Dom's Film Dungeon

Inkubus - Review!!

2012-02-23T02:35:00.002-05:00

This film just recently popped back onto my radar. Being a horror fan, I was immediately curious when I heard that Robert Englund and William Forsythe were collaborating on a film. I just had the chance to check it out and I;ve decided to review it here for you.

Inkubus - The plot is what initially drew me to this film. The story centers on a police station on its last night before closing. The station is running on a skeleton crew when they get one last case dumped in their lap. A man walks in carrying a severed head and wants to confess to all his murders. He also has a stolen van chock full of body parts and wants to talk to the detective who almost caught him thirteen years ago....

Now, I'll be upfront about the negatives: The budget is clearly low here. The quality isn't the best and the CGI effects are certain not award worthy. However, these are really the only poor aspects, and while the production value isn't astounding, it's certainly a step above made for tv fare.

The performances here are actually strong for the most part. Robert Englund is terrific as the titular demon. He plays creepy so easily that it's truly a pleasure to watch him chew up the scenery. William Forsythe is also very good as the broken down detective. It's nice to see him in a departure from his typical role of the hard ass or villain. (He's also rocking a full head of white hair that further adds to his character's worn down and burnt out persona.)

Rounding out the cast as the current head of the department is Joey Fatone. Strangely enough, he manages to be convincing and actually creates a likable protagonist. I really didn't want to like him and I was certainly skeptical upon hearing of his casting, but I must admit that he really held his own. Forsythe and Englund are always dependable and Fatone actually earns his keep here.

The practical effects and gore certainly look B-movie quality but that actually doesn't detract here. It adds a certain charm that is reminiscent of eighties fare. The movie is also only eighty minutes in duration which allows the story to progress without ever becoming boring. It starts quickly and proceeds at a nice steady pace.

Overall, this is certainly worth checking out. The cast is what really drives this one. Each player handles their role with precision and brings a depth to their character that is nice to see. Not to mention the fact that it's always nice to see a throwback to older genre fare and this one is clearly made by genre fans. In addition, no one plays creepy quite like Robert Englund!!

Highlight Scene(s): The scene where Inkubus walks right into the police station is a tremendous set up to his character, allowing us to see exactly who's in charge and just how precise he is.

The interrogation room murder is another highlight, providing the best use of practical effects in the movie. It proves to be both graphic and emotional.

Any of the interactions between Forsythe and Englund are fantastic. To see these two go at one another with a restrained yet powerful hatred is something to behold.

The moment with Forsythe and his son is also touching. We get to see some very subtle acting, but it also proves very effective.

The moment where Englund is just crouched on the dresser is so simple yet so very very creepy.

Horror News - The Night Stalker and Johnny Depp!

2012-02-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

A little horror news for you all to think about. I'm not sure how many of you remember the telemovie and television show Night Stalker, but word has just come down that the project is officially moving forward.

The original show/movie followed tabloid journalist Carl Kolchak, whose cases always led to the supernatural including vampires, zombie, werewolves, etc. Of course no one ever believed him, but he always pursued his cases. It's slightly in the same tone as Dark Shadows (which Depp is also working on) but much less like a soap opera.

Depp will be playing the role of Kolchak, originally made famous by Darren McGavin (the father from Christmas Story.) Also, Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead) has been signed to direct the film. Now the only downside is the fact that the studio wants this to play to a more family oriented crowd so it seems that PG-13 will be likely. Still, it may be worth checking out. I'll keep you posted as I hear more. Feel free to hit up the comments section and let us all know your thoughts on The Night Stalker!!!

Forgotten Horror Spotlight - Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

2012-02-22T18:43:00.001-05:00

This film may be slightly more recognized than the others that I've brought you lately, but it still never really gets the recognition that it deserves. While it certainly has the typical eighties cliches that one would expect, it's influence on the slasher genre is still potent. So, it's with great pleasure that I bring you....

Slumber Party Massacre (1982) - The films premise is pretty self explanatory: An eighteen-year-old high school girl is left at home by her parents and she decides to have a slumber party. There is friction between some of the invited guests and the new girl, who is better at basketball than they, so the new girl decides to stay at home (which is conveniently across the street from the host's house). Meanwhile, a murderer of five people with a propensity for power tools has escaped and is at large, and eventually makes his way to the party, where the guests begin experiencing an attrition problem, with only the new girl to help them.

While most of the characters here are rather one dimensional they still manage to be likable. Also, there's the nice touch of the simple villain. His motives are simple; he's insane and escaped from prison. Plus, there's no mask or costume. Just a plain man who likes to kill people with power tools!

In addition, this film satisfies every eighties fans desires for blood, guts and lots of boobs! The kills can be slightly repetitive, but never really grow boring. Also, the fact that our main antagonist is damn near unstopable adds a necessary creepy factor. The man is the imbodyment of the "he must surely be dead" killer.

Performances all around are decent. There are some weak moments but the girls display a certain amount of common sense, such as always sticking together in at least pairs. Also, the male party crashers that one would expect to save the day don't quite live up to expectations. Or at all, really....

Overall, this film is a welcome take on the "teen girls in trouble" scenario. Instead of targeting babysitters as seen in Halloween, it's regular high school girls trying to enjoy the absence of parental supervision. I recommend checking this one out simply because it's an enjoyable way to spend eighty minutes. Which reminds me, it's short run time prevents it from growing tiresome or stale and causes the film to move along at a nice brisk pace. This is definitely a good late night popcorn movie with some friends or even a significant other. Check it out and spread the love!

Highlight Scene(s): The final moments where the two girls are locked in the bedroom but forget the open window certainly keeps us on edge. Plus the epic showdown by the pool is quite satisfying.

The scene where the little sister is hiding under the couch mere inches away from our maniac (who's playing dead, also lying down) makes us fear that she'll be busted at any moment. Definitely turns up the tension.

The many scenes in the garage keep us waiting, wondering when the lunatic will strike. This is done several times and starts to wear on the nerves in the best of ways.

Forgotten Horror Spotlight - The Burning (1981)

2012-02-22T03:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome back readers! Continuing my spotlight on the most overlooked horror films, I bring you this little baby. Some of you may remember the Video Nasty List from days past. Essentially, whenever a movie was thought to be too violent or graphic it would inevitably be banned in certain areas. They would also land on this list. Instead of discouraging us genre fans, however, it simply intrigued us more. In essence, these films would be the old school equivalenet of Human Centipede or A Serbian Film. So in honor of the video nasty list, I bring you The Burning!!

The Burning (1981) The premise to this one may sound familiar, but don't let that discourage you. A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.

Now I know that this may sound like a Friday the 13th ripoff, but I assure you that it is not. For starters, only about fifteen minutes take place at an actual camp. The vast majority takes place on a canoe trip for the camp seniors. Also, this movie gives us a bit more character development making us care about certain characters.

Sure, there are the stereotypes; the bully, the do gooding leader, the hot girl, etc but it wouldn't be a slasher without them!

The acting here is actually pretty tight. There's some cheesy dialogue but not nearly as much as you'd expect. Also, there's a very young Jason Alexander who plays his role perfectly (and looks mighty odd with a full head of hair, I might add.) He provides a much needed realism and balances the comedy expertly.

Now here's the real selling point: the gore is done by none other than horror maestro Tom Savini. He's known for his gross out realistic f/x and this movie does not break tradition. Also, the killer is never fully seen until the final minutes of the movie and this proves to be rather effective. When you consider that this movie is over thirty years old, the visuals and makeup, particularly on the villain hold up very well.

There's the inclusion of a slightly obvious twist at the end but it actually ties things together nicely as opposed to detracting from the film. The violence is also much higher than would be expected from a film made in this time. I certainly don't think that it should have been on the video nasty list but it is indeed a worthy slasher. This is one of those rare movies that gets lumped in with the throwaway slasher knockoffs when it really shouldn't. It took a unique approach to the "camp horror" subgenre and upped the anty. We get a lot of tense moments, not many cheap pop scares and a nice amount of POV from the killers perspective. Also, the majority of this film takes place during the daylight which is a welcome change from the typical slasher formula.

Overall, this is one not to be missed. Any horror fan, particularly slasher fans (of which I am one) need to check this out. This movie rightfully deserves its place on the shelf alongside more respected fare such as Friday the 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street. So do yourselves the favor and find this movie! This certainly stands out amongst the forgotten and overlooked and it deserves so much better. Help keep it alive!

Highlight Scene(s): The infamous raft scene is certainly intense. It actually earned the movie it's place on the Nasty List. While I don't find it to be that insane, it's memorable nonetheless. I'll refrain from saying anything more as I don't want to spoil anything.

The showdown in which Cropsy is finally revealed is so built up to that it really delivers. What could have been cheesy was pulled off rather well and offers a nice ending to the picture. Be sure to stay tuned for the very next scene as it sets up what could have been a really cool sequel.

The Crow Reboot News!

2012-02-21T04:31:00.000-05:00

As I'm sure you've all heard, The Crow is being remade. Yes, it's a sad sad thing. However, at least we'll always have the original to enjoy.

Anyhow, after many different developing problems it seems that the film is back on track. It had lost two directors, a writer and two different stars. At one point Mark Wahlberg and Bradley Cooper were both vying for the role of Eric Draven. (why they couldn't just make a new character altogether, I don't know... Fans certainly would be more accepting. Plus it beats Edward Furlong) I digress...

Now I've heard word about some potential casting news. While nothing has yet been verified (and I don't want to name names and possibly cost someone a job) I figured you might find this interesting. Taylor Kitsch (Gambit and John Carter) may be in the running for the role. This is all depending on how well his new movie does, I'm sure. Still, interesting choice to say the least.

Again, while nothings concrete I thought I'd see what you good folks had to say about that. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Forgotten Horror Spotlight - Hell Night (1981)

2012-02-21T04:19:00.000-05:00

Welcome back and thanks for continuing to check out my new segment here. Due to the recent lack of quality horror I've been going back and revisiting a bunch of the older titles from the genre and then sharing the ones worth remembering here with you. Read on for tonights feature!

Hell Night - The premise sees a bunch of college kids in a "rush" type situation. All the hopefuls who want to get into their fraternity/sorority are required to spend the night in a mansion whose former owner supposedly killed his family and then himself. Said mansion is now allegedly haunted. Of course this is all a setup with fake gags in place. That is, until people actually start dying....

Now, this movie has it's really really really bad moments. There are numerous terrible decisions made; one character seems to have a death wish as he repeatedly wants to investigate strange noises even after dead bodies start turning up. Also, people seem to have multiple lives as they survive things that should have rightfully killed a normal human being ten times over. Our heroine even decides to take a little nap two feet away from the lifeless body of the maniac who has been trying to kill her all evening!!! (Seriously, I wish I were making that one up.) She even seems to head back to the mansion in the cliched walking away scene at the end.... There's also the car that suddenly won't start, the girl who happens to be a machanic and spinning tires on bone dry ground. Plus, getting shot point blank by a shotgun apparently does no damage at all. Let's not forget the obvious; if this is tradition, why did these killings just start now? The list really does go on....

Now I'm sure that having read that you wonder how this movie deserves any attention at all. Well, it still has it's charms, plain and simple. The outdated dialogue and head slapping moments actually add a nice little dose of humor. One character even steals a loaded shotgun from police evidence (which is a table in an unlocked room btw) and proceeds to stroll through town with it without being trouble by a single person. He even car jacks a man, tells him to call the police and where to send them and they still don't show up! Also, the main gate which has been padlocked has a hole in it through which one survivor enters and no one seems to notice it even though it's two feet away.....

There are some very thoughtful moments though as well. The fact that even when making a stupid decision like investigating a strange light, our characters at least have the common sense to arm themselves. Hell, they even choose pointy objects! Also the fact that the acting is quite decent for being an early eighties slasher helps keep us invested. Plus the nice blend of haunted house meets slasher film with a dash of period clothing thrown in adds a fresh twist on the slasher sub genre.

Speaking of which, our female lead is played by none other than genre darling Linda Blair of The Exorcist fame. She's all grown up here and actually carries the movie. She is the one constant throughout and without her this movie would have easily been a complete self parody.

There are also quite a few nice scared thrown in and the movie even manages to build some tension in certain scenes. Now, had the killer been slightly more creepy this movie could have been downright spooky, but even as it stands it serves it's purpose: it entertains! So rent this one, pop it in, have some laughs and enjoy a slice of aged eighties cheese!

Highlight Scene(s) - The multiple chases through the maze like woods certainly grabs our attention. It even bears a resemblance to the albeit superior chase scene from The Shining.

The rooftop showdown complete with rope ladder escape also keeps us on edge. Blair does a great job of making us believe she's not only exhausted but in serious trouble.

The carpet in the bedroom scene... I don't to give away too much, as this was my personal favorite and I feel one of the creepiest moments I've seen in a while. Sufficient to say, it easily reminds us of a particular scene from Halloween...

Forgotten Horror Spotlight - Terror Train (1980)

2012-02-20T04:03:00.001-05:00

A little something new that I'll be doing is showing some much deserved appreciation to some of the lost, forgotten or just criminally ignored horror films of days past. As genre fans it is out duty to pay homage and keep the classics alive. Sure some may be cheesy or unintentionally funny or still downright scary but these movies have earned their place in the pages of the horror hall of fame!

