Book Review - The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg

The Ice Princess

Scandinavian authors have recently blossomed in the United States, thanks to the popular works of Steig Larrson and his "Millennium" trilogy. Simon and Schuster has recently begun to import popular Scandinavian mystery series to US readers, including Camilla Läckberg and her long-runnning series starring detective Patrik Hedström. For those of Läckberg's native country, there are seven sequels in the series; for Americans, five have been translated and released for avid readers. The Ice Princess marks the first in the series and the premiere novel from Läckberg; a fairly young writer, Läckberg was inspired by a creative writing class and ran with the passion.

Despite its fairy tale-esque title, The Ice Princess details a serious crime case about a woman who is found murdered in her bathtub, an apparent suicide that doesn't fit the lifestyle the woman had previously led. Erika, an author working in the town of Fjällbacka, is sucked into the case because she had been best friends with the victim in her past; as Erika uncovers the clues about the murder, she meets Patrik, a lonely detective working on the same case. From there, The Ice Princess blossoms into a twisting double-murder mystery with complex characters and a frigid mood.

The cold of Fjällbacka's winter is heightened by Läckberg's heavy descriptions and dense metaphorical images. Her prose is especially refined for a woman with such a short background in writing; characters appear significantly more complex with her blend of third-person point of view and poignant remarks on life events.

It is the characters that make up the bulk of The Ice Princess, as they should: the suspects' participation in the case - and the secrets they hide behind - take precedence over espionage or action, and allows for a more realistic presentation of detective work, which in turn heightens the sensation that Patrik and Erika are real people working in a dark world. The fact that the victim's sinister secrets have seeped into the small town of Fjällbacka exemplify the current malevolence of daily life, an inescapable danger no matter where one goes. Läckberg recognizes this, and despite readers' ignorance of Scandinavian life, a cultural gap is bridged because of the commonalities shared.

Slash to the Point: The success of Läckberg's series is no surprise after the strength of The Ice Princess. It's also not hard to identify with her main characters, two lovable, average people who happen to be the accidental heroes of the novel's case. Though The Ice Princess does often shift unnecessarily to minor characters' viewpoints, the depth of the novel ensures a quick but chilling read.

Horror Horizon - August 2

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

MST3K Vs. Gamera: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XXI

"So Happy Together: a look back at MST3K & Gamera 

Gamera Obscura: a history by August Ragone 

Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers 

The MST hour wraps 

Original Japanese trailers 

5 exclusive mini-posters by Artist Steve Vance"

This edition features the LOTT D's very own August Ragone from The Good, the Bad, and Godzilla!

Stake Land

"America has fallen. A vampiric scourge sweeps the nation, turning brother on brother and parent on child as the blood-hungry beasts take deeper and deeper hold upon the land. It s hard for the survivors to know whether to be more afraid of the creatures themselves or the violent religious groups that have sprung up in response, but there is clearly only one choice: fight or die."

YellowBrickRoad

"In the fall of 1940, the entire population of Friar, NH abandoned their homes and walked up an ancient trail, never to be seen alive again. Their fates have remained a mystery for over 70 years; until a team of researchers discover the trailhead and attempt to track the path the doomed citizens of Friar took."

Exit 33

"A few miles off Exit 33 lies Ike s Last Chance Gas, an old, forgotten hideaway where the reclusive Ike pumps gas and practices his taxidermy skills. Though he might come across as a simple soul, Ike has a dark secret: he s obsessed with women who have enchanting eyes eyes he wants to keep for himself. Now, as four friends make their way to their 5-year high school reunion, they all make the mistake of taking Exit 33, and they won t be making it back to the highway any time soon."

Vs. the Dead

"In a careless government mix up, the deadly virus ROUND 2 ends up in a small Canadian City. Unsuspecting patrons of a local tattoo shop are infected with the experimental germ inevitably turning into flesh eating ghouls. It is up to Danny Druff and his friends to stop the zombies from taking over the city. This turns out to be quite a challenge considering all they are trained for is loitering at the local pizza parlor. With no option but to fight, Danny and the boys wage war against the zombies. The situation quickly escalates out of control and a brutal massacre ensues. Danny cuts, stabs, and shoots his way through the man eaters. It is a war he is not likely to win, but Danny also refuses to lose, so let the battle begin..." 

