Horror News - The Cabin In The Woods delivers!!!!!!!!

Hey there readers and thanks for checking in. Hasn't been much to report on the last few days but I am pleased to bring you some great news! I was fortunate enough to catch Joss Whedon's long delayed and much talked about Cabin In The Woods. It has been receiving tremendous reviews and has been stated to "turn the genre on it's head." Let me tell you, it lives up to the hype.

Now, in the interest of not providing spoilers, I won't be able to properly review this title. It is literally impossible to say mmuch of anything without ruining something. That's how intricate this is set up. To be quite honest, I've never been much of a fan of Whedon's work, but after hearing about how great for the horror world this movie was supposed to be, I jumped at the chance to see it before release and I'm glad I did.


Is this the perfect horror movie? No. Is it damn entertaining? Absolutely. The performances here are all solid, above typical genre fare. There are some sterotypes and campy moments, but they work to give the film and old school feel. I can also tell you the effects are all up to par and the scares are very good.

It's overly obvious that this film was made for horror fans, by horror fans and it pays off big time. Cabin pays homage to many classics, the most obvious being Evil Dead, There are hints of Friday the 13th, Halloween and plenty more strewn about. If you can't find something to like here, you're not a horror fan.

That's about all i can say without giving anything away, but do yourselves the favor and see this movie. I do caution, don't go in expecting gold as this movie has it's flaws. However, if you expect a good horror film with a clever plot, good scares and solid acting, you won't be disappointed. This movie is a goodtime popcorn flick and that's exactly what they set out to make!

Horror News - Halloween 3D!!

As many of you know, before Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 hit theaters a third part was greenlit. Now, after much teasing and little progress, there's some official news.

Halloween 3D - It has officially been announced that Halloween 3 has been pulled from Dimension's schedule. I am a huge fan of the franchise, with it actually being my favorite, so this is some sad news. I am however, hoping this may be a sign that the studio is committed to doing things right.

Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine, Drive Angry) who I am also fond of, were most recently attached. I sincerely hope that they will still be attached when the project is ready to move into production. It has been stated that the studio is still very interested and plans to move ahead with the film, they just don't want to rush it. Let's hope it's for the best...

Top 10 Horrors Of The Eighties!!

As many of you can tell, as of late I've been going back to some forgotten horror classics. Many of these have been from the eighties which has reawakened my love for this time in the genre. Sure, a great deal of the fright fare from the 80's is cliched and cheesy but that's a welcome change of pace at times. Plus, there are some real gems that hold up pretty well upon reviewing. So, it is with great pleasure I bring you my top picks from the 80's!!

*A side note - I'm shying away from most well known classics such as Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead etc. So, grab your leg warmers, throw on a Cure cd and read on for the goodies. P.S. don't forget the Aquanet....

10) Terror Train - Jamie Lee Curtis stars, fresh off her turn in Halloween as one of many students trapped on a moving train with a murderous psychopath. While this movie certainly isn't anything revolutionary, it does at least change the setting from typical "kids in trouble" slasher fare. They also use the confined location to create a nice atmospheric tension. Plus, there's a fun (if far fetched) twist at the end. Definitely worth checking out one night if you're looking for something different.

9) Hell Night - This movie gives us a grown up Linda Blair of Exorcist fame, starring as a new college student hoping to get into the popular sorority house. In order to get in, her and several other hopefuls must spend the night in a supposedly haunted house. Of course the house has been rigged to scare the hell out of them and it works wonders. That is, until the real lunatics show up and start picking them off one by one. This movie is chock full of plot holes and horrible logic, but it's still a damn fun watch. Plus the scene in the bedroom is pretty damn creepy. Keep your eye on the carpet.....

8) Slumber Party Massacre - Standard setup here: Four friends have a slumber party and a maniac breaks in and stalks them. Whats cool here is the fact that it's an ordinary unmasked man. He's simply a maniac, no other motive needed. His weapon of choice is a rather large drill which is a nice change from the stock butcher knife or machete. There are some moments of dread but it plays mostly as a comedy much the way Evil Dead 2 did. Worth a watch with a bowl of popcorn and some friends. 

7) The Burning - This movie has it all. Makeup by Tom Savini, original character, nice kills and a young Jason Alexander... It also appeared on the infamous Video Nasty list, earning it's place for the vicious raft massacre scene. The story sees young campers being hunted by a disgruntled and deformed former caretaker but trust me, it's more original than it sounds. Seriously, do yourselves a favor and SEE THIS MOVIE! In my opinion, it's better than it's other peer set in a summer camp.... (I know, bring on the hate)

6) Cannibal Holocaust - This is with out a doubt one of the best of the eighties. It would have placed higher on the list, but I consider it more of a suspense flick than horror. Story sees a professor go in search of a missing documentary crew who was researching a cannibal tribe. He finds only their footage and remains and the results are indeed horrifying. This also landed on the Video Nasty list as it depicts actual animal death as well as supposed un-simulated sex. Certainly a gruesome movie and for die hard, strong stomached people, I recommend watching it even if it's only once... 