Terror Train (1980) - This film came to my attention some time ago. I have always had a special place in my heart for the slasher sub-genre and this one was recommended to me as a "can't miss." So, I tracked it down and tuned in to watch and I was pleasantly surprised that I did. The set up is as follows:

A college fraternaty prank goes bad and a student ends up in the mental ward. Four years later, it's graduation time, and the members of the fraternity decide to have a costume party aboard a train to celebrate thier graduation. Unknowingly to them, a killer has slipped aboard, picking them off one by one, disguised in the costumes of the victims.

Now picture, if you will, one of those old murder trains that people paid for to solve mysteries. Add into the mix a whole bunch of drunk kids in Halloween costume, a genuine slasher and Jamie Lee Curtis and you'll start to get a better feel for this flick.

True the story is simple and true the acting is a bit stiff in places but we at least have a dose of originality, some pretty good scares, a whole lot of tension and some decent little twists thrown in. When all is said and done, what more can we want? Curtis proves here once again why she will always be the true scream queen, playing the damsel in distress just as well as she had two years prior in Halloween. And again, the whodunnit mystery thrown in is more than enough to keep you guessing.

My one complaint with this film is the lack of time spent on the killer. We only catch glimpses but not enough to truly fear him the way we do Michael or Jason. Also, the mask is a little too comical but hell, it beats sitting through more watered down PG13 kiddie horror.

If you love a good slasher movie but aren't quite in the mood for the ones sitting on your shelf, find a copy of Terror Train, dust it off and try to solve the mystery. After all, we need to keep these gems alive!!!

Highlight scenes: The scene where Curtis is chased through the train cars is suspenseful and expertly lensed. We really get a sense of terror and the confinement of the location just adds to it.

The scene where our heroine is locked in the gated room with the killer just outside is pure horror genius. Pitting her face to face with the killer with next to nothing between them ratchets up the tension.

The corpse scene in the bed is pretty unexpected and a little disgusting. Effective setup for the film.

Insidious 2 News and Potential Collaboration Rumor??!!

2012-02-18T17:08:00.000-05:00

Thanks for coming back guys, and as promised I'm bringing lots of stories with me! Read on for the details!

Insidious 2 - Leigh Whannell, the writer of the original installment as well as the original Saw, has announced that his character will be back for the follow up. The original saw Whannell and partner as hapless ghost hunters who find themselves in over their heads.

I was quite fond of the original and am happy to hear that Leigh is returning. Below is a quote from the man himself regarding his involvement:

"I can say that yes, my character will be seen in Insidious 2. It may probably bum a lot of people out, though, to hear this news. It's part of the reason I don't even read the internet message boards anymore; there was this hatred that spewed out from fans saying 'I hated those guys! They sucked! They ruined the movie!' so there will probably be a lot of people out there who will be disappointed to hear that the Specs and Tucker characters will be coming back. (laughs)"

No word yet on whether Patrick Wilson and cast have signed deals yet for the sequel.

Possible Horror Dream Team?? - I'm normally not fond of posting rumours until they've been confirmed but this one seemed too cool to pass up. I've heard from a few different people that there may be a horror collaboration in the works between modern horror masters Adam Green and Ti West! Green is responsible for Hatchet 1&2 as well as Frozen and West brought us House of The Devil and Innkeepers (reviewed here.) Both directors have an obvious love for the genre and deliver quality films.

Now as I said, this should be treated simply as a rumour for now, but if I hear anything more concrete I'll be bringing it to you all here. Again, I hate rumours but this one was too intriguing to pass up. What would you all like to see from these two, should they work together?

Evil Dead Remake News!!!

2012-02-18T03:43:00.000-05:00

As many of have no doubt heard by now, they are officially remaking The Evil Dead. The original is beloved by many, myself included. Casting has already been completed and the location has been scouted. There's even been a photo released of the new cabin.

Now, I typically don't care for remakes although there have been several that have been effective, I must admit. This one I'm not sold on. When you remake Friday the 13th or Texas Chainsaw you're replacing a man in a mask. With Evil Dead you're replacing THE STAR that made the franchise (Bruce Campbell of course.)

The good news is that there will be no Ash character in this reboot. Why is that good? Because no one will be able to desecrate the legacy of the character. Now the bad news... The cast is comprised of what seems to be low rent Gossip Girl rejects and the script had been "touched up" by Diablo Cody, known for such drivel as Juno and Jeniffer's Body.

The only saving grace has been the involvement of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell as producers. Now comes word that this film will abandon all humor. Now, the first film was a genuine horror film whilst the following installments certainly upped the slapstick, but there was still the signature Raimi/Campbell humor throughout. Read on for the quote:

Recently cast Jane Levy caught up with The Insider and explains the reboot's tone. "I think the humor in the first one came from the special effects of the time. I don't know that they meant it to be funny ... this one is not funny. It's definitely dark," said Levy, stating the obvious. She adds, "This one is really different. They've changed it a lot, but it's still a pretty gory movie."

The site also ran into Bruce Campbell, who stars as "Ash" in the original trilogy. He also confirms we won't see the return of Ash, while also joking about what kind of remake it actually is. "You can expect to have a damn scary horror movie," he explains adding, "There's no Ash character -- The Evil Book is going to torment a new set of kids, so it's a remake, or a re-imagining or ... a re-whatever word you want to use. It's going to be re-scary."

What are your thoughts? Hit up the comment section and share your views on what you'd like to see from the now inevitable Ash-less installment.

New addition - Feedback Wanted. Calling all aspiring artists!!

2012-02-18T01:28:00.000-05:00

Hello all and welcome back. As i teased yesterday, I'm toying around with the idea of adding some new sections to the dungeon. One idea I've been kicking around is an public area where anyone can post original horror inspired works. This would include art, shorts and original writings.

Being a writer myself, I have several pieces that I would post and I encourage you all to do the same. It would be a great way to get feedback and also get your name out. I would love to hear back from all of you and see what you think!

Now, keep in mind, if someone were to post un-copyrighted work, there is no way to guarantee that some low life wouldn't plagiarise, but I don't really see that being an issue with our peers. However, I do have to say that this is post at your own discretion... This includes myself as well...

I digress; please leave your feedback in the comments section and I'll keep checking back to see what you think. I feel this could be a great way for us all to help one another and spread the genre love!!!

The Innkeepers - Review and news. Ti West fans must read!!!!!

2012-02-17T04:38:00.001-05:00

Hey all and thanks for coming back! I thank all of you reading this for your continued support. I know it's been a long stretch since any new posts but I have a pretty good amount coming as well as a potential new look for the site. Anyhow, I figured I'd kick things off with a review.

As many of you may have noticed, the quality of horror has been shoddy at best as of late. This is a big reason that I've delved deeper into the world of direct to DVD. While there are many terrible films released straight to disc there are quite a few gems to be had as well.

Ti West has been labeled by genre fans as one of the new "saviors of horror" along with fellow film maker Adam Green. Ti West was responsible for Cabin Fever 2 (before it got butchered by the studio. His cut is far superior, FYI) as well as the superbly creepy House Of The Devil. His new film continues his tradition of mixing old and new school with amazing results, and I was lucky enough to catch this before the DVD release!

The Innkeepers has been on my radar since production on it began. The premise is a case of art imitating life. The Yankee Pedlar Inn is in it's last days, about to close it's doors once and for all. The Inn has a nasty reputation of being haunted and on the last weekend two employees/amateur ghost hunters decide to try to capture evidence of said ghosts. The place is deserted save for a former actress turned psychic and two other guests. Of course, once the lights go out, things start to go bump in the night..

Now, the premise may sound familiar but West finds a way to breathe new life into the haunted house sub-genre. Further adding to the creepy factor is the fact that the real Yankee Pedlar (which plays itself in the movie) is also haunted in real life with numerous cases of sightings. This was actually the place that West and crew stayed while making House Of The Devil! In addition, just after filming of Innkeepers wrapped, news broke that the Pedlar would indeed be closing it's doors as well, further adding a sense of foreboding.

West has crafted an unbelievably tense and suspenseful film, keeping us on edge the entire time. The scares are effective and earned, as West chooses not to simply employ cheap jump scares like so many of his peers. Also, the ghosts, when they appear (and they do!) are very well done, all being created using practical effects rather than going the CGI route. This further adds to the effectiveness of the picture.

The look of the film itself is an aesthetic wonder in and of itself. Had the gadgets seen not given away the decade, this film could easily have passed as being made in the classic 70's age of horror, and that is meant in the most complimentary of ways. Every stitch of clothing, every piece of decor and every intricate camera angle just allow us to completely immerse ourselves into the movie.

Onto the performances! The two leads Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) are astounding. The chemistry between them as friends and co-workers is more than believable and they possess talent in spades. The subtle indications that Luke may have a dirty little secret make for a nice little twist as well as some comic relief to momentarily break some tension. Also, the scene in which we learn his true feelings for Claire is played with just the right amount of bumbling charm that one can't help but hope that he'll get the girl.

Paxton is no slouch either, nailing her role and truly making us wonder if the ghosts are real or if Claire is truly losing her mind. There is also the much welcomed return of Kelly McGillis!!! She plays the medium who reluctantly agrees to semi assist in the escapades.

Overall, West has crafted a modern masterpiece and proves that he is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it be his wonderful scripting, his ability to evoke multiple emotions with masterful ease or even invoking some Kubrikian camera shots, it all equals out to one hell of a time. This movie is NOT to be missed. If you like a little thought with your horror on occasion, pick this one up!

The DVD and BluRay will be available April 24, 2012 being distributed by Dark Sky/MPI

Highlight Scene(s): The scene with Claire in bed as she starts to notice some spooky noises is so well done and incredibly creepy. A true highlight.

Also, the previously mentioned scene between Claire and Luke wherein he tries to convey his feelings is wonderful. It's a moment that we can all relate to.

Hellraiser Revelations Review

2011-10-24T02:26:00.000-04:00

Hello folks. It's been a little while since I reviewed a film so I figured I'd come back with this one. I have long been a fan of Clive Barker and the Hellraiser franchise. You can imagine my excitement when I heard that a new installment was being made. However, I then heard that Doug Bradley was being replaced as the iconic Pinhead. I immediately thought back to the recent redux of Nightmare on Elm Street where Robert Englund was replaced as Freddy Krueger and how disastrous the results were. I then heard that Clive Barker himself had publicly disowned this new movie... Things were not looking good.....

I was browsing my local video store and saw this film staring back at me. After a moments contemplation I figured 'fuck it' and bought it, if for no other reason than to complete my collection. I went home, popped it in and I'm here to share the results.

The premise here is an easy one. two boys head for Mexico in an attempt to leave their mundane lives behind them. Once there, they discover the Lament Configuration and unleash pinhead and his cenobites. The two boys are taken and a year later on the anniversary of their disappearance, one shows up at a memorial dinner. Not to fond of having souls escape him, Pinhead and the gang descend upon the homestead to reclaim what is rightfully his.

Now, on to the shocking news: this movie isn't terrible! It's certainly nowhere near as good as the original two installments but let's be honest, neither were the other sequels. The story here does hearken back to the tone of the original installments. There are also some nice twists and turns thrown in as well as a sort of homage to the original. There was also a reduced amount of Pinhead as in the originals.

The effects here were also pretty well done. It was obvious that they were on a limited budget but the effects are certainly on par with if not better than the last three installments. The gore was very well done as were Pinheads signature hooked chains. Further impressing me was the fact that the director was allotted only two weeks to shoot and edit the film. That being said, it is pretty damn impressive what they were able to pull off.

Now, onto the man himself: Stephen Collins steps into the massive shoes left by Doug Bradley. While he does indeed look like a totally different Pinhead, it's not terrible. He's a decent enough actor and he actually seems more energetic and dare I say, hungry, than Bradley in the last several films. Bradley seemed almost bored in the last few movies, seemingly there to collect a check. Now, I'm not saying Collins is better than Bradley as that isn't the case. I'm simply stating that they could've done a hell of a lot worse.

There is also the inclusion of a "pseudo Pinhead" which is actually decent. He does look a little too similar to Pinhead, yet it's a pretty cool inclusion and does play into the mystery aspect quite nicely. The acting is spotty across the board. The two young men who are the leads bounce back and forth from compelling to outright irritating. The character Niko is consistently obnoxious and unlikable as well as untalented. His costar however, does pick up his slack. Also, as stated, Collins holds his own considering the shoes he has to fill. They slightly tweaked Pinheads look but it kind of works here as it is a different actor and it's only right they try not to outright copy Bradley.

The only major complaints would be the uneven acting, the awful male lead Niko and the fact that they didn't enhance Collins voice to give him that otherworldly tone that they gave Bradley. Overall however, the movie wasn't bad. There are plenty of worse ways to spend an hour and a half. So, for all you Hellraiser or Clive Barker fans, give this one a chance. It isn't amazing but it will at least satisfy your Pinhead appetite. In addition, it certainly is better than Hellworld and Hellseeker. Do yourselves a favor and check this one out. In an era of remakes, at least they had the balls to go forward with a franchise instead of remaking it for the tween audiences.

Horror News - Texas Chainsaw 3D, Halloween 3D, Hellraiser, Fright Night, I Saw The Devil and The Wicker Man!!

2011-07-18T01:08:00.001-04:00

As I stated, it's been a while, but as promised, here's some news for you to sink your fangs into!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D - It was recently reported that Gunnar Hansen would cameo in the new Texas Chainsaw film. Now word has broke that none other than Texas Chainsaw creator Tobe Hooper will also have a role in the new film!! It hasn't been revealed in what facet they will appear, but this is exciting news none the less.