Strigoi: The Undead

"Podoleni Village may seem like a typical Eastern European town, but when a young local named Vlad goes searching for his grandfather s runaway dog, he uncovers a mysterious death. As Vlad digs deeper into the possible murder mystery, his trail leads him to the Tirescus an ex-Communist couple who happen to be the richest landowners in town. Though Vlad is determined to confront the Tirescus, his quest takes a sudden detour when he learns that the two bullies may be bloodsuckers in more ways than one..."

Evidence of a Haunting

"While shooting their reality TV show, a team of ghost hunters get into the fight of their lives as they investigate the haunted tunnels deep below an old Texas college."

The Boston Strangler: The Untold Story

"Boston Strangler is an intense crime thriller about Albert De Salvo, a wise-cracking, small time criminal with an unrelenting sex drive, who ultimately falsely confesses to being the strangler that wreaked havoc in Boston during the early sixties.  Guided by his manipulative cell mate, who knows more about the murders than he reveals, they devise a plan to gain all of the notoriety from the killings and the money from the reward."

Enjoy the weekend! Review requests can contact rynepbarber@gmail.com 

Movie Review - Mars Attacks!

Mars Attacks!

The campy sci-fi films of the 1950s would seem easy to parody; most of them write their own jokes anyway, and puppet-like creatures that act as monsters generally feel more cuddly than creepy. The paranoia of the time also tended to make people gullible, as most of the characters in the '50s flicks are: good-natured folks threatened by unknown creatures who must band together to fight a common threat. But rarely does a satirical film come along that successfully exhibits the same qualities as the original films; it's difficult to capture the right mood, and it's often harder to match their naivete in the modern world. Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! is a throwback to these science fiction shlockfests, a modernized example of films that tended to have ridiculous plots and even worse explanations for the events happening.

A star-studded cast rounds out the film; Pierce Brosnan, Jack Nicholson (twice), Jack Black, Christina Applegate, Tom Jones, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michael J. Fox are featured in some way during the course of the attacks, although some have more important performances than others. Burton uses the recognizable bigwigs of acting as comedy fodder, a means to an end - he sacrifices many of them in humorous situations where the aliens melt them into green skeletons. But he replaces their talent with the overacting of the '50s, and each character turns into a robotic stereotype with little background.

Mars Attacks! takes a while to catch fire; the initial setup is fraught with too many expository scenes as Burton tries to juggle multiple character storylines. And while a long open and a short conclusion are integral parts of '50s sci-fi, the modern viewer is less likely to slog through the mess of plot that's thrown at them towards the beginning of Mars Attacks! Instead, they want the good stuff - lasers shooting children, probes decimating body cavities - which Burton delivers soon after the brainy animated aliens touch down on Earth.

Once America makes contact with the martians, Burton uses their malevolent intentions as a way to destroy important landmarks of civilization like a terrorist director. In a way, this is Burton's Michael Bay film - there's a mad glee in each laser strike, in every decimation of the Washington Monument and Mt. Rushmore. At some point, Mars Attacks! becomes questionable as an allegory for the misunderstandings of a culture; however easy it is to see a connection between the martians and our destructive country, it's similarly easy to see the irony in a film that glorifies destruction as eye candy.

But Burton also targets the '50s paranoia with every strike. The naivete of the human race before the martians attack, their reliance on trust, are brought to an end as the martians feign surrender. No wonder we were and still are so paranoid, since the martians are indescribably brutal cheats! Perhaps the greatest achievement for Mars Attacks!' satirical comments is the way Burton leaves explanations of the martian invasion out of the plot. He's less focused on describing why the martians attack; the same goes for the defense of the human race by using an old song as an attack on the martians' brains. These qualities directly reflect those old movies; there's no real explanation for what happens except a convenient nuclear spill, and the endings are always so harried that the film doesn't seem like it could be over.

Slash to the Point: While Mars Attacks! does lack a focus on its characters, the film itself pays great tributes to the old sci-fi flicks which influenced hundreds of even worse science fiction flicks. It's easy to sum up Tim Burton's direction in the film - maniacal glee by leveling the human race - but there's still a message behind the theme, however clumsily managed it is.