5) Maniac! - This movie stars the underrated Joe Spinell as the titular maniac. He's a photographer with mommy issues who kills women to gain a measure of revenge against his mother. The effects are done by Tom Savini and boy do they deliver (particularly the shotgun to head scene.) The gore here is fantastic, the acting is top notch and this is a truly disturbing movie. If you like your horror to be realistic, this one's for you

4) C.H.U.D.- A solid B- movie if ever there was one. Rife with solid performances but cheesy dialogue and a plethora of unintentionally comedic moments, CHUD sees the homeless being taken out by our underground cannibals. The atmosphere is creepy, the leads are all likable and boy is there slime to be had! This is one of the most enjoyable cult classics out there. The sequel..... not so much.... still, rent this one!

3) Return Of The Living Dead - Personally one of my fave "dead" titles. While it's not as obscure as some titles here, I like it, so too bad! Anyhow, the dead once again roam the earth after being released by two hapless employees who thaw out a zombie from the original movie. All hell ensues. This movie is a phenomenal time. It's a fun ride with likable characters, great effects and the perfect blend of humor and horror which is so hard to master. Everything from the sexy Punk Rock Striptease in the graveyard to the "tar man" zombie, this movie is a must watch. It's one you truly won't grow tired of.

2) Visiting Hours - This movie sounds like Halloween II on paper but is a must see. Here we have a mad man murderer/potential rapist who attacks an anchor woman. After she escapes his clutches and is rushed to the hospital, he follows her there and torments her and the nurses non stop. What really elevates this one to this position, for me, is the performances and realism. Every character is believable and we truly feel for our leading lady. Plus, the villain is played by the incomparable Michael Ironside who is criminally underrated. There are moments reminiscent of Jack Nicholson at his crazy best, but make no mistake, Ironside owns this role and makes it his own. His icy demeanor and commanding presence take his character way above the typical disposable slasher typically seen in this kind of movie.

 

1) Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer - What to say about this movie....? It's loosely based on the tale of real life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. It shows his demise into lunacy unflinchingly. He and his buddy Otis do what they want to whomever they please, and even Otis' sister isn't safe. This movie is violent, no doubt. But more disturbing are the amazing performances. Michael Rooker, (who is tremendous in all his roles) nails the role of Henry. He gives a menacing, violent Molotov cocktail personality to Henry, while also showing him struggle with his violent nature. We truly get a real look inside the head of a maniac and even see him try to have a normal life and relationship, albeit with disastrous results. This truly is one of the most disturbing movies I've seen and I recommend any horror fan check this out. It is way above all the other slasher/psycho fare and still holds up today. This is horror for the thoughtful person who enjoys some substance, and it truly shows why horror deserves more respect than it gets and proves that there is indeed an art to the genre. I implore you to see this film. It is amazing.

Well, that's it folks! I hope this gives you some ideas for some genre films you maybe haven't heard of and inspires you to seek them out. Anything you felt I missed? Leave your faves in the comment section and let's turn some genre fans onto some underrated gems!

Horror News - The Walking Dead *More Spoilers*

Thanks for coming back readers! As many Walking Dead fans saw last week, the show has taken an interesting turn with the death of Dale. Many were happy to see him go, but I rather like the character. Regardless of opinions though, it certainly proves that no one is safe....

Now, I typically try to avoid spoilers as I hate having things ruined for me, but they have been in pretty high demand as of late. So, I begrudgingly bring you some more....

As many of you have no doubt heard by now, Shane and Rick will square off in the coming episodes and Shane ends up stabbed. He then gets bit and turns into a walker! This spoiler was actually released by none other than AMC themselves, which struck me as very odd. I mean, why release something as big as this? Then, the person who clued me into this and the Dale death brought something else to my attention.

Perhaps this Shane leak is a diversion....As we saw, Randall (the kid they took hostage) escapes in the coming episode. This person is now claiming to have information that Randall escapes to his group and leads them to the farm. And according to said individual, the leader of the group may well be Merle, Daryl's long lost one handed brother! This certainly would be a shocking twist as everyone has been waiting for him to pop back up... This could also explain the "careless" leak of the Shane information. Perhaps it is a little misdirection? Some clever slight of hand?

There's also been talk that the walker that bites Shane may well be Otis, seeing as we never see what becomes of him. While this seems a bit far fetched, it would certainly be poetic justice! Now, this should be treated as simple rumor at this time, but this source has yet to be wrong. He has divulged much inside info and has yet to be wrong, so who knows......

What do you all think of these possibilities? Leave your thoughts  in the comment section below!

Horror News - Walking Dead *Potential Spoilers*!!!!

Hello again friends. With it being only a few episodes away from the season finale, I did some reading on what the future may hold for Rick and the crew. During my reading I found someone who claims to know the future of the season. Now, this should be treated as speculation at this point but I would like to point out that this source has actually been spot on before about many other projects.... So, SPOILERS AHEAD, read on at your own risk.

Now, this source claims that in the coming episode Daryl will be working over the rescued gunman whom they saved. After finding out about the heinous things he and his former crew have done, they decide he must be killed. Carl steals Daryl's gun to prevent him from killing him. Carl then heads off to the swamp to hideout and finds a walker. After unsuccessfully trying to kill it, he heads back to camp. Later, the walker arrives and attacks Dale, slashing open his abdomen. Daryl then performs a mercy killing, putting Dale out of his misery.

Then, in the season finale, Rick ends up stabbing Shane during a confrontation but doesn't kill him. Later in the episode as Rick's life is in danger, Carl ends up shooting Shane, killing him.

Now again, this person will not site his source of knowledge, so this may all just be a load of crap. However, he has proven himself correct in the past, so only time will tell. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.