007, a new remake under the guise of an abbreviated title hit theaters, featuring Nicole Kidman and newly-deemed James Bond star Daniel Craig. While The Invasion differs in its stylistic proceedings, it utilizes many of the same ideas generated from films of similar ilk, such as The Stepford Wives or They Live, where alien species walk among us in human form. But what's different about The Invasion is the fact that humans seem to retain their individual characteristics, only they "feel better."

The film centers on Carol (Kidman), a psychiatrist whose patients believe that their families aren't who they're pretending to be - in essence, their psyches have been taken over by a strange entity, and they know it in touch, sight, or gut instinct. Carol sees it as well, in her ex-husband Tucker (Jeremy Northam), who takes a surprising interest in his son one day. After experiencing a frightening encounter of her own, Carol ropes her doctor friend Ben (Craig) into investigating the matter, who finds that a spore-like alien species has begun to manifest itself in victims, taking over the nervous system when the victim falls into REM sleep. These aliens have begun to propagate by vomiting on unsuspecting prey, transmitting the disease and creating new aliens. Unfortunately, Carol is infected, and must work to save her son from the aliens while staying awake and remaining a human for as long as possible.

The film relies specifically on the definition between alien and human, and thus the gray line in between. The aliens look like the human they inhabit, and for the most part they are able to imitate actions and language; but their understanding of dialect and slang is limited, as well as their strange fascination with uncomfortable staring. In this regard, there are a number of eerie moments where Carol and the audience is presented with an unknown - a person that could possibly be an alien. Most of these moments are clichéd and unmemorable, done much more tensely in prior films like The Thing. But specific scenes are surprising, in that they offer some unexpected action or event that, while somewhat cheapened by music stings, defies genre stereotypes. One that comes to mind is a quick facial tic of an alien as a door closes, deciphering that he is, in fact, of the other kind.

It is ironic that Carol is the target of the aliens, and the one that succeeds for so long in sabotaging the alien takeover, when her character is so lacking in personality herself. She cracks a smile with her son, gets upset at the right cues, and acts with reckless abandon when her life is threatened; but her character is lacking in any sort of fun or enjoyment, as though love of life plays no role in her affairs. Unfortunately, it's not a stretch to assume that Carol is of the alien mindset all along, and ultimately she is a weak protagonist to root for.

The Invasion also has its share of plot fallacies that perturb the viewer. The film painfully states both the crux of the alien invasion and the poignant view of humanity that Carol believes explicitly, leaving no room for mystery or twist in either plot point. The alien characteristics also seem to contradict themselves. If the aliens are unified as a oneness, or whole mindset, while still acting individually, why do some aliens fail to notice that Carol is not yet an alien when others are pursuing her, knowing this full well? They cannot be totally interconnected mentally, then, or they have a very effective way of conveniently tuning out certain thoughts.

Slash to the Point: The Invasion isn't without its merits; it pulls off the "mysterious human" scare fairly well, and the combination of special effects and scientific explanation make for an interesting 90 minute arc. But it's not breaking new ground at all, in fact retreading almost no new territory since the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers in the '50s, and with its insistence on solving puzzles for the audience and the strange, shifting jump cuts in time that confuse more than enlighten the viewer, it's almost certain that the film will find a new host in you.

The Invasion on Rotten Tomatoes

Death Metal Debauchery #14: The KAYO DOT Edition

Unfortunately, the title of this post is somewhat a lie - Kayo Dot aren't death metal, but they do have the tendency to be heavier. Kayo Dot formed from the ashes of maudlin of the Well, and the band has released a slew of progressive releases which focus on lengthy, experimental tracks featuring harsher vocals along with symphonic instrumentals and riffs. Their latest, Coyote, experiments with brass and chanted vocals to great effect, and their back catalog is ripe with weird, intensive sounds.

Choirs of the Eye (2003, Tzadik Records)

Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue (2006, Robotic Empire)

Kayo Dot/Bloody Panda Split (2006, Holy Roar)

Blue Lambency Downward (2008, Hydra Head Records)

Coyote (2010, Hydra Head Records)

Stained Glass (2010, Hydra Head Records)

Movie Review - Black Swan

Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky's dark thriller Black Swan takes its inspiration from the ballet "Swan Lake", a tale about opposing forces symbolized by the colors black and white where the only way out is suicide. For those who don't love ballet, Black Swan cuts out many of the pliés in favor of psychological drama, thanks to main character Nina's (Natalie Portman) breaks with reality. After earning the part of Swan Queen for her ballet company's performance, the rigors of the role take a toll on her mentality, leaving her completely lost in the search for a balance between the White and Black Swan.

Not helping matters is Lily (Mila Kunis), who, after befriending Nina, seems to be out for the part of Swan Queen as well. Lily is the foil of Nina, apparent even in the clothing and makeup of both women. Lily's also somewhat of the bad girl, taking Nina out for a night on the town with men, drinks, drugs, and maybe even a little sexual release.

Aronofsky works in a lot of development for both Nina and her co-workers. Encounters with Nina's mom hint at previous mental instability, along with an obsession with hurting herself. The director of "Swan Lake" is intense, and his motivations for his ballerinas may or may not involve sex and forcefulness. We get this sense through a number of scenes focused on Nina's ballet, and though the sequences are often tense and revealing about Nina, there's a bit too much to wade through.