Mars Attacks! on Rotten Tomatoes

The Noose: July 27

So, you've noticed the color change for the template. Thanks for the compliments, I appreciate it. Really, it was nothing - I just switched the color scheme around like the code wizard I am. You're too kind. Yes, it's an early jump on Halloween. I'll stop talking to myself now.

Nightchannels shirt store offers vintage horror T's, and some great band shirts as well

Got a couple emails last night from Nightchannels, an online T-shirt store run by a dude. I'm not too sure about the quality of the seller - they've only got a rating of 3 for feedback - and I can't exactly comment on the authenticity of the shirts or anything, since the email came out of the blue and with no explanation. But I can say that the T-shirts listed in the store are pretty great, and they're also eclectic enough to attract fans of all different types of film. You'll find everything from Mars Attacks! (review coming soon, how timely!) to Suehiro Maruo's classic work. Plus, there are some great band T's too, like My Bloody Valentine, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and Slint. Check it out, and let me know the quality of this stuff.

New Weird Wobbler bobblehead for Fulci's THE BEYOND

They brought you the infamous Black Devil Doll wobbler. They brought you Geretta Geretta's demon head vomiting green slime. Now, Cult Collectibles is back with another bobblehead for Lucio Fulci's flick The Beyond. The Weird Wobbler bobbles, shakes, and even comes with a CD (while supplies last). Check out the site for more info, and see below for more details about the release.

"-Limited edition of 1,000 individually numbered figures 

-7 inches of lightweight polyresin

-Alternate detachable “possessed” face

-FREE 33 track soundtrack CD (while supplies last)

-Deluxe “Book of Eibon” packaging designed by Stephen Romano"

Tales from the Crypt back from the dead with a new series?

Arrow in the Head is reporting that Tales from the Crypt might be rising from the grave with a new 60-minute television series. Co-producer Andy Cosby says the show will update old EC Comics for the modern age; plus, it won't be an anthology series like the original. This is all hearsay, though, and no word on premiere date, channel, or time slot has surfaced.

Paramount and Jason carve into wallets with a Friday the 13th Uncut Deluxe Box Set

Do you own Paramount's original Friday the 13th box set? If so, be ready to get pissed. Paramount is releasing another box set featuring the first eight Jason films (and the only ones that count), but this time they're all uncut, remastered, and deluxe! The machete-wielding box set releases October 4 for Halloween with a $39.99 price tag. There is just a metric ton of features to list, so instead of posting all of the special stuff here, I'll send you on over to Dread Central for the lowdown.

Will you be bringing home the box for yourself? Or do you already own one and feel like the special features aren't worth it?

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Like always, if you have a press release or news item you'd like to see on the Noose, send it on over to rynepbarber@gmail.com

Postponing Viewer Vomit

I haven't had a chance to get the DVD for Viewer Vomit #5, so I will have to postpone Invitation to Hell for two weeks. The new date for Viewer Vomit #5 will be August 14, so I can have a chance to properly prepare for it. Sorry for letting you down - I've had job interviews and work, and they've been leaving me a lot less time for blogging.

Death Metal Debauchery #27: The VOMITORY Edition

Sometimes in extreme metal, the scream or growl is not the most ridiculous thing about the music. Take Vomitory for instance, a band named after the process of inducing vomiting. Of course, with a name like that, the song titles and albums must be even more descriptive of bodily processes, which they are - and they come close to the fine line between being gore-obsessed and borderline maniacal. Some of the album covers below are quite explicit, so be forewarned.

Raped in Their Own Blood (1996, Fadeless)

Redemption (1999, Fadeless)

Revelation Nausea (2001, Metal Blade Records)

Blood Rapture (2002, Metal Blade Records)

Primal Massacre (2004, Metal Blade Records)

Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize (2007, Metal Blade Records)

Carnage Euphoria (2009, Metal Blade Records)

Opus Mortis VIII (2011, Metal Blade Records)

FIlm Short Review - Sock Babies!