The new film is said to be direct sequel to Hooper's original film. The film follows a showdown at Leatherface's base camp where all are believed dead. Young Heather inherits a home and upon arrival, new murders spring up. She also finds out that Leatherface is her cousin as she tries to figure out who's behind these slayings. Bill Mosley also stars as Leatherface's loving father.

Halloween 3D, Hellraiser 3D - Both these films are back on track! Furthermore, both are being brought to us by creative duo Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier, the men behind the My bloody Valentine remake (which I enjoyed) and Drive Angry ( which I thought was a terrific grind house film.) Both films have also secured 2012 release dates. There was former talk of the Weinsteins wanting Hellraiser to be PG-13 and teen friendly. Thankfully Lussier has ignored this idea and promises that both films will be hard R!

Also, Tom Atkins has joined the cast of Halloween 3D. With a genre fave like him on board, plus Farmer and Lussier, I think we're in good hands. While it has yet to be confirmed, Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie's H1 and H2) and Brad Douriff are also in talks to rejoin the cast as Laurie Strode and Sheriff Bracket.

While details are being kept tight, it's been reported that the film will pick up after Zombie's H2 and then flash forward one year, when Michael returns to Haddonfield and starts his rampage once more. This comment was released by Todd Farmer himself, so it's a pretty sure bet that there's some fact here.

Fright Night 3D - No one was more skeptical than myself when I heard they were remaking 80's cult classic Fright Night. Then I heard that Colin Farrell was stepping into the role formerly played by Chris Sarrandon and I groaned even more. Then came the inclusion of Anton Yelchin and McLovin and I was sure we were screwed. Lastly I saw the photos of the new Peter Vincent, who's a magician and sports a look reminiscent of Cris Angel (who's a royal douche bag, btw.) I wrote the film off then and there.

Lately, however, I've seen a bunch of new footage and re watched the original and I have to say, I'm actually getting excited. After viewing the original I realized one very obvious thing: Chris Sarrandon, while good in the role, was not intimidating or as "seductive" as the screenwriters intended. Also, he was.... old! Colin Farrell looks pretty damn good in the role and it looks as if he reminds us all that he can actually act when he wants to. Plus he was terrific in Horrible Bosses....

Also, Evil Ed was quite irritating in the original (as he was supposed to be) and if anyone can play obnoxious geek, it's Christopher Mintz Plasse. And as much as I want to hate on Anton Yelchin, I haven't got enough ammo. Charlie Brewster wasn't exactly a three dimensional character anyhow...

Then came the feedback. I've heard from several people who have seen an advance screening and they have RAVED about how good it is and how faithful it stays to the original. Even the dance club scene from the original is present, which is pretty damn awesome. As the August release date approaches, I find myself growing more and more excited. Not to mention the R rating and promise of gore. While I won't be seeing it in 3D, I will be seeing it on opening night. I suggest you do the same!

I Saw The Devil - I recently had the... pleasure?... of seeing this film. It is quite something. Equal parts brilliant and disgusting, filled with great acting, intense violence and social commentary. I recommend you all track down a copy and prepare yourself accordingly. For those unfamiliar, the premise sees a young woman become the most recent victim of a brutal serial killer. Her fiance happens to be a Secret Agent, however, and is hell bent on revenge. He sets out to find the killer and then systematically torture and release him only to repeat over and over again. It truly is a great movie in the revenge sub genre.

Now comes word that this South Korean film will be the subject of an American remake. While no director is locked yet, there are rumors that Alex Aja (High Tension, Hills Have Eyes) is being considered. Possibly more interesting though is the rumored casting.. Edward Norton has been mentioned several times as the front runner for the Secret Agent/Vigilante while Russel Crowe's name keeps popping up as the Serial Killer! Now again, none of this is confirmed yet, but I thought it was interesting and worth thinking about. For those of you who have scene it, who would you like to see in the unnecessary but inevitable remake?

Wicker Man - It was reported a while back that we would be treated to a sequel to the original Wicker Man (starring Christoper Lee.) Now it so happens that Wicker Tree will make it's premier at the Fantasia Film Festival. In addition, a third installment will begin filming next month, giving us a TRILOGY of Wicker Man films!

It's been a while, but I'm back!!!

2011-07-18T00:21:00.000-04:00

Hey there readers! I've been away for far too long but now I'm back and I'm bringing the goods with me! I thank you all for sticking with the dungeon and I have lots of new info coming for ya! Rest assured, we're back and better than ever!

Horror News - Leatherface 3D, Pride Prejudice and Zombies, and The Passage!!

2011-04-19T14:10:00.000-04:00

Hey there kiddies! Welcome back to the dungeon, you're home away from home. As usual, I've sought out some interesting stories for you fright fanatics, and I've got them for you below!

Leatherface 3D - Bloody Disgusting received exclusive word that John Luessenhop is in talks to direct Lionsgate's Leatherface 3D, the sequel to the Platinum Dunes produced Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake that was released via New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures. Luessenhop was behind Takers, which "starred" Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and Matt Dillon.

Debra Sullivan, Adam Marcus and Stephen Susco have turned in drafts the third Chainsaw flick that supposedly picks up immediately where Tobe Hooper's original left off before flashing forward 35 years!!!

Pride, Prejudice and Zombies - After much debate and going through several directors, Lionsgate has officially announced Craig Gillespie as the director in the Natalie Portman produced Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

The project mixes Jane Austen's 1813 classic novel "Pride and Prejudice," centering on Elizabeth Bennet's quest for love and independence amid the outbreak of a virus that turns the dead into zombies. The story's set in an alternate version of 19th Century England that features deadly ancestors roaming the countryside.

This brings us one step closer to actually seeing this on the big screen! I'm just happy they finally locked a friggin' director!

The Passage - Fox 2000 has set Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Cloverfield) to direct The Passage, the film based on the bestselling Justin Cronin novel about an experiment that goes awry and creates a swarm of bloodthirsty vampires that brings the world to the brink of extinction, reports Deadline. Fox acquired the book in 2007 for north of $3 million right after Cronin made a 3-book deal with Ballantine for $3.75 million based on the first 400 pages of the book and an outline for a novel series.

"In 'The Passage', a group of terminally ill cancer patients get healthy after being subjected to the bites of bats in South America. Naturally, the government see this as a cure for the disease and starts experimenting. They end up with a legion of nearly indestructible, telepathic vampire masters that begin infecting the populace." The tone is closer to 28 Days Later and "The Stand" than Let The Right One In or Twilight Saga.

Reeves will supervise a rewrite of a script done by John Logan.

Reeves will also adapt a film based on the Ray Nelson short story "8 O'Clock in the Morning" for Universal, about a man who awakens to realize he and others are being controlled by aliens. It's a quasi-remake of They Live.

Coming Soon To The Dungeon - Calling All Fans!!!

2011-04-18T14:42:00.000-04:00

Hello there faithful friends. As I've stated recently, this site is growing in popularity and this is entirely due to you and for that I'm grateful. I'm always trying to come up with new ideas on what to add to the site. So, I'm here to ask you guys what you'd like to see more of!

I've been seriously considering creating a space for any aspiring writers to post short horror themed stories, poetry, etc. There would also be space for fan art and fanfiction as well. Would this be something that you could all dig?

Also, I've been hard at work trying to land some exclusive interviews with some pretty heavy hitters in the genre. Just to give you fellow gore fiends some ideas, I've been trying to contact Ti West's people, as well as Adam Green, and I've actually made contact with none other than Bruce Campbell! That's right, Bruce freakin' Campbell! While he's been hard at work on Burn Notice and the Sam Axe spin off film, now that that's wrapped I hope to be able to do an interview whenever his schedule permits. I've already received an email from him and had several conversations with his agent. Are there any people you'd like to see interviewed here in the Dungeon?

As usual, you're feed back is not only welcome, but encouraged. Let me know what you'd like to see here on the site and I'll do my best to bring you what you crave! In the meantime, stay creepy friends.

-Dom

Horror News - Horror Game Apps, The Lords Of Salem and Mortal Kombat

2011-04-18T12:02:00.000-04:00

Welcome fiends, it's been a while. There hasn't been much to report on lately, at least nothing worthy of your time. However, I found a few interesting stories today that you may want to sink your teeth into. Read on below.

The Lords Of Salem - Rob Zombie updated his blog with a few new photos from his recent trip to Salem where he's been location scouting for The Lords of Salem, his latest genre film produced by Haunted Pictures (Insidious, Paranormal Activity).

"The story is about a local DJ who mistakenly unleashes a hellish curse on the town. 300 years earlier on the very streets of Salem that the townspeople walk on today, innocent folks were rounded up from their homes, convicted of being witches and sentenced to death. The Lords of Salem ran the town with an iron fist, but four witches who were tortured and killed in secrecy vowed that one day they would be back for revenge.

Mortal Kombat - Variety confirms that Warner Bros. is hoping the popularity of the Mortal Kombat web series will lead to a new fatality in theaters:

"Now the studio hopes the edgy new series and grittier game, developed by NetherRealm Studios and led by "Mortal Kombat"-creator and creative director Ed Boon, will eventually lead to a bigscreen adaptation and relaunch a film franchise whose last outing was New Line's cartoony "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" in 1997," reports Variety.

Here's hoping we get to see something amazing on the big screen and not a watered down pg 13 version!

Horror Apps - Announced a few weeks back, later this month the Weinsteins will release "Angry Pinheads," a game based on the villain in its Hellraiser series. This joins "Screamville," a game app that accompanies its latest release, Scream 4.

Horror News - Evil Dead News and Campbell's Involved!!!!!!!

2011-04-13T18:11:00.000-04:00

Yes indeed fellow horror lovers. The greatest horror hero may be back on the big screen. The question is, will it be a remake or a sequel? Well, Bruce Campbell shines a little light on that subject. Read on below.

Evil Dead - Horror icon Bruce Campbell answered some questions at Reddit , which of course went in the direction of The Evil Dead franchise, which Campbell starred in as the infamous anti-hero "Ash".

With the remake in development since 2004, Campbell told fans that he has actually read the script and loved it: "We are remaking 'Evil Dead.' The script is awesome. I will be one of the producers and possibly play the milk man." This does imply that he won't return as Ashley J. Williams, S-Mart's most valuable employee.

"In all honesty, we would all love to make another 'Evil Dead' movie. When that will happen? Who can say - we're all working on other jobs right now. We're not trying to dodge anybody's questions, there just isn't that much to talk about. The remake's gonna kick ass—you have my word."

While this doesn't really confirm anything earth shattering, it does at least confirm that there is a script and it meets Campbell's approval. There have also been talks about doing an Evil Dead 4 with Campbell back in the role of Ash. Sam Raimi is gung ho to get on board and has even stated that he's spoken to Campbell about it. While it would be nice to see something Evil Dead related back on screen, I'd much rather see the long gestating sequel with Bruce back in the role. However, the fact that he's involved in the remake of this beloved franchise and that he's guaranteed it won't suck, does add a certain amount of credibility. But still, PLEASE Bruce, do Evil Dead 4!! We fans want it!

Horror News - The Crow coming close to casting?

2011-04-13T04:21:00.000-04:00

You read that right folks. As I reported a little while back, the reboot of The Crow is back on track. Originally Stephen Norrington was attached to direct from a script by Nick Cave and Marky Mark was attached. Then, eventually, all three dropped out systematically. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo then came on board to helm and he's reportedly been discussing the character with none other than Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, A Team, Limitless!) Apparently the two had hit it off in a recent meeting in Spain and were eagerly discussing their vision for the character.

Relativity Media is the company behind the reboot and they're also responsible for Cooper's most recent starring vehicle, Limitless, which has garnered positive reviews and performed even better than expected at the box office, already earning back it's budget domestically. No confirmation has been made from Relativity or Cooper's agent, but this is certainly an interesting turn of events.

There's no word yet on which character Cooper will portray. For those of you unfamiliar with the character mythos, there are different deceased brought back to "put the wrong things right." This is evident not only in the comics but also the films, all of which star a different lead actor as a different character.

I'm personally not opposed to Cooper, per se, as long as he doesn't play Eric Draven (the character originated by Brandon Lee.) Cooper's not a terrible actor and he's recently shown he's capable of action roles, so he's not a terrible choice, though he certainly wouldn't have been my first pick. Some good news though, is that Cooper is said to be a fan of the original, so maybe that means they won't desecrate this classic. I suppose only time will tell though. I'm trying to picture Cooper in the signature makeup though, and I can't quite get that image right....

On a side note, it seems that the current "fan favorite" is Joseph Gordon Levitt, which I can actually see in the role. He's a talented actor and plays "dark and brooding" quite well. He also has the physical look as well. What do you all think of this turn of events?

Horror News -Saw Franchise, House On The Edge Of The Park 2 and Abe Lincoln

2011-04-12T18:42:00.000-04:00

Welcome back friends. It's been a while since there's been anything worthwhile to report on, but today there's been some interesting news, and I'm here to deliver the goods! Read on for the details and stay creepy!

Saw Franchise - Over the years, franchise creators James Wan (director) and Leigh Whannell (writer/star) have been open about their desires to return to the series they created back in 2004. Wan has gone as far as to state that the first film was only 30% what he envisioned (budget and time affected it).

With the release of Insidious, Wan and Whannell spoke with IGN about their want to end the game "the right way." Also, there's a Billy (the puppet) drawing in the background of the classroom in the duo's Insidious and sports a drawing of a #8 underneath. An interesting prospect, no?