But Portman plays a pivotal role in Black Swan, functioning as both a timid and shy woman and also the darker, more sinister role her character strives to take on. The taut suspense of the film comes from Portman, whose gasps during frenzied dance performances and tearful eyes tell the tale of obsession just as much as the more physical aspects of Nina, like the continued cuts and violent images she hallucinates throughout the film.

Black Swan is intensely focused, and Aronofsky rarely shies away from an opportunity to show visceral detail. Gruesome manifestations of violence abound, and the sheer fascination of the camera shows the intensity of Nina's ballet. Eroticism is also on expert display, not only with the heavily-spoken-of scenes with Portman and Kunis but also in solo performances from Nina or even the sexual electricity in the sensuous maneuvers of the swan. At times, the scenes come off almost forced, but Black Swan gracefully recovers.

Aronofsky leaves us hanging with an extremely fast-paced downward spiral conclusion, and much of the questions the viewer is left with go unanswered - a sort of ode to "Swan Lake" again, a sense of push and pull between black and white with only the middle left to hang onto. But Aronofsky challenges us to find an explanation to the psychosocial web Nina has woven, and he leaves enough evidence to support many different conclusions.

Slash to the Point: A tense, complex plot weaves the beauty of "Swan Lake" with the more esoteric, erotic mindset of a new generation in Black Swan. It's not entirely graceful, and may even leave a few bored during its opening sequences; but like its protagonist, Black Swan can only strive for perfection and succeed on so many levels, and it's elegance and grace are showcased more than its falters. Dark and foreboding, but with a dramatic flair that leaves the viewer compelled after the film ends, Aronofsky has crafted a unique twist on an old classic.

Black Swan on Rotten Tomatoes

The Evil Ad #19

Here's a cool ad for Hunt's Catsup during the Halloween season. What's clever about it is that it's equally focused on providing product information (the whole tomatoes in the ketchup) with Halloween imagery. The simple setup is also welcome - no extraneous writing, only a ledger at the top and a tiny explanation at the bottom. I'd like to see ads like this reappear now.

Viewer Vomit - coming up, February 1

My review of Night of the Creeps is done - is yours?

Send me a link of your review by February 1 to be included!

Horror Horizon - January 18

Notable DVD releases for the coming Tuesday. Selections are subject to Blu-Ray release as well.

Death Race 2

"In the world’s most dangerous prison, a new game is born: Death Race. The rules of this adrenaline-fueled blood sport are simple, drive — or die. When repentant convict Carl Lucas (Luke Goss) discovers there’s a price on his head, his only hope is to survive a twisted race against an army of hardened criminals and tricked-out cars. Also starring Danny Trejo and Ving Rhames, Death Race 2 tells the explosive story of how the legendary race began. Strap yourself in for an insane thrill-ride!"

Shock Corridor [The Criterion Collection]

"In Shock Corridor, the great American writer-director-producer Samuel Fuller (The Naked Kiss, The Big Red One) masterfully charts the uneasy terrain between sanity and dementia. Seeking a Pulitzer Prize, reporter Johnny Barrett (Peter Breck) has himself committed to a mental hospital to investigate a murder. As he closes in on the killer, madness closes in on him. Constance Towers (The Naked Kiss) costars as Johnny’s coolheaded stripper girlfriend. With its startling commentary on race in sixties America and daring photography by Stanley Cortez (The Night of the Hunter), Shock Corridor is now recognized for its far-reaching influence."

Aliens, Abductions, and Extraordinary Sightings (No IMDB)

"The most amazing encounters of alien abductions, UFO visitations and government cover-ups are explored in this out-of-this-world documentary collection! With dozens of interviews with renowned researchers and experts from across the globe, discover the secrets of all ages and enter a domain where strange is normal!"

Nite Tales: The Series

"Prepare yourself for a whole new “flavor” of horror! Filled with twists and turns and packed with some of today's hottest stars, Nite Tales is a thrilling, new anthology series that puts an urban twist on terror – all presented by the ultimate master of “scaremonies,” Flavor Flav – the “Time Keeper.” Featuring: Essence Atkins, Gary Busey, Ray J, Rodney Perry, and Brigitte Nielsen."

Colony of the Dark (No IMDB)

"All hell breaks loose when Jim Mathews gets doused with an experimental serum at the genetic design firm he works at. Mathew s wife, whom works for the same firm, catches him cheating on her and exacts revenge by throwing the serum directly in his face. The serum causes Mathews limbs to fall off his body and form a colony of bloodthirsty creatures. Mathews also has an unquenchable hunger for hot young girls and stalks them in the dark cover of night to feed his colony. Don t be afraid of the Colony of the Dark, a blood soaked gritty creature feature."

Mutants

"A scientist creates a sugar additive in hopes it will become the most addictive substance in the world unknowingly unleashing a bio-terror outbreak that mutates its victims into murderous creatures hell-bent on destruction."

8213: Gacy House

"John Wayne Gacy murdered 33 young men and boys between 1972 and 1978 in suburban Chicago. 26 bodies were found in a crawl space beneath his house and 3 others were buried in the backyard. Although the house was completely demolished during the exhumation of the bodies, on May 15, 2004 a group of paranormal investigators wired the home that was built in its place with paranormal detection and surveillance equipment. The outcome of the investigation was grisly, terrifying and disturbing."

Buried [Blu-Ray/DVD Combo]

"Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up six feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time; fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only ninety minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true."