Socks get crusty. Dirt and mud seeps into your shoes, cakes those white socks, and makes them crispier than Sunday morning bacon. Perhaps you've left your sweaty gym socks in a bookbag too long - they'll stand up and walk out without you. But there could be a more disgusting habit that creates those crispy socks, and if you're not careful, they might just propagate like in this short film from Travis Kurtz.

The comedic short stars Christopher Lawrence (of Chuck fame) as a dad who must combat the deadly teenage stage of masturbation. Naim Omari plays the exploring teen who finds that socks multiply when seed has been planted, if you get my drift. The short uses the tricks of horror to parody tense moments; an exaggerated bedroom check and a fake scare reveal the influences of this piece.

But these are all qualities that have been done to death. What "Sock Babies!" does is expand on those monster flicks by making them look even more ridiculous than they are. As Lawrence bats rogue socks into blenders and microwaves them until they explode into a white, viscous liquid that resembles an unmentionable fluid secreted from the male body, the whole experience turns into an uproarious comedy that manages to make fun of horror without offending those who love it. Instead, you'll laugh because you recognize the satire in it, and even though the attacking socks look somewhat juvenile, much of the comedy stems from a good-natured take on the genre.

Slash to the Point: If there's one thing to learn from "Sock Babies!", it's that crusty socks can be dangerous. So tonight, when I do the deed, I'll make sure to give the socks to my worst enemy; and I mean my gym socks, of course. You're disgusting.

The Evil Ad #40

The Evil Ad turns forty today - it feels like yesterday when I started this column, although it certainly has become harder to find new horror ads to post about. For this milestone, I wanted to do something different with the Evil Ad. Instead of showcasing a flyer or ad that features an aspect of horror, let's take a look at a haunted ad - literally.

This Hong Kong ad for trains has some mysticism surrounding it because of the presence of a supposed ghost child. As the children form a train, it's clear that a boy with pants brings up the rear - we get a sight of this in the first sequence that shows the children's legs, and then again at the end of the commercial when the backside of the boy is shown. At the 25th through 27th second, a little girl appears behind the last boy's face, with pink pig tails and her head down to the ground. It takes a little time to actually see her, because her black hair obscures her face and her head blends into the background.

Is this a little ghost girl who wanted to join the kids' train? Probably not. A girl in the ad appears to have her hair done up similar to the ghost, and it's most likely just a continuity error where the director accidentally placed a girl behind the final boy in line. But it still harbors that mood that Asian horror is known for, and the spooky setting of the commercial helps to cement the myth.

Comic Review - The Vault #1

The Vault

If The Abyss, Alien, and Jaws were edited and spliced into a three-hour movie of epic proportions, you might get something like the new three-issue comic series The Vault. Sam Sarkar, Garrie Gastonny, and Sakti Yuwono have infused their first issue with all of the mystic qualities of the three films mentioned above, and in some ways influences from all of them have become a buoyant theme. In the first issue, readers will just break the surface of the dark water Sarkar has in store for us - and the outlook looks pretty bleak for the characters of The Vault.

Part treasure hunt and part terrifying science fiction lit, Sarkar's plot finds a group of underwater explorers digging into a new cavern found off the coast of Oak Island, a real area noted for its mysterious caverns which have spawned numerous treasure-hunting myths and theories. The team has found a new shaft where a treasure vault seems apparent, and after digging with a new robotic dog that allows them to shift dirt faster than ever, they uncover $11 million dollars in gold and diamonds. But there's also the question of who could have had the technology to put the treasure there in the first place; this would be the most interesting part of the team's adventure until they uncover an even greater find by unearthing a tomb that appears to take the same architectural shape as the Great Pyramid. A supernatural surprise hides beneath the tomb's slab, but I won't spoil the fun by giving you the deets.

At first, The Vault begins much like The Descent or The Abyss or even the more recent Sanctum. The realities of deep-sea diving are enhanced by an underwater squid attack and an impending hurricane that threatens to shut the operation down. And even monetary problems work their way into the plot after the group finds that the treasure won't be enough to allow them to break even. For the first few pages of Sarkar's story, there's nothing supernatural or horrific besides a shady business man and the aforementioned squid that even Peter Benchley would have scorned.