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Rufus Sewell - star of the brilliantly dark and gothic Dark City has landed the role of "Adam," the lead vampire villain, in 20th Century Fox's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, reports Variety. Sewell joins Benjamin Walker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Dominic Cooper in the Timur Bekmambetov summer tentpole.

Based on the bestselling book by Seth Grahame-Smith, the film "revolves around the president's quest to rid the world of vampires, presented as the real conflict behind the Civil War." Bekmambetov will co-produce with Tim Burton and Jim Lemley.

House On The Edge Of The Park II - Back in February word broke that North Bank Entertainment has teamed up with legendary Italian director Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust) and actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice (City of the Living Dead) to develop a sequel to the 1980 cult film The House on the Edge of the Park. The good folks over at Bloody Disgusting have now managed to snag two new posters from the upcoming film. Major props go out to them for managing to get a hold of these two creepy ass posters. They're posted for you below. Again, stop by Bloody Disgusting and show those folks some love. They're definitely at the top of the horror movie scene.

The screenplay is being written by Andrew Jones, from a story by Ruggero Deodato and Giovanni Lombardo Radice. The film will be produced by Ian Grey and Andrew Jones for North Bank Entertainment. Ruggero Deodato will direct the film, with Giovanni Lombardo Radice reprising his role as 'Ricky'.

In the first film also starring David Hess, two lowlife punks invite themselves to a party at a posh villa and after being taunted by their snobbish hosts, hold everybody hostage and subject them to various torture and mayhem.

The sequel begins "After thirty years at the mercy of a brutal Warden in Sing Sing prison, Ricky is released and returns to the old garage in New York City. Desperate for a place to belong, he falls in with a dangerous sociopath named The Poet and his blood thirsty girlfriend Muriel. But the memories of Ricky's old friend Alex continue to haunt him."

Sounds promising and Deodato is certainly a master of horror who's return is more than overdue.

Horror News - Total Recall and Odd Thomas casting!

2011-04-08T19:41:00.000-04:00

A few more stories just popped up and caught my attention. As is usual, I'm bringing them to you as soon as I find them. I must say, Colin Farrell has been all over the place the last few days with the images from Fright Night and now some more Total Recall news. Read on for the goodies!

Total Recall - After releasing a list of potential female talents, Variety is reporting that Sony Pictures may be close to landing Jessica Biel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blade: Trinity) for one of two female leads for its Total Recall reboot. Biel is circling a role opposite Colin Farrell in the pic. Sony has offered her the role but no discussions are underway. It's unclear which role she would play.

In the original 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer, the lovely lady leads were played by Sharon Stone, who played Lori, and Rachel Ticotin, who played Melina.

The film follows Douglas Quaid, a man who believes he is a secret agent and ends up on a Martian colony where he fights to overthrow a ruler controlling the production of air.

There was early buzz that Biel was going for the role of Melina but sources say there's a chance she going for the other character. Len Wiseman will direct the latest version, with Farrell attempting to fill some mighty big shoes in the Schwarzenegger role and Bryan Cranston attached to play the villain. James Vanderbilt penned the screenplay.

Odd Thomas - Gearing up for production in New Mexico later this spring and summer is Odd Thomas, a new Kootnz adaptation by Stephen Sommers. Sommers is responsible for such horrendous films including Van Helsing and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

THR has some good news as they're reporting Willem Dafoe (Antichrist) is in talks to join the cast of the supernatural thriller that centers on a short-order cook named Odd Thomas who can commune with the dead, a secret only his girlfriend (Addison Timlin) and the local police (Dafoe) chief know.

The young man can also spot malevolent forces called bodachs, who feed on pain and portent imminent death. When Odd sees them in spades surrounding a stranger, he finds himself in a race against time to avert a catastrophe.

Here's hoping this turns out well. Dafoe's attachment has certainly lent some credibility to this production, but I still have my reservations...

Horror News - Fear Clinic, R.I.P.D. and Mortal Kombat

2011-04-08T19:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome friends, to the horror show that never ends! There wasn't much in the way of horror news today but I managed to dredge up some stories for you. I couldn't go a day without giving you something to sate your appetite for the red stuff!

Fear Clinic - Director Robert Hall is out pushing Fear Clinic, a feature-length version of his web series that aired on Fearnet last year.The web series was met with much praise by fans and garnered a pretty good sized audience. It also featured some pretty big names in horror.

Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Danielle Harris (Hatchet II, Rob Zombie's Halloween) and Lucas Till (Battle: Los Angeles, X-Men: First Class) are all signed to star in the horror flick that "Follows 5 patients whose lives have been destroyed by their incurable phobias, and come to the Clinic willing to do whatever it takes to cure their worst fears and get a new lease on life... albeit for a price."

Aaron Drane, who wrote the series, also penned the screenplay. Rumor has it that calls are out to other horror icons including Kane Hodder and Gunnar Hansen. Again, these are purely speculation at this point, but it would be fantastic to see them sign on.

R.I.P.D. - Zach Galifianakis is officially no longer starring with Ryan Reynolds in the Universal Pictures supernatural comedy R.I.P.D., which Robert Schwentke will direct, reports Deadline. The project is about a force of undead police officers based on the Peter Lenkov comic--but scheduling got in the way. This may also be a problem for Reynolds as well, as he's in demand at the moment and may be rushed into work on the Green Lantern sequel.

Galifinakis is currently attached to the HBO series Bored To Death amongst other projects, so he is officially done with the project. Only time will tell if Reynolds even stays attached seeing as he's wanted for so many properties, including the upcoming Deadpool spin-off.

Mortal Kombat - Premiering online April 12, we've been given a first look at Sub-Zero in Warner Bros. Pictures' web series "Mortal Kombat: Legacy"

Directed by Kevin Tancharoen ("Fame"), and starring Jeri Ryan ("Star Trek: Voyager") as "Sonya Blade," Michael Jai White ("The Dark Knight") as "Major Jackson ‘Jax' Briggs" and Darren Shahlavi ("300") as "Kano," this series will take gamers deep into the history of the warriors they know and love.

Written by Kevin Tancharoen, Aaron Helbing and Todd Helbing, "Mortal Kombat: Legacy" is an anthology of nine live action shorts, and brings to life the motivation behind each character's participation in the Mortal Kombat tournament. Each episode will provide never-before-revealed insights into characters featured in the upcoming videogame as well as the game's universe.

Horror News - Rob Zombie's The Lords Of Salem and Fright Night 3D!!!

2011-04-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

Ah, I relish the days when there's good horror news to report. Today was a good one as I was able to bring you some info on The Crow, Silent Hill and Darren Bousman's upcoming project. Now I get to bring you some news on the 3D Fright Night redux as well as the latest from Rob Zombie! Read on for all the bloody goodies!

Fright Night 3D - Moviefone decided to post some low quality images and now you'll see the first ever stills from DreamWorks Fright Night 3D, Craig Gillespie's remake that'll arrive in theaters on August 19!

The first images will give you a first look at star Colin Farrell as Jerry Dandridge and neighbor Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin). You'll also get your first looks at Imogen Poots and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the new "Evil" Ed.

In the film, "Charlie Brewster (Yelchin) is a high school senior who’s on top of the world—that is until Jerry (Farrell) moves in next door and Charlie discovers that he is a vampire preying on the neighborhood."

I have to say, this doesn't look too bad. I wasn't expecting much, but I'm starting to get a bit excited for this one!

The Lords Of Salem - Director Rob Zombie has released the first ever image from his low budget horror The Lords of Salem, teasing "I will say that the scene that involves this face is very painful."

From the producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious, "The story is about a local DJ who mistakenly unleashes a hellish curse on the town. 300 years earlier on the very streets of Salem that the townspeople walk on today, innocent folks were rounded up from their homes, convicted of being witches and sentenced to death. The Lords of Salem ran the town with an iron fist, but four witches who were tortured and killed in secrecy vowed that one day they would be back for revenge."

I must admit, this wasn't what I was expecting but it still looks pretty damn cool. I'm a fan of Zombie's work, particularly his original works, and the story sounds like fun. Kind of reminds me of Evil Dead meats Hocus Pocus (for adults.) Plus, some of the locations he's been scouting are pretty damn creepy looking!

Horror News - The Crow, Silent Hill 3D and Darren Lynn Bousman!

2011-04-07T21:13:00.000-04:00

Hello again friends. Welcome back to the home of blood and guts! As you know, I'm a horror freak and I consider it my duty to bring you the best coverage of the genre that I can. Today is an interesting day, as there have been some intriguing announcements and casting news. Read on for the details!

The Crow - As many of you may have heard, a reboot of the cult classic The Crow has been in the works for a while. Stephen Norrington (Blade) was attached to direct from a script by Nick Cave (which was actually a pretty damn good sign as the man is amazingly underrated.) Then came the terrible news that Mark Whalberg was attached to the lead (NOT a good sign!) Thankfully Marky Mark dropped out as did Norrington. That was pretty much it for the news for a while. Then came word that Norman Reedus (Walking Dead, Boondock Saints 1 & 2) was attached for the role of Top Dollar (not a bad choice, but a rumor nonetheless.)

Now comes word that Relativity Media is finally ready to get The Crow off the ground as 28 Weeks Later and Intruders helmer Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has officially closed a deal to direct the studio's re-invention of the 1994 action cult classic, reports Variety.

Though no talent is attached yet, Relativity is looking to put The Crow into production this fall. Fresnadillo will collaboratively develop the screenplay once a writer is attached to adapt the script from James O'Barr's comic book series, which has sold more than a quarter-million copies worldwide. ( I guess that unfortunately means that Cave's version is out)

It is not confirmed that the reboot will again follow cult hero Eric Draven, who is resurrected as The Crow to avenge his wife's murder so he can reunite with her in the hereafter. I feel that this is the way to go, as the character originated by Brandon Lee is iconic and no one can replace him. Giving a different character the chance to 'put the wrong things right' is certainly more appealing than trying to outdo that which can't be outdone.

"The original Crow was groundbreaking cinema; its gothic visual and musical ideas influenced a generation and cinema itself," said producer Edward R. Pressman. "With Juan Carlos, we have every confidence that his new Crow will have a similar impact on the contemporary audience."

The original, which grossed $51 million stateside, starred Brandon Lee, who was killed in a tragic accident during filming. The picture was subsequently dedicated to his memory, as well as his fiancee Eliza Hutton. It spawned three sequels that respectively starred Vincent Perez, Eric Mabius and Edward Furlong as The Crow, along with a TV series toplined by Mark Dacascos.

Silent Hill: Revelations 3D - It was just announced that two more actors have joined the cast of the Silent Hill sequel, and those two thespians are none other than Carrie Ann Moss (The Matrix) and Malcom McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Halloween 1 & 2!) The film is currently shooting in Canada and is set for a 2012 release. Moss and McDowell will join a cast already made up of Sean Bean, Kit Harrington and Radha Mitchell.

"For years, Heather Mason (Clemens) and her father (Sean Bean) have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand. Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by terrifying nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she's not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her in Silent Hill forever."

Hadida said: "Carrie has displayed her enormous talent across all genres – from The Matrix Trilogy to Memento – and we are delighted for her to join the world of Silent Hill. She will certainly bring a new level of excitement to fans of the videogame franchise."

Director Michael J. Bassett said: "Malcolm is quite simply an icon of modern cinema and I've been a fan since I was a teenager when I managed to see A Clockwork Orange. He has an amazing ability to bring new and unexpected dimensions to his characters and I know he will bring something unique and disturbing to Silent Hill."

Here's hoping this turns out well. I am a fan of both Mcdowell and Bean and I can't wait to see them together in this pic. I just hope it doesn't rely too much on the 3D element and forget to give some depth to the characters. There's nothing worse than seeing talent squandered in a mediocre production.

Darren Lynn Bousman - After directing Saw II-IV, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Mother's Day and 11-11-11, director Darren Lynn Bousman trying out the "thriller" genre selling an untitled pitch for a cerebral thriller to Andrew Adamson and Aron Warner's Strange Weather Films shingle that is said to be "quite violent." Bousman also plans to produce and direct the project, a thriller in the vein of The Parallax View and The Firm involving flash mobs.

"It's exciting getting more back into creating my own material," Bousman told BD. "This year I sold a monster script I wrote, '11-11-11,' and now this new project. I can't say a lot about it - it's not 'horror' per se - but more of a dark thriller."

He continues comparing it to classic conspiracy thrillers: "I love movies like 'The Game, ' 'The Firm,' 'The Star Chamber', etc - films that live in paranoia and conspiracy. I have always been fascinated in what 'evil' people and corporations are capable of..." Juicy!

I am actually quite a fan of Mr.Bousman as he delivers quality films consistently and never seems to take a break! This man just goes on and on and the horror genre needs more people like him.

Horror News - Mortal Kombat, Pride Prejudice and Zombies and a Musical!

2011-04-05T22:55:00.000-04:00

Can't get enough blood and guts? You've come to the right place! It is my pleasure to bring you the most interesting horror stories as soon as I track them down. Also, I'd like to thank all you regular readers, as my hits on this site have more than quadrupled. I cannot thank you enough. Anyhow, read on for the gory goodies!

Mortal Kombat - It's official: Tuesday, April 12, Machinima Live Stream is hosting a special "Mortal Kombat" event from 12pm-4pm. After the stream, they’ll host the world premiere of the very first episode of the "Mortal Kombat" web series!!