Yet soon enough the mood of The Vault changes, as if it's just had some very bad news and wants to spread the melancholia to its readers. The variety of dangers that surround the team - the hurricane that is sure to be a beast, the acidic water surrounding the cavern, the tomb and carvings that are unlike anything ever seen before - begin to pile up, and the increased amount of time spent underwater adds claustrophobia to an already tense situation. When the final twist is revealed in the last panel, it's not really a surprise so much as it is another nail in the coffin for the characters - a feeling that shit just got worse, and you've got to tune in next time for that next dose of Schadenfreude.

Slash to the Point: In the short build-up to the terrors of the vault, issue one crafts strong characters and suspense out of quick plotting. In a series built out of only three issues, Sarkar is able to balance the story without making the bulk of it appear to be happening too quickly. Instead, The Vault slowly immerses you in the experience, although things might be going south rather fast in the next installment. If you're a fan of claustrophobic cave exploration that holds evil secrets, or even interested in the creation of the Natural Wonders of the World, The Vault certainly does more than tread water.

Movie Review - Family Secret

Family Secret

Unfortunately, I've had Family Secret sitting around for a while. It came during college finals and I never got a chance to watch it, and then it got stuffed under a pile that I forgot about over time. I recently found it again, and wanted to issue an apology for such a late review.

Ever wondered what J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. would look like as a serial killer? Geno McGahee must have, because his script features a killer grandmother who runs around with her long silver locks flapping in the breeze. Imagine for a moment your own grandma tromping through the night with a meat cleaver in hand - yes, it's just as ridiculous in Family Secret as it is in your mind.

Family Secret begins after reporter Geno McGee's (Forris Day Jr.) grandmother dies, bringing the rest of the family together for a funeral. Everyone seems to remember old Phyllis McGee in her worst, a witch who hated the family, and Geno even begins to dream about her gnarled face holding weaponry and chanting that she can't die. After members of the family start getting slaughtered (and most of them are barely members of the family we're introduced to), Geno starts to use his investigative skills to piece together the clues - hint: it involves a dark family secret about cults and ruling the world.

McGahee structures the opening of the film rather well, giving each member of the family a brief introduction before centering on Geno for most of the duration. At least this gives the viewer a chance to get to know the other family members before they die; perhaps, however, they wouldn't want to know them anyway. McGahee surprisingly gives each member of the family an evil character trait that makes most of them extremely off-putting. Most of the men are misogynistic and abusive; Gary (Alex Pierpaoli), who could be a stand-in for Zach Galifianakis, hates "darkies" and addresses women by their reproductive organs; and even Geno has his own qualities that could be considered offensive. It seems as though McGahee tried to add a bit of development to the characters by giving them a darkness to play off of during the killings; but instead, the hatred and stereotyping that goes on is regrettable and unnecessarily overdrawn.

Most of the killings happen in the same repeated ways; first the woman appears in the background, then she sprints and hacks away at the victim. Suffice to say it has all of the tension of a NASCAR race in the first fifty laps - you know that what you're seeing could be nail-biting in different circumstances, but the repetition of it kills the mood. There's nothing to get excited over when the killer does the business, and instead it becomes more like watching Dad butcher the Christmas turkey. Because much of the brutality occurs offscreen, the initial terror becomes humorous as Grandma slices away at another lightly-characterized person.

The ending tends to drag on, focusing on minor characters that have little to do with the family secret. McGahee does incorporate a nice twist where he tries to implicate Geno in the murders; however, the suspicion fades fast and the film becomes a race to unveil the family secret, rather than a slow-burn where the secret is revealed over time. By the end of the film, it's evident no real conclusion will come; instead, the inevitability of the situation indicates a weak ending rather than a surprise.

Slash to the Point: Despite Family Secret's no-budget, the script is rather strong - except much of the cast can't deliver on the goods. Overacting is at an all-time high, almost to the point where the actors' expression of rage seems more like a bout of Tourette's. McGahee adds a bit of characterization early on with his focus on multiple families, but for all its secrets, this family has little to offer as a strong horror movie.

Horror Horizon - July 26

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

Dylan Dog

"The adventures of supernatural private eye, Dylan Dog, who seeks out the monsters of the Louisiana bayou in his signature red shirt, black jacket, and blue jeans."

Supernatural: The Anime Series

An anime spinoff based on the popular television series.