Based on the iconic gaming franchise, Jeri Ryan will step back into her role as the headstrong “Lieutenant Sonya Blade” from the unofficial fan short. She is joined by Michael Jai White as“Major Jackson ‘Jax’ Briggs” and Darren Shahlavi (300) as the sly and cunning “Kano.”

Kevin Tancharoen who directed and produced the popular, unofficial “Mortal Kombat: Rebirth” fan short that garnered over 10 million views worldwide, is bringing the same immersive directing style to this live-action digital new media series. Fans will be able to delve deep into the history of the warriors they know and love including “Sub-Zero” and “Scorpion.”

Pride, Prejudice and Zombies - It's recently been reported that Fright Night 3D director Craig Gillespie will soon be set as director of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, Lionsgate's adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel that "re-imagined" the Jane Austen classic with a heavy helping of flesh-eating walking corpses, reports Deadline. Gillespie has been a contender on the Lionsgate project for a while now.

The project mixes Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice," centering on Elizabeth Bennet's quest for love and independence amid the outbreak of a virus that turns the dead into zombies. The story's set in an alternate version of 19th Century England that features deadly ancestors roaming the country.

Not sure how I feel about this yet... All we've seen are some set photos from Fright Night, so I can't really make a fair judgment. I just hope he doesn't completely destroy this story. It could be worse though.... Stephen Sommers could be attahed...

Human Centipede: The Musical - A friend of mine told me that he found out about this earlier today over at Bloody Disgusting, so credit goes out to them for bringing this to our attention. Anyhow, it seems that a group of self proclaimed nerds decided that they wanted to turn Human Centipede into a musical, and now they've done just that! The event took place at Emerson College on March 21.

"This musical is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with IFC Films, Tom Six, or anyone else associated with the movie "The Human Centipede." We do not own any rights to the story, characters, ideas, or anything else associated with "The Human Centipede." We're just some nerds who wanted to make a musical," they write. The music and lyrics were written by Julia Mattison.

While I certainly wouldn't pay to see this it is indeed humorous and I do like to see that some horror fans are so passionate about their genre that they want to put their own spin on things. I just hope this doesn't give anyone in Hollywood any ideas... Human Centipede: The Musical in 3D anyone?

F.Y.I. There are seven parts to this, all available on Youtube. I didn't want to post all of them here and overload you guys, but if you're interested, they're available.

Horror News - Underworld 4, The Hunger Games and Odd Thomas

2011-04-04T18:00:00.000-04:00

Hello fiends! Welcome back and thanks again for checking out my review of Cinema Wasteland. A relatively slow day in horror news, but I managed to turn up a few stories of interest for you. Check 'em out below.

Underworld 4 - Production has begun in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the 4th installment in the Underworld franchise. Underworld 4: New Dawn i slensing in 3D, the first time for the series. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

India Eisley has joined the cast as"Eve," rumored to be Selene's daughter! Michael Ealy takes on the role of "Detective Sebastian". Sandrine Holt (Starship Troopers 2, Resident Evil: Apocalypse ) and Robert Lawrenson round out the cast.

Underworld 4, is set to hit theaters on January 20, 2012.

Hunger Games - Lionsgate has cast both Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth for roles in The Hunger Games, the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel. They will star alongside the Jennifer Lawrence, who will play "Katniss Everdeen".

Hutcherson will star as "Peeta Mellark". Hemsworth (Knowing, Triangle) stars as "Gale Hawthorne".

Gary Ross is directing the pic set in post-apocalyptic America, which introduces 16-year-old heroine Katniss Everdeen, who must participate in a fight-to-the-death annual event called the Hunger Games. The battles are televised, and pit youths from each of the Capitol’s 12 Districts against each other.Lionsgate will release on March 23, 2012.

Sounds to me a bit like Gamer or Death Race for a younger crowd. Here's hoping they go for a hard R rating.

Odd Thomas - Anton Yelchin (Terminator: Salvation, Fright Night) is already on board, and Priest star Lily Collins is being courted. Now the good folks over at Bloody Disgusting are being told that Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption , War of the Worlds) is also circling a role in Stephen Sommers' (The Mummy, Van Helsing, Deep Rising) adaptation of Dean Koontz's popular Odd Thomas.

"Odd Thomas is silently approached by the ghost of a young girl brutally raped and murdered, and through his unique ability to understand the dead, is psychically led to her killer, a former schoolmate named Harlo Landerson. With this opening, we are introduced to Odd's world. Koontz soon discloses how Odd was named and begins, layer by layer, to show how Odd's dysfunctional upbringing has shaped his life, and as those details are uncovered, his supernatural abilities begin to make more sense."

For me, Koontz has always been hit or miss and Sommers' track record is far from stellar. Consider me a skeptic until I see a trailer....

Cinema Wasteland Review!!

2011-04-03T21:45:00.002-04:00

Welcome back friends. Thanks for returning to check out the full review of Cinema Wasteland. As I teased earlier, there was a ton of stuff going on and plenty of stars to meet. This was my first time checking out Wasteland, so read on for the story.

I initially arrived at 3 p.m. and promptly met up with some friends who were in attendance for the weekend. We briefly stopped by their room for some refreshments of which there were plenty. Our next step was to the dealer room where I was thunderstruck by the sheer amount of merchandise for sale. There were plenty of booths with a variety of horror memorabilia.

The very first table that drew my attention was dedicated to various candles, incenses and soaps. Now, what really piqued my interest was the soaps. They were molded into a variety of likenesses including Michael Myers, Jason, Freddy Krueger, Frankenstein and many more. There were also some original ideas including a clear ball of soap with "razor blades" inside of it, and the most controversial, a clear ball of soap with a pink "fetus" inside paired with a coat hanger. This was so rare and shocking that one of my friends bought one!

Then there were plenty of booths selling dvd's, the best of which was run by 42nd Street Pete. It was at his stand that we found a plethora of Nazi Porn as well as my very own copy of The Church. This film is supposed to be terrifying and was recommended to me by a good friend and fellow horror enthusiast. Best part? It was only 5 freakin' dollars!

In addition, I got the opportunity to meet Joel Robinson who is not only an incredibly talented artist, but a very pleasant and funny individual. Even though his booth was packed consistently, he always made time to chat with fans of both the genre and his work. He had a plethora of his original takes of famous horror scenes and monsters. Of course, I had to pick one up. While it was hard to choose, I had to go with Pinhead. How often do you get to find a bad ass artistic rendering of The King Of Pain? I also plan on dropping a butt load of money on his website where he has even more pieces of his work. I already framed this one and hung it on the wall. If you love horror like I do, stop by his page and show some love! Have your credit card handy as I can guarantee you won't be able to leave without buying something.

Seriously, check out this man's work. His website is ArtPusher.net

Next, I was on to the screening rooms. They were showing Cannibal Holocaust, Cut and Run (Both by Ruggero Deodato) and Evil Dead amongst others. Directly across from the Evil Dead screening was a room featuring the works of master artist and F/X man Tom Sullivan! I actually got to meet the legend, shake his hand and discuss the business with him. He even recanted a funny story: Prior to settling on the name Evil Dead the film had several titles. All the guys on the film submitted suggestions and Sullivan's was "Lick The Blood Off My Shovel" which he signed on one of his original prints for me! The print is Sullivan's artwork for the then titled Book Of The Dead.

Next, I was on to the ridiculous amount of t-shirt vendors. There were so many to choose from that I simply couldn't decide, therefore, I didn't get a shirt. Had I, it wouldn't have been a shirt, it would have been a dozen shirts. I then found my way to another stand where an artist was selling original paintings inspired by various horror. While his selection wasn't as vast as Joel Robinson's, his work was still damn fine. He gave me a hell of a deal, so I took 3!

Also, I would like to mention that during my conversation with Tom Sullivan, I got to check out tons of props used in the Evil Dead trilogy. The man had a massive amount of memorabilia, which he was kind enough to let me photograph for you all. Those pics are below and yes, they are all original and were used in the films!

In addition to Mr. Sullivan, there were plenty of other genre celebs as well. The ladies of The Evil Dead were there doing signings, several key players from the original Night Of The Living Dead, Tom Atkins (who was in a personal fave of mine, Maniac Cop) Rugger Deodato and the cast of Cannibal Holocaust, and of course, the amazing Michael Berryman! Now, I didn't get to take pictures of these fine folks, as they were charging a decent chunk of change. I don't hold that against them, as people have to make a living. However, I couldn't drop the small fortune needed to get pictures with everyone. I did get to meet Michael Berryman outside of the dealer room and let me tell you, the man is amazing. He is incredibly kind and has a great sense of humor. And while I didn't get to see this first hand, apparently he enjoys playing beer pong with the guests of the convention!

Overall, this was a hell of a night. Great friends, great fans, tons of celebs and merch from the movies we all love! It was truly an evening to remember and I sure as hell won't forget it. I only wish you all could have been there as well, as it's really a horror fans wet dream. I recommend you all check it out if ever you get the chance.

Horror News - Cinema Wasteland Update!

2011-04-03T14:46:00.000-04:00

Hey there fiends! Welcome back! I just thought I'd give you all a little update before I embark on the big story. I attended Cinema Wasteland in Cleveland and man, what an excellent show. To give you a taste of what was in store for me: The ladies of the Evil Dead were present and signing autographs, Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust) was also there, the ever amazing Tom Atkins, genre fave Michael Berryman and Evil Dead F/X whiz Tom Sullivan amongst others.

In addition, there were screenings aplenty including Evil Dead and Cannibal Holocaust. Let me tell you, Cannibal Holocaust on the big screen = intimidating. In addition, I got some amazing merch and some really killer work prints and original artistic renditions of some classic horror scenes. I assure you guys that as soon as I get everything in order and uploaded I will be posting some real goodies from the show. Stay tuned for the update!

Horror News - Lords Of Salem, Piranha 3DD and Trick R Treat 2!!

2011-04-01T16:14:00.000-04:00

Welcome friends. Today has been a tough day for horror. Seeing as it's April 1, everyone decided to post false news stories and I got to spend the majority of my day sorting out the true from the false. These stories below are indeed true. Anyhow, read on for what I dug up for you

Trick 'R' Treat - While I don't have much for you, I did get something. Ever since the first trailer for Trick 'R' Treat was shown, it built a ton of hype. Then we had to wait for what seemed like ages, only to find that the schmucks over at WB decided to dump it to disc. Still, this didn't manage to detract from it too much as it caught on and became a success anyhow. Now comes word that Michael Dougherty posted on Twitter (well before April Fools btw) three simple words "Sam WILL return..." I sincerely hope this is true as I loved the first and can't wait for a second.

Piranha 3DD - Well, seems the Thailand story has been abandoned for a far more amusing and far fetched premise. I really liked the first Piranha as it was good, cheesy over the top fun. The sequel now seems to be continuing in the same vein.

"The piranha this time make their way into swimming pools, pipes, plumping and such at a newly opened waterpark named "Wilderness Waters"! The race is on to save the town from these flesh-eating creatures that are leaving a bloodbath in their wake."

In theaters November 23, Dimension Films is working on ensuring a "real" 3-dimensional experience.

Lords Of Salem - Well, Bloody Disgusting got their hands on some interesting info today. It's an expanded synopsis for the new Rob Zombie film. While it doesn't really reveal much we don't already know, it does expands the mythos a tiny bit.

"The story is about a local DJ who mistakenly unleashes a hellish curse on the town. 300 years earlier on the very streets of Salem that the townspeople walk on today, innocent folks were rounded up from their homes, convicted of being witches and sentenced to death. The Lords of Salem ran the town with an iron fist, but four witches who were tortured and killed in secrecy vowed that one day they would be back for revenge."

Shooting is set to begin in May in Massachusetts. Zombie has been vigorously scouting locations and has found some pretty damn creepy ones including a Gothic cemetery that I can't wait to see what he does with.

Horror News - Insidious, Total Recall, Spawn and Ninety Kills!!!!!

2011-03-31T15:23:00.000-04:00

Welcome back fellow horror junkies! Today started as a relatively slow news day for the horror community but things have warmed up. I've found some cool info on a new Spawn flick as well as some killer projects coming from Darren Bousman! Read on for the goodies!

Total Recall - Well, those of you who remember the original film which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a man who buys a literal dream vacation and ends up fighting a despot on Mars, may be interested in some new casting news. I recently reported that there were several female leads which had actresses such as Eva Green, Eva Mendes and Jessica Biel auditioning for the role. Now comes word that the villainous role of Richter (played brilliantly by Michael Ironside in the original) is close to going to none other than Bryan Cranston! (Breaking Bad) Cranston can indeed play menacing and psychotic and is electrifying to watch on screen, so I'm interested to see what he brings to the picture, which has Colin Farrell attached in the lead role originally played by Arnold. Check back for more info as it comes in. The movie is set to debut August 3, 2012.

Spawn - Todd McFarlane has been talking about a Spawn reboot for quite a while now. While nothing has really come of it other than endless rumors, McFarlane has recently made some... interesting comments to to My DVD Insider website. When asked for an update on the oft rumored project, here's what he had to say:

"I'm three quarters through it. I'll finish it and put it on a shelf for about a week. What usually happens is, I come back to it so I can see all the flaws. I do a rewrite and there's a first draft at that point."

Speaking on studio interest, McFarlane is set on his demands: he will only make it if he can write, produce, direct..

"[A few studios have phoned me to talk about the project] and when I walk into these pitch meetings, I go here's the story. I give them the broad strokes. Then I go, here's the non-negotiable part: I write, produce, direct. That's it," he states adding that it WILL be low budget, therefore he might as well be the "schmuck" who directs it.