Nightmare: 30th Anniversary Edition

"A mental-patient, who is troubled with horrible nightmares, has escaped from his hospital. Now on the streets he can't help killing innocent people. But there is one family he is more than interested in and when he tries to kill them, he finds that it's not that easy."

The Task

"Something diabolical is taking place on the set of "The Task," a new reality show in which players compete for a cash prize by enduring a night in an abandoned prison and completing a series of creepy tasks designed for maximum terror. As six college students explore, things start to go amiss. Locked in this decrepit, labyrinthine prison, the contestants and the production staff start to realize that the scary reality show they thought they were taping has become real horror."

Scream of the Banshee

"A college professor and her students discover an ornate box in the basement of their university. When they open the artifact, a bloodcurdling scream is unleashed. According to Irish lore, those who hear a banshee scream will die – which is what begins to happen as the creature comes for each of them."

American Grindhouse

"The salacious and uproarious AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE explores the hidden history of the exploitation film, those popular purveyors of cheap sex and violence. It emerged from the tents of carnie sideshows into features like Freaks, and mutated from there to change with the times. There were the rebellious teen flicks of the Eisenhower 50s, bloody gore-fests and drug movies of the turbulent 60s, and the Blaxploitation boom in the 70s. AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE takes a fascinating look at the films, filmmakers, shysters, and hustlers who made it all happen. Narrated by Academy Award nominee Robert Forster (Jackie Brown), with exclusive interviews with filmmakers, actors and critics Herschell Gordon Lewis, Joe Dante, Larry Cohen, John Landis, Fred Williamson, Kim Morgan and many more. Featuring over 200 clips from some of the most outrageous movies ever made, AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE is the most comprehensive documentary ever made on these masterpieces of the lowbrow." 

Bio-Dead

"After a devastating biological disaster kills twelve million people, a hazmat team searches the contaminated wasteland for survivors. But what they find is a vicious predator hungry for human flesh."

Flesh Wounds

"On a remote US Army facility a group of scientists conducting top secret weapon experiments vanish. An elite covert ops team commanded by Lt. Tyler (Kevin Sorbo) is tasked with recovering the missing personnel within 24 hours. The unit arrives only to find out there objective may not be what it seems, what was strictly a search and rescue mission has now become search and destroy. With time running out and the death count rising Tylers team must begin the hunt or fall prey to a predator unlike any they have ever encountered." 

Goblin

"In 1831, on the eve of Halloween, the villagers of Hollow Glen engage in an annual festival where they toss their diseased crops into a blazing fire, in hopes of blessing them with an abundant field for the next year. But when one couple takes the ritual too far and throws their sickly, deformed child into the inferno, their murderous action results in something far more horrific than they could have imagined. Out of the ashes and smoke rises something so evil, so monstrous, that the town is forever cursed. This creature is known as THE GOBLIN…and he waits for the moments when he can seek his revenge!" 

We Are What We Are

"Life would be hard for anyone following the unexpected death of their father. But life is harder for young Adrian, Sheila and Alfredo. Because their family is not normal. There s is a family of cannibals and their father, you see, was the hunter. So not only do they have to cope with their grief, they also have to deal with the hunger. And one of them must learn to kill if any of them are going to survive. Balancing sincere emotion with horrifying violence, Jorge Michel Grau s WE ARE WHAT WE ARE is one of the most striking debut films of recent times, a powerful and unique drama announcing the arrival of a major new talent."

The Sentiment of the Flesh

"A dark psychological tale, The Sentiment of The Flesh finds two young medical students who are sexually attracted to each other which leads to a dark obsession with their shared fascination with the human body. In the tradition of David Cronenberg s Dead Ringers, The Sentiment of The Flesh delves into erotic fetishes that turn into a bizarre game of pushing sexual boundries."

The Dead and the Damned

"Hot on the trail of a renegade Apache warrior, gun-slinging bounty hunter Mortimer passes through an 1849 California gold rush town, where local miners direct him into the mountains to track his prey. While he is gone, the miners unearth a meteor that has landed in their sleepy town. As they crack it open, an explosion releases toxic spores, which quickly infect the entire population, transforming them into blood-thirsty, mutant zombies. Following a ferocious battle, Mortimer triumphantly returns to town with his Indian captive in shackles only to find them surrounded by a ravenous horde of the undead. Now the two enemies must band together if they are to escape the horrors of The Dead and the Damned!"

The Puppet Monster Massacre

"A group of teens are challenged to spend a night in the Wagner mansion on the edge of town. Little do they know the owner (Dr. Wolfgang Wagner) has concocted a monstrosity in the basement and plans to make the hapless teens the creature's first big meal. This is The Puppet Monster Massacre, a wild and raucous love letter to the monster films of the glorious 1980's!" 

Invasion of the Blood Farmers

"Somewhere off an old country road in a sleepy little town in upstate New York, a young woman is terrorized by a group of rural farmers primarily interested in a harvest of bodies and blood. We Warn You! Don't eat before you see this DVD and you'll have nothing to lose!"

Psychopaths: Sex With Hostages (No IMDB)

"Psychopaths: Sex with Hostages follows two demented, perverse sickos on the run from the police for various crimes of rape, torture and murder. In a mad attempt to flee the country, the crazed duo decide to kidnap a sexy woman and take her hostage. The plan turns sour when one of the psychopaths takes it upon himself to have some wicked perverse fun committing one of the most brutal rapes ever committed. This leads to a frenzied breakdown of the madmen and their hostage resulting in deception, murder, and the final showdown from two bent cops who will do anything to get justice."

 Devil Dog: Hound of Hell

"This eerie 70s horror gem pits a suburban family against a demonically possessed German shepherd whose hunger for human souls far exceeds that of the normal household pet. Although not above resorting to the usual throat mauling, the satanic psycho-pup s preferred method of attack is to supernaturally cause the deaths of various friends and neighbors, in a style reminiscent of The Omen."

Ghost From the Machine

"A young man named Cody plunges himself into the murky science of the supernatural, inventing a machine he intends to be a conduit to the other side. In his pursuit to build the device he befriends an affable electrical engineer named Tom who has his own tale of love and loss. Cody eventually reaches an unintended level of success that not only threatens his safety, but also the well-being of his younger brother James and his new friend Tom. He quickly learns that the supernatural isn t all that super and human nature can even be worse."

Soul Catcher (No IMDB)

"SyFy's british born, twin filmmakers, The Booth Brothers present their Biggest , Epic, Supernatural Adventure to date. Journey across Gothic landscapes and uncover the Haunting stories of abandoned indian boarding schools built to imprison the once free spirit of Native Americans. Uncover ghosts, shape shifters and shadow people. Acclaimed documentarians bring Heart, Fear and Soul to to this artistic, beautifully filmed true ghost story that takes you along the infamous Trail Of Fears and the decaying structures that shadow the past with its tragedy! Other Booth Brothers films include, The Haunted Boy, Death Tunnel, DarkPlace, The Possessed, Spooked, The Ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Children of the Grave as seen on SyFy and Sony Pictures." 

Matrimony

"A woman finds the key to a room in the attic that her husband forbids her from entering. When she opens the door, she is confronted with the haunting existence of the woman her husband refuses to forget." 

Comic Review - Marksman #1

Marksman #1

An apocalyptic world is the setting for David Baxter's comic Marksman, a drab desert full of cannibals being the icing on the cake for the characters who must live in the new anarchic society. Baxter combines realistic science fiction with action and horror in this dark first issue, which introduces main character Drake McCoy as an elite warrior trained with the latest technology, fighting in a wasteland where two warring factions have finally hit their limit.

Joining Baxter are artists Javier Aranda, Garry Leach, and Jessica Kholinne, who contribute to the comic by inking and drawing the deserted fields McCoy must tromp through. The artwork is mostly full of gritty deserts and glowing green technology, but a nice touch is the various advertisements for current products like a Shell gas sign ($3.65, so we know it's not too far into the future) and McDonalds. Since Marksman is obviously a political comment on the current recession (and to be honest, who doesn't think that with the current debt ceiling looming, we might be in this predicament sooner rather than later), it's fitting that these huge, wealthy corporations show up as portentous omens.