Lastly, on the plot: "In this new version, there are no supervillains, archenemies or any of that. It's just a spook movie, something scary going bump in the night." While that last statement sounds suspect to me, he is promising a hard R rating, which Spawn truly deserves. What do you all think?

Ninety - Darren Lynn Bousman, the man behind Saw II - IV, Mother's Day, 11-11-11, has recently announced what his next project may be. I, personally am a big fan of Bousman and his forthcoming project sounds fucking amazing!

Ninety is described as "an insane 3D bloodbath that follows a serial killer as he sets out to kill ninety people in ninety minutes!" Here's what Bousman had to say:

"It's psychotic and it's crazy. I wanted to do a movie that's fun. 'Repo!' was fun, and I think that translated well into the movie. '11-11-11' and 'Mother's Day' are not fun movies. 'Ninety' is fun. It's 90 kills in 90 minutes. Done. Sold. Buy my ticket. We're talking unique kills, too; it's not like I just put ninety people in a room and dropped a bomb. The script is from Scott Milam, who also wrote 'Mother's Day.' It's a cross between 'Natural Born Killers,' 'True Romance,' and something a little more lighthearted."

Bousman continues, "When you're going to kill ninety people in a movie, after a while it could become monotonous. You'll feel like, "Okay, I've seen this. I'm done." To combat that, we're going out of our way to make our killer cool and badass, like Mickey and Mallory were in 'NBK.' You'll see the movie and just want to be the killer. Obviously we don't want anyone to ever emulate being a killer as obviously that's wrong, but we made sure our guy is just very likable. There's two times that you'll even want to high-five him."

Speaking on what's potentially next, Bousman explains: "I'll be shooting a little surprise between '11-11-11' and the next thing. I've also sold another horror film that I've written that we may fast-track and move quickly into. It's a monster movie. Another kind of exploratory thing that I'd like to do."

I think this sounds like an insane, awesome popcorn film which, with Bousman at the helm, will deliver on the red stuff. The man no doubt knows his gore and seems like a perfect fit for this film. I'd love to see this on the big screen as it reminds me of some of the over the top horror and action flicks of the 80's. What are your thoughts?

Insidious - While this isn't really "news" I found it promising. I've been looking into some of the buzz around Insidious, the new creation from Saw creator James Wan, and I've found one thing in common: all the feedback has been insanely positive! From what I've seen, critics and fans alike have been gushing over the film. While I generally could care less what critics think, this does pique my interest in the film. Critics are usually overly harsh on genre films, so to hear one is getting so much praise certainly elevates my hopes. I guess we'll all find out on April 8!

Horror News - You're Next, I Frankenstein and Red Lights!

2011-03-29T16:07:00.000-04:00

Well, the news continues to flow and I continue to bring the goodies. There are some really promising projects in the works and I hope you're all as excited as I am to get some original horror! Read on for the skinny folks.

You're Next - Bloody Disgusting broke some exclusive news earlier that 80's scream queen and horror icon Barbara Crampton ( Re-animator, From Beyond and Puppet Master) has taken a role in You're Next, which is said to be a fresh take on the home invasion sub-genre.

In addition, Snoot Entertainment announced the rest of the cast that includes Sharni Vinson (Bait), Nick Tucci (Undocumented, Choose), Wendy Glenn (11-11-11), AJ Bowen (House of the Devil, Hatchet II, The Signal), Ti West (director of The Innkeepers, House of the Devil, The Roost), Calvin Reeder (director of The Oregonian)

The Davison family comes under attack from a terrifying group of sadistic murderers during a family reunion getaway. Barricaded in their secluded vacation home, they fight off a barrage of axes, crossbows and machetes from both inside and outside the house. However, the masked killers didn't count on Erin (Vinson), the young girlfriend of the eldest Davison son whose mysterious past has made her very difficult to kill."

While the premise doesn't sound that "fresh" it'll be interesting to see this legendary 80's icon back in action!

Red Lights - Director Rodrigo Cortes (Buried) has been releasing some info on his upcoming project Red Lights as well as releasing a promo poster (Which I will valiantly try to track down for you.) I really liked Buried for what it was; a tense thriller that knew how to play off of human emotions and the simple fear of isolation and the unknown. His newest effort boasts a stellar cast comprised of Robert DeNiro, Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy!

Lights turns on a psychologist, played by Weaver, and her assistant whose study of paranormal activity leads them to investigate a world-renowned psychic (De Niro).

I, Frankenstein - Stuart Beattie, who wrote both 30 Days of Night and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, has signed on to I, Frankenstein as writer and director. This means that Patrick Tatopoulos (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Face/Off) is no longer attached.

I, Frankenstein' pictures a modern-day world where the classic literary monster stands between humans and a host of other supernatural creatures looking to rise up and take over." Grevioux co-created Underworld, also produced by Lakeshore, so at least he's familiar with the genre and subject matter.

Horror News - Suspiria redux, Glutton and TBK!

2011-03-29T15:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome back friends. Another interesting day for horror news, and as usual, I'm here to bring it to ya! We'll kick things off with news on the rumored remake of an Argento classic!

Suspiria - I should hope that you are all at least familiar with the title. One of Argento's best and most famous titles, Suspiria sees a ballet student arrive at a prestigious academy where she discovers that the teachers are actually a coven of witches.

While he was out making the rounds for Your Highness, David Gordon Green stated that his next project may in fact be the long gestating Argento remake. “I’m hopefully going to get into a horror film, [‘Suspiria’] next. That’s the goal. It’s an idea that came to me three years ago...That was an enlightening process. [Our ‘Suspiria’] doesn’t follow the trend of the traditional horror movies of late, so it’s a leap of faith, financially.” He also says that there won’t be many key differences, stating, “It’s actually very faithful. I’m gonna put my spin on it, but in terms of a pitch, it’s going to remain quite faithful to [the original].”

Also, there was a point in time when Natalie Portman was attached to star but opted out. Coincidentally, she went on to win the Oscar for playing a ballet dancer in Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. Green also stated that the cast will be primarily unknown actors. “I want an unknown cast...My version isn’t necessarily about ballet, it’s more of an all-girls boarding school... I don’t think it will have names.”

Green's promise of keeping in tone with the original and not changing much sounds promising to fans. However, we've heard this time and again and more often than not it's a bold faced lie. Only time will tell....

Glutton - David Arquette has signed on to direct the 3D thriller Glutton for Remember Dreaming Prods. He also helmed The Tripper which I reviewed on this site. Kenny Yakkel (Dead Air, which was hit and miss for me) wrote the script, which is described as being reminiscent of Misery.

Stan Spry and Cameron Larson are producing along with R. Scott Reid, Steve Ecclesine and Norween Yakkel, while Arquette will produce through his Coquette Prods. banner.

"David is the perfect person to direct "Glutton." He brings invaluable assets to the project including his visual style, creative flare, and ability to relate to the cast," said Spry.

TBK: The Toolbox Murders 2 - As i reported not so long ago, TBK is currently filming in Los Angeles and is the sequel to Tobe Hooper's Toolbox Murders. Now comes word that Mila Brener and Bruce Dern have joined the cast. Dern is "known" for his role in The Burbs and The Hole.

"Survivors Nell and Stephen continue their night of Hell as they're rushed to the nearby Hollywood Memorial hospital. Meanwhile, next-generation , tech-savvy CSI detectives Cole and Barnes coordinate with a hard-nosed, LAPD criminal profiler McGavin to exhume TBK's modern day tomb and uncover its origins, leading toward a shocking revelation involving old Hollywood's seedy underground and one doctor's secret past."

Horror Television News - Ghost Adventures Returns!

2011-03-28T23:29:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know, Ghost Adventures will make it's much anticipated return on April 8 on the Travel Channel. For those of you who have been living under a rock and aren't familiar with the show, I recommend you check it out.

While it seems that there has been a surplus of "Ghost Hunting" shows on the market, this one certainly rises above the din. Now, don't get me wrong, I happen to enjoy aspects of all the paranormal shows (Paranormal State, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Destination Truth.) I respect Ghost Hunters for paving the way for a lot of the other shows and I do enjoy the cast of that show.

The difference is: Ghost Adventures takes all the great elements from these different shows and incorporate into their own show. Now, while the show may not be for everyone, there are some things that just can't be denied. First off, Ghost Adventures truly has a plethora of locations and none of them seem repetitive or recycled. They also have the newest equipment in the paranormal market, which is a complaint many people have about the other shows out there. Perhaps the most important part, however is the comradery between the cast of the show. All three men (Zak, Nick and Aaron,) genuinely seem to be close friends and that comradery shows on screen, whether it be them screwing with one another, sending Aaron into the most undesirable locations or even having each other's backs.

Whatever your opinions are on the supernatural, this is a highly entertaining and addictive show. Even if you're a nonbeliever or a novice, this show is easily accessible and definitely stands out amongst it's peers. Remember folks, April 8, on Travel Channel. Be there!

Anticipated Horror Films Of 2011 Part 1!!

2011-03-28T21:01:00.000-04:00

Hey there my fellow horror fanatics! As you know, we genre fans are part of our own little niche. We also are constantly disappointed by many big name Hollywood horror productions both remakes and "original" ideas alike. I myself have recently delved back into the world of independent horror and classic horror (exploitation and cult classics included!) Below is my list of the horror films of 2011 that I'm most excited for. There are a few big budget films but I tried to stick to mostly independent features. Read on for the blood and guts and as usual, I appreciate your feedback and would love to hear what you're all looking forward to.

The Frankenstein Syndrome - A group of researchers conducting illegal stem cell research discover a cell anomaly that has the potential to regenerate dead tissue. Unable to conduct legal human trials, the researchers turn to corpses to test their serum.

While it doesn't look like anything revolutionary, it's at least an original spin on the classic tale. Also, Tiffany Shepis can't hurt, right? RIGHT!?

Hellraiser: Revelations - PINHEAD is back and in his chamber of soulless delights, he thought he had two willing participants in STEVEN and NICO. But Nico wants out and decides that a member of Steven's family will serve as proper barter. Terror ensues.

Now, I'm not sure what to think. I've heard some mixed reviews and the majority have been negative. However, I'm a fan of the franchise, even the weaker installments, so I'd like to check it out for myself. Plus, there's the inclusion of a 'pseudo-pinhead' which intrigues me!

11-11-11 - The 11:11 movement is centered on the emergence of that number in people’s lives that alerts them to angels or spirit guardians trying to communicate with them. Conspiracy theorists also point to the number 11′s involvement in historical events. 11 11 11 will take on the idea of 11 gates of Heaven and how on 11:11 on the 11th day of the 11th month, the 11th gate will open up and something from another world will enter the earthly realm for 49 minutes.

I'm actually a fan of Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Mother's Day) and I'm looking forward to his newest effort. In addition, the set pics and trailer look promising.

Insidious - The terrifying story of a family who shortly after moving discover that dark spirits have possessed their home and that their son has inexplicably fallen into a coma. Trying to escape the haunting and save their son, they move again only to discover that it was not their house that was haunted.

Again, I'm a fan of James Wan and Leigh Whannel. I enjoyed their Saw films and Death Sentence. While I wasn't fond of the awful Dead Silence, I do enjoy a good ghost story and Wan promises this is a return to their roots. Plus, the buzz it generated on the festival circuit and the trailer look pretty promising.

Bereavement - In 1989, six year old Martin Bristoll was kidnapped from his backyard swing in Minersville Pennsylvania. Graham Sutter, a psychotic recluse, kept Martin imprisoned on his derelict pig farm, forcing him to witness and participate in unspeakable horrors. Chosen at random, his victim's screams were drowned out by the rural countryside. For five years, Martin's whereabouts have remained a mystery, until 17 year old Allison Miller (Alexandra Daddario) comes to live with her Uncle, Jonathan (Michael Biehn). While exploring her new surroundings, Allison discovers things aren't quite right at the farmhouse down the road. Her curiosity disturbs a hornet's nest of evil and despair that once torn open, can never be closed.

I've actually been keeping my eye on this one for a while now and I'm eagerly awaiting it's release. You guys should really check this one out!

Mother's Day - After a bank robbery gone wrong, three brothers head for home, hoping their Mother (Rebecca De Mornay) can provide them with a getaway. The youngest brother, Johnny (Matt O'Leary), has been shot, and their back-stabbing former partner has gotten away with all the cash.

But when the brothers get home, they find that all their stuff is gone, and Mother is nowhere to be found: She lost the house months ago in a foreclosure. The new owners, Beth and Daniel Sohapi (Jaime King and Frank Grillo), and their guests, gathered for an ill-timed birthday party, become the brothers' unwitting hostages.

Not long after, Mother arrives, along with the boys' sister Lydia (Deborah Ann Woll), and it soon becomes clear that Mother will do absolutely anything to protect her children. In one terrifying evening she brilliantly takes control of the situation and masterminds her sons' escape from the law.

While I normally don't care for remakes, this one looks pretty damn good and the film could benefit from a modern day face lift. Plus, as I mentioned, Bousman is pretty damn solid in my opinion.

Rubber- Rubber is the story of Robert, an inanimate tire that has been abandoned in the desert, and suddenly and inexplicably comes to life. As Robert roams the bleak landscape, he discovers that he possesses terrifying telepathic powers that give him the ability to destroy anything he wishes without having to move. At first content to prey on small desert creatures and various discarded objects, his attention soon turns to humans, especially a beautiful and mysterious woman who crosses his path. Leaving a swath of destruction across the desert landscape, Robert becomes a chaotic force to be reckoned with, and truly a movie villain for the ages.

The sheer absurdity alone made me do a double take on this one. If ever there was a truly original (if crazy) idea, this is it. Plus, even if it sucks, when the hell will we see another movie about a killer tire?

Choose - The peace and tranquility of an idyllic, suburban city become suddenly broken. Behind the picket fence and manicured lawn, teenage Sara awakens startled as a rush of cold air gently pushes her bedroom door open. Across the hall her parent's bedroom door lies ajar. She calls for her parents but gets no response. She enters their bedroom and as her eyes adjust to the darkness she sees her parents on the bed hog-tied and gagged. Before she can react she is grabbed roughly by the hair and slammed against the wall. Do what I say or you die Scar Lip tells her.

He turns over an expertly crafted hourglass filled with blood and coolly instructs her, I'm going to kill your mother or your father. You have sixty seconds to decide which one. She begs and pleads with him, but all Scar Lip tells her is that if she doesn't choose then both parents die. And this is just the opening sequence of the chilling horror Choose.

This one can go either way, but considering the synopsis, I'll give it a chance. It sounds a bit like The Collector and the like, but at least it's not another reboot/remake/re-telling/re-pieceofshit....

Piranha 3DD - The sequel may revolve around a full moon party in Thailand-a huge event with 200,00 young people from all around the world taking mushrooms and partying on the beach.

I enjoyed the first film, as I knew what to expect going in. In addition, the Weinsteins promise top notch 3D and I hope to see Gianna Michaels back...

Hobo With A Shotgun - A homeless vigilante blows away crooked cops, pedophile Santas, and other scumbags with his trusty pump-action shotgun.

Again, mixed revies on this but I think the trailer alone makes it worth at least a watch. Plus there's the always entertainging Rutger Hauer.

Well, that's it for now folks. Keep in mind, it's still early in the year and I'll certainly be adding more as they come to me. Again, tell me what you're anticipating in the comments section.

Horror News - Fun Size, Plantation, and a Killer Horror Video Game!!!!!!!

2011-03-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

It seems I can't stay away from you guys! More horror news is coming in and, as usual, it's my pleasure to bring it to you. I'm also pleased to bring you some news on what sounds like a killer horror video game geared towards us fans!! Read on for the news my fellow gore lovers!

Fun Size - Paramount Pictures has offered Victoria Justice the lead role in Josh Schwartz's upcoming Halloween-themed comedy Fun Size, reports Variety. Justice is the star of the Nickelodeon show "Victorious." She beat out the likes of Chloe Moretz and Jane Levy for the role. Schwartz will direct and produce through his Fake Empire company along with Anonymous Content.

Max Werner penned the script, which "revolves around a teen who is forced to take her brother out trick-or-treating, loses him along the way, and must find him before their mother finds out."

This sounds like a mix of "Adventures In Babysitting" and "Trick 'R' Treat." I hope this ends up being more adult oriented and not a PG crap fest. While I'm not overly familiar with Justice, I can say that she certainly is easy on the eyes. Checking out her message boards, a lot of people (over the age of 21) actually say she can act. I guess time will tell.

Plantation-Highland Film Group site claims that both Liv Tyler (The Strangers) and Gary Oldman (Dracula, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) have expressed interest in starring. Adam Marcus is no longer directing. The film, originally titled I Walked With A Zombie, the film is being distributed for Twisted Pictures, the people behind the Saw franchise.

From a story by executive producer Andy Fickman, and a screenplay by Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan, "Besty, a young haunted school teacher, is running from her past. She accepts the generous offer from Mr. Theroux, agreeing to home school his children while living with them in their idyllic family plantation.Betsy quickly embraces the children and earns their trust, but questions the children's strange distant behavior. Soon she uncovers a dark family secret, and suspects that Mr. Theroux may have harmed his own children.Betsy must navigate through Voodoo mythology, ritual curses, and other security measures put in place by Mr.. Theroux to prevent his kids from leaving from leaving the isolated plantation. To rescue the children, she must risk her life in order to escape the supernatural evil that surrounds them all."

Horror Games In The Works!!! - The Weinstein Company has announced today a new initiative in the video game industry by launching TWC Games. The TWC Games label will utilize The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films’ properties, and work with external partners to develop and publish video games for mobile, social, and console platforms. Properties in The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films catalogue include Scream, Hellraiser, Halloween, Scary Movie and Children of the Corn, among many others.

Co-Chairman Bob Weinstein: "The video game marketplace is changing at such a rapid rate. With all of the digital platforms, there are so many opportunities to broaden our audience with compelling, high quality, cost-efficient, video game entertainment."

“The Weinstein Company is an incredible entertainment company, and I share their vision for creating very high quality content for the marketplace,” said Boyes (President of Beefy Media.) “We plan to combine our extensive video game developer relationships with the impressive catalogue of properties to create and produce content made by gamers for gamers.”

I have always thought a horror game which crosses over other characters would be amazing. Anyone else who's with me may want to check out Terrordrome-thegame.com and show some love for the passion project that they've been developing, for free I may add.

Horror News - Paranormal Activity 3, Blood Of The Innocent and Dimension Films!

2011-03-26T16:33:00.000-04:00

Well, it certainly seems to be a busy day for horror! Earlier I told you all about the Child's Play remake and Dark Shadows news, and now I've got some more news for you. Everything from Dimension Films date shifts to Breck Eisner's new film. Read on below for the 411.

Blood Of The Innocent - Inferno Entertainment has come aboard to finance Victorian era horror-thriller Blood of the Innocent, with Circle of Confusion producing. Breck Eisner (The Crazies) is attached to direct and Bill Marsilii (Deja Vu) is writing.The film is based on a four-issue comic book series pitting Dracula against Jack the Ripper and published by Warp in 1985. Marsilii has developed a pitch in which Jack the Ripper is saving the world by killing off Dracula's brides.

I think that this sounds like an incredibly fascinating concept and a nice little twist on Jack the Ripper. In an industry full of remakes/reboots and a lack of original ideas, this is a welcome change. Also, I really enjoyed what Eisner did with The Crazies and I think that if he sticks with the genre he will be a force to be reckoned with.

Paranormal Activity 3 - It was reported earlier that Paul Feig would be directing the third installment and that Roger Avary (Silent Hill, Pulp Fiction) would be writing the script. The folks over at Bloody Disgusting have now confirmed that this is indeed FALSE. All that is really known at this time is that the film will be release October 21, 2011 and that Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity 1) will be back to produce.

Personally, I am relieved. While the script for Pulp Fiction was no doubt amazing, I didn't much care for Silent Hill and I don't feel that Avary would have been a good fit for the already repetitive franchise. It's my humble opinion that they need someone who is capable of bringing some genuine, good old fashioned scares and Avary isn't that guy.

Dimension Films - I've always had some respect for Dimension Films. They clearly enjoy the genre as they tend to put out a decent number of horror films. While the quality isn't always great, at least there's a big studio out there still trying to cater to us genre fans. In addition, Dimension has 2 pretty hotly anticipated horror films this year, both of which have now had their release dates changed.

Dimension Films will be reworking Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego's found footage Apollo 18 for launch on January 6, 2012. April 22, 2011 was the original release date. For me, this doesn't bode well for the film. Delaying it at the last minute for an additional eight months can't be a good thing. Many fans have been awaiting this film and now it looks like you'll be waiting a good deal longer.

In addition, Piranha 3 Double D has yet to enter the casting phase, so the release date has been bumped to November 23, 2011, a few months later than the planned September date. The sequel to the Alex Aja-directed reboot will re team Feast director John Gulager with writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan.

I actually quite enjoyed the first Piranha, as I knew what to expect. I wasn't expecting anything Oscar worthy. I was simply interested in a good time, popcorn horror film, which for me is what I got. Piranha hearkened back to the horror films of the 80's and did it well. I, for one, am psyched for the sequel. I only hope we get more Gianna Michaels in 3D!!!

As usual, I welcome feedback and opinions. Drop me a line in the comment section!

Horror News - Childs Play and Dark Shadows!

2011-03-26T16:04:00.000-04:00

Welcome back friends! I'm pretty excited to bring you this story, as I feel that it's something that's needed to be done for a while now. Read on below for the info on the much delayed Child's Play remake and some news on the Johnny Depp starrer Dark Shadows.

Child's Play - Ever since 2007 there have been talks about rebooting the Child's Play franchise. This didn't go as planned since MGM owned the rights to the original and Universal owned the sequels. Now the two have come to an agreement, and it seems that everything has been worked out, as MGM is now moving forward with the reboot. The remake is penned by Don Mancini, who has scripted all the previous films. In addition, Brad Dourif is set to reprise his role as the voice behind the killer doll. It's also been announced that they plan to begin shooting this year! In addition, this version is supposed to be "darker in tone and less comedic" than the former installments.

"After having successfully mined the horror-comedy aspects of this concept over the course of 'Bride of Chucky' and 'Seed of Chucky,' the fans are really telling us that they want it to be scary again," Mancini previously said. "Doing the remake just provides us with a really good opportunity to [do that]."

I'm not normally a fan of remakes, as they tend to be unnecessary or completely bastardize the source material. It's a rarity that a reboot actually succeeds, though there have been a few. In this case, however, I feel that the inclusion of the original talent certainly lends some credibility to this production. Also, Dourif is a talented actor and I'm happy to hear he's still working in the genre.

Dark Shadows - I'm sure you horror fans have been hearing about this one for a while now. Tim Burton is set to direct the big screen adaptation of Dark Shadows, which was an incredibly popular gothic soap opera from the 60's. The show and film revolve around a lonesome Vampire named Barnabus Collins (soon to be played by Depp) and his exploits with various monsters, ghosts, and supernatural creatures. Penned by Seth Grahame-Smith, Warner Bros. Pictures hopes to have in theaters by 2012. (Many of you may know Grahame-Smith as the author behind "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Pride Prejudice and Zombies)

Now comes word that Oscar nominated actor Michael Sheen is circling the production. While it's unclear what role he will appear in, if Sheen accepts he will join a cast already comprised of Depp, Jackie Earl Haley, Eva Green, Bella Heathcote, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter. Sounds like a pretty stellar lineup to me!

Horror News - The Walking Dead season 2!

2011-03-23T16:25:00.000-04:00

Well, it seems that there may be some good news on the horizon folks. While I, along with many of you, enjoyed The Walking Dead, some complained that the writing was uneven. While I can understand these complaints, let's keep in mind that the creators only had a 6 episode arc to set up a pretty hefty story.

A while back it was announced that Frank Darabont had let the entire writing staff go and would basically subcontract the episodes to other writers. Many were worried by this, but after hearing some of the people Darabont has been having conversations with, my doubts were put to rest.

Just the other day, Stephen King announced that he had been approached to write an episode of the hit show. Now comes word that if King accepts, he'll be joined by horror novelist Joe Hill. For those of you who don't know, Hill is King's son! I have personally read all of Hill's works, and let me tell you, the man is pretty damn talented. (I recommend that you check out 20th Century Ghosts and Heart Shaped Box) Again, a lot of people are skeptical, saying that Kings work in recent years has been lackluster, but I would like to remind everyone that when King works with Darabont, good things come to fruition. Any doubters should check out The Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile and The Mist. All were penned by King and adapted by Darabont.

Given these men's track record together, plus the addition of Hill who is quickly making a name for himself in the horror community, I think we're all in for a real treat. I'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment in the comment section and give me your feedback! Who would you like to see collaborate on The Walking Dead? I personally would enjoy Clive Barker in addition to King. That would make for some twisted television!

Horror News - Resident Evil 5, 11-11-11, and SyFy channel originals!

2011-03-22T21:57:00.000-04:00

Resident Evil 5
Fans of zombies and kick ass women rejoice! It has been announced that Resident Evil 5 will come to fruition! Originally it was rumored that the franchise would be rebooted and titled Resident Evil Begins. However, Sienna Guillory, who played Jill Valentine in the other films has debunked this on her Twitter account. Here's what she had to say:

"RE:5 alert! Training begins! I aim to mostly put less in the big hole on the front of my face than comes out of the little one on my arse." There's no word on a director or whether Milla Jovovich will return as Alice. Regardless, the studio has set a release date of September 14, 2012. And again, the film will be released in 3D. Shocker, right?

11-11-11
Darren Lynn Bousman, the man behind Saw II-IV has been hard at work lately. After leaving the Saw franchise, he directed Repo! The Genetic Opera, as well as the upcoming 11-11-11 and Mother's Day. A new trailer has been release which features some pretty interesting footage. Many people are comparing the film to Knowing and Number 23, but I think it actually sounds pretty damn intriguing. In my opinion, Bousman gave us one of the best Saw installments, and I thoroughly enjoyed Repo, so I'm interested in seeing what he has in store for us.

"After the tragic death of his wife and child, famed American author Joseph Crone travels from the United States to Barcelona, Spain to reunite with his enstranged brother Samuel and dying father, Richard. However, fate has a different plan for Joseph as his life becomes plagued with strange happenings, and the constant sightings of the number 11. Curiosity quickly turns to obsession, and Joseph soon realizes that this number holds a horrific meaning not only to himself but possibly to all of religion. Isolated in a foreign country with only the support of his companion, Sadie, Joseph soon realizes that 11/11/11 is more than just a date, it's a WARNING!"