In terms of story, Marksman certainly feels akin to the recent Fallout video games. A similar drab, gunmetal-grey appearance, two warring factions deeply rooted against each other and uncertain of the others' beliefs, and even a friendly dog make Marksman feel almost too complimentary to Fallout. However, if there's one thing that feels somewhat creative for this issue, it's the backstory behind both of the factions. The NSD are primarily technology-based, while Lone Star are led by a John Wayne-esque villain and a Deacon who believes the clan is ruled by divine authority. In between this political mess is McCoy, who finds a group of people seeking NSD as a refuge after Lone Star vows to attack NSD to steal their nuclear power.

Best of all, though, is the little tidbit of information we get regarding McCoy's very mysterious background: he is actually the son of a man he just rescued. There's something spiraling behind NSD's corporation, one that hints of sinister activity, and this hidden agenda will keep readers going long after they've noticed the similarities between a popular video game and the somewhat derivative storytelling in Marksman.

Slash to the Point: Marksman #1 feels on the right track, with a tight apocalyptic mood and a political statement that will definitely appeal to those who are finding the job market a tough place to break into (me included). However, the obvious similarities to current trends in this subgenre of science fiction are hard to shake off, and the comic will soon need to prove that it has more to offer than cannibals and desert landscapes.

The Noose: July 20

Lots of stuff happening in the world of horror right now thanks to San Diego Comic Con. Here's the scoop on the latest PR I've received.

Teaser trailer released for Flesh and Blood Vol. 1

Monsterverse has been touting this huge horror graphic novel for a while now, and despite its Halloween release date, the comic has seen a ton of new press lately. Because of SDCC, Monsterverse has released a teaser trailer for the Robert Tinnell-penned novel; with a fantastic montage of tinted artwork and animated horror advertising the book, Monsterverse will have their hands full trying to keep up with all the orders this fall.

New poster for The Last Circus; audiences must choose what's scarier, the human faces or the gun

Alex de la Iglesia's new horror film The Last Circus will soon see its US release thanks to Magnolia Pictures. The film will be screening in select theaters August 19, sure to eke viewers out with its crazy and creepy antics. To cut down on the synopsis, The Last Circus is a love story involving clowns, said clowns fighting in bloody battles, and said clowns battling in said love with other clowns. It certainly sounds like a story to behold, but to keep you occupied between now and the release date, here's a new poster for the flick, plus a red-band trailer sure to pique your interest in clown school. If you're attending the release date, clown attire should be mandatory.

Thriller The Caller to ring audiences August 26

Matthew Parkhill's supernatural thriller The Caller, about a woman who continues to get mysterious phone calls from someone who claims she calls from the past, will get a limited release in theaters August 26. The film stars Stephen Moyer (Sookie Stackhouse fans rejoice!) and Rachelle Lefevre (Team Jacob or Edward?!). Check out the poster above, then compare to When a Stranger Calls.

Don't forget - Viewer Vomit #5: INVITATION TO HELL due July 30!

Another Viewer Vomit on the horizon, friends. If you've been following this column, you'll know it's a film club where readers watch the movie and then submit links to their review. I'll compile them and post the links under my own on the due date. Get your vomits in by July 30! And let others know about this!

Doom Metal Destitution #7: The EARTH Edition

The influence of Earth is almost as vast as the planet the band is named for, encompassing two decades of work,  hundreds of minutes of songs, and wide-reaching influences for many bands performing today (most notably the immense and down-tuned duo of Sunn O)))). Perhaps it's best to leave much of the Earth's history unsaid; of course, it would be much more informative and enjoyable to listen to it rather than read about it. But the unique gifts Earth have brought to music, drone, and doom are unavoidable when venturing into the territory.

Earth's earlier albums utilized little horror or suspenseful imagery. We'll skip past those to their later output.

Living in the Gleam of an Unsheathed Sword (2005, Mega Blade)

HEX: Or Printing in the Infernal Method (2005, Southern Lord Recordings)

Angel Coma (2006, Southern Lord Recordings)

Live Europe 2006 (2007, Southern Lord Recordings)

Earth/Tribes of Neurot Split (2007, Neurot)

The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull (2008, Southern Lord Recordings)

Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I (2011, Southern Lord Recordings)

Sorry, no download links posted here. Just enjoy the artwork!