Correction Folks. There has been some trouble with the new trailer, which has been temporarily removed off of all websites, including youtube. As soon as it's available, I'll post it for you. In the meantime, here's the original teaser for you.

SyFy Channel
The SyFy channel has had some luck with it's original programming lately. Several other stations have begun work on horror/supernatural related shows so SyFy must have figured it was time to up their game. They have recently announced that they will add 3 more shows to it's slate. These shows will be joining Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Face/Off, Fact or Faked and Destination Truth. Read on for the details:

"Haunted Collector," a working title, centers on a family of renowned paranormal investigators who spend its time tracking down haunted items. The family then houses its collections -- think guns, jewelry, paintings and dolls -- in its museum. The series is from Gurney Prods.' Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney.

"Paranormal Witness," a drama-documentary series that will bring to life the stories of people who claim to have lived through paranormal experiences. Episodes will feature a mixture of first-hand testimony and gritty drama. Set to premiere in September.

Horror News - Hatchet 3, Silent Hill 2 and Total Recall

2011-03-22T21:39:00.000-04:00

Hey there all you readers. It's been a while since I posted, but there wasn't a whole lot of horror news going on anyhow. This week, however, is shaping up to look a hell of a lot better. Read on for the blood and guts!

Hatchet 3 This is the news I've been most excited to bring you. I am a huge fan of all of Adam Green's work, so naturally I was pretty excited to hear that Hatchet 3 has officially been Greenlit! Hatchet 2 has been wracking up some pretty impressive numbers on DVD and due to this success Dark Sky Films has decided to move ahead with the threequel. For those of you not familiar, Dark Sky has also produced such films as The House of the Devil, Hatchet 2, Bitter Feast, Stake Land as well as the newly announced Frankenstein’s Army. Not many details have been released yet as casting and production details will be announced shortly. I should mention that it has been speculated that Green may not return to direct, although he would still be involved in some capacity. Below is what is known, as well as some words from Adam Green and the producer:

Adam Green said: "We already had a possible story-line for HATCHET 3 worked out before we began shooting HATCHET 2, so my cast, crew and I are beyond excited to see that the story and legacy of Victor Crowley will indeed continue. For a little indie movie that I dreamt up when I was just eight years old, it has been absolutely surreal to watch it turn into a modern-day slasher franchise."

Greg Newman, Executive Vice President of Dark Sky Films, said: "It has been our intention from the beginning to make the HATCHET story an episodic one. Adam Green created a horror icon in Victor Crowley, and we’re pleased that Crowley will live on in future installments of the franchise."

Silent Hill: Revelation
It has recently been announced that Silent Hill: Revelation, the sequel to the original video game adaptation, has begun production. It's currently being lensed in Ontario, Canada by Soloman Kane director Michael Bassett. The new film will be released in 3D, which I'm still iffy about. The synopsis is as follows:

"For years, Heather Mason and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand. Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by terrifying nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she's not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her in Silent Hill forever."

I should also mention that Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington, Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, and Deborah Kara Unger all star! Personally, I'm excited to see Sean Bean's name attached, as I think the man is incredibly talented and criminally underrated.

Total Recall
I'm sure you've all heard by now that the powers that be are currently working on a reboot of Total Recall. The original starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and was based on a Philip K. Dick story. The reboot has Colin Farrell in the lead role. There was also talk of the remake not taking place on Mars, which was sort of an essential part of the originals story! Anyhow, it has been reported that there have been quite a few attractive ladies auditioning for roles in the film.

The role of Lori, originally played by Sharon Stone, will be tested for by the likes of Kate Bosworth and Diane Kruger. The role of Melina, (The badass played wonderfully by Rachel Ticotin in the original) is being circled by Eva Mendes, Paula Patton, Eva Green and Jessica Biel. Apparently Mendes is also in contention for the previously mentioned role of Lori.

The remake is slated for an August 3, 2012 release. Here's hoping this one turns out good. I'm not a fan or remakes, however some of the talent involved does indeed sound promising. The original, based on the Philip K. Dick story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," follows a man haunted by a recurring dream of journeying to Mars who buys a literal dream vacation from a company called Rekall Inc., which sells implanted memories. The man comes to believe he is a secret agent and ends up on a Martian colony, where he fights to overthrow a despotic ruler controlling the production of air.

Horror News - Scream 4, Scream 5 and Atrocious and Sint!!!

2011-03-16T15:49:00.000-04:00

Well, here's a little bit of news for you guys. For me, I'm not overly enthused but I'd love to hear what you think.

Scream 4: A slew of Scream 4 images have arrived online, and they are interesting, to say the least. After getting the much coveted R rating, it was promised that Scream 4 would be bloodier and more brutal than any of the previous entries. If these pics are an indication, they just might be right! The film opens on April 15th, so suit up now!

"Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courtney Cox), who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and her Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). Unfortunately Sidney’s appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger."

Scream 5: I reported the other day that Wes Craven expressed interest in returning to helm the rest of a new Scream trilogy. This might be a reality sooner than we thought if the below is true. STYD has reported that Dimension Films is looking for a writer to pen the script for Scream 5, though the fourth film isn't due out for almost another month! This certainly lends some credibility to the rumors of a whole new trilogy. In addition, I told you all about Ehren Kruger re-writing Kevin Williamson's Scream 4 script, but now it appears that neither one of them will be back for Scream 5. In my opinion, this does not bode well......

Atrocious: As some of you may have heard, Atrocious has been gaining some major buzz these days. It's a Spanish language found footage film that premiered at Slamdance. It has since been hailed as "The next Paranormal Activity." (oh goody) Now comes word that producers Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity) and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Insidious) were so taken with the film that they have acquired rights to the U.S. remake. Way to jump on the bandwagon guys! It certainly appears that Blum is going to milk the "found footage" technique for all its worth.

Premise is as follows: In April of 2010, Spanish police reported the discovery of 37 hours of recorded evidence that shed new light on a gruesome murder investigation. The found footage documents a family of five spending a holiday at their summer house, where brother-and-sister Cristian and July Quintanilla pass the time investigating a terrifying local urban legend. As their investigation intensifies strange occurrences in and around the house escalate rapidly, before culminating in unspeakable atrocities.

Sint (Saint): This film has been under the radar for a lot of people. I, personally, am very excited. This film is from the Netherlands and brings us one bad ass Santa Claus slasher! The first ever still and trailer are below. For true horror fans who are longing for something different, keep your eye on this one!

Premise: "An original and delightfully gruesome slasher film, Saint reimagines jolly old Saint Nick as a murderous bishop fulfilling a grisly prophecy under the December 5 full moon. Full of creative yuletide horror, Saint is a fun chiller that follows local teen Frank as he sets out on a bloody, high-energy battle to save Amsterdam from the wrathful “Sinterklaas” and his minions."

Horror News - Michelle Rodriguez checks into The Home.

2011-03-14T17:56:00.000-04:00

It's recently been reported that Michelle Rodriguez will be joining the cast of Aaron Morgan's horror thriller The Home. When she asked about this rumor, Rodriguez replied: "More likely than not, I'll be doing that this summer over here. They're getting production set up now."

This means that Rodriguez will be joining a cast already comprised of Brian Cox, Louis Gossett Jr, Louise Fletcher, Ed Asner, and Cloris Leachman! sounds like an interesting ensemble to me!

The premise is as follows: " 'The Home' unfolds after a young man is nearly killed during a horrible accident that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. To recuperate, he is taken to a secluded nursing home where the elderly residents appear to be suffering from delusions. But after witnessing a violent attack, he soon realizes that the screams behind the walls are caused by more than hallucinations, and the residents are being preyed upon by twisted, monstrous nightmares that lurk within the home itself."

Horror News - Wes Craven/Scream Series

2011-03-14T17:48:00.000-04:00

While Scream 4 was being developed, there were many rumors that Ehren Kruger was brought in to rewrite the script originally penned by Kevin Williamson. Up until now, no one really commented on these rumors, however, Wes Craven cleared some things up. Here's what he had to say to Total Film magazine:

Wes Craven had stated via Twitter that he was no longer in control of the script. "I was just stating a fact. In some ways, it's a Wes Craven Film and in other ways it's not entirely, because it's not a script I have control of. It's ultimately controlled by what the studio wants in the script. My job is bringing whatever expertise and experience and creativity I can. Look, there was a bumpy period when things shifted over from Kevin to Ehren. I signed up to do a script by Kevin and unfortunately that didn't go all the way through shooting. But it certainly is Kevin's script and concept and ideas and themes."

In addition, Craven was then asked about the potential of another Scream franchise, to which he replied:
"When I initially met with Kevin, he sketched out what the next two would be and I found it really fascinating. A lot depends on whether they come up with scripts to flesh it out. But certainly, I'm up for it if the script is there. It's a fascinating thing to do two trilogies in a career."

So, it looks like there were indeed rewrites done to Williamson's script, which leaves me skeptical. We saw what happened the last time that he didn't do the script. Scream 3 was easily the weakest in the series. Here's hoping that they don't fuck this one up! In addition, it looks like Craven's on board for more Scream movies, which I suppose is better than a sequel to My Soul To Take. What do you guys think?

More Horror News - A Serbian Film, Red Riding Hood, Battle Los Angeles!

2011-03-11T15:28:00.000-05:00

A Serbian Film: Invincible Pictures has announced a theatrical release date for A Serbian Film. On Friday, May 13, an edited version of A Serbian Film will be released to select theaters throughout North America. An unrated version of the film will be released exclusively on FlixFling.com the same day.

“This is a excellent opportunity for FlixFling to offer something totally exclusive to our growing community,” said Tom Ashley, CEO. “It was always our intention to release this film uncut, but given the recent charges against Sitges Film Festival director Angel Sala, we have decided to release an edited version of the film. We believe this film deserves to be seen as the filmmakers originally intended and hope to be able to release 'A Serbian Film' uncut in the future.”

I find this to be a shame. While the film is violent and does depict some horrific acts, it's a shame that a director can't have his vision shared the way it was intended. After all, no one was actually harmed making this film. It's only a movie! I personally found this to be a very important film as it has a message about the depths of depravity that people will go to simply for gratification. You can read my review here on this site. Also, I didn't find it to be nearly as bad as people have made it out to be. It is disturbing, there's no doubt. Indeed, some scenes are stomach churning, but it's not the worst thing I've seen. I've seen worse gore in the Saw films. It's this writer's opinion that the MPAA needs to be disbanded or at least severely overhauled.....

Red Riding Hood: I've been hearing a lot of reviews for this film and the vast majority have been negative. To quote you some of what I've read. "This film has no charm and completely desecrates the mythology of the original." Ouch! Another reviewer made the spot on assessment "This film is a watered down version geared towards the Twilight audience. The performances fall flat and Gary Oldman's participation is puzzling."

In all honesty, none of this comes as a surprise to me. While I have yet to see the film, I could have called this a mile away. When I first heard about this I was excited. Then I heard the cast, director and the fact that it was supposed to be "more accessible." For me, that was the nail in the coffin. And, just FYI, these were the more polite comments I've heard...

Battle Los Angeles: In addition to Red Riding Hood, I've been hearing a ton of reviews for the Aaron Eckhart vehicle. The general consensus is that this film tends to ignore much of the horror and suspense and focus more on making this a mindless action film. Several other reviews have stated that this falls flat on all fronts. To be honest, I'm a bit shocked considering the hype that this film had prior to it's release. I feel that much of the problem was due to the fact that the trailer made this out to be a hardcore alien invasion/horror film and it abandons that in favor of a shoot em up type film.

As usual, I would love to hear back from you all with your thoughts and/or personal reviews of the above films. Let me know what you think! Did these films disappoint you or were you blown away?

Horror News - The Wolfman, Robocop, Insidious, Trent Reznor and more!

2011-03-11T15:06:00.000-05:00

Well, some interesting news today folks. Some good, some not so good. Here's the latest info for you to sink your teeth into:

The Wolfman: It's been announced that Universal Pictures is planning a reboot of the Wolfman franchise yet again. The previous film was released just a year ago and took home an Oscar for best makeup. While most reviews were disappointing and I personally found the film to be rather tedious and dull, apparently Universal plans on milking this one 'til it's dry. The rumor is that the company will release the film straight to DVD in hopes of starting a franchise like they've done with the Death Race films. Again, this is still a rumor, as their plan hasn't been confirmed yet. It has been stated though that it will still be a period piece. Here's hoping this one is a worthy successor to the 1941 classic.

Robocop: It's been reported that MGM has asked Josh Zetumer (Dune, The Infiltrator) to pen the reboot of its RoboCop franchise. While many people aren't familiar with his work yet, he has become a bit of a hot commodity in Hollywood. His script for The Infiltrator made the Hollywood blacklist and has Leonardo Dicaprio attached to star. He also wrote the screenplay for the fourth Bourne film.

The studio also signed Brazilian director Jose Padilha last week to direct Robocop. Oscar nominee Darren Aronofsky was previously attached to the project for quite a while. Here's hoping Padilha can fill his shoes!

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: It's been announced today that Trent Reznor has now dropped out of ALVH. He was set to score the film and appear as the vampire who kills Lincoln's mother, but has now backed out of the picture. His comment is as follows:

"Don't believe everything you read. As it turns out, I WON'T be working on (acting or scoring) ALVH after all. There's no juicy story here, it's just that when the news mysteriously leaked out about my involvement I hadn't made up my mind completely, because various aspects of the project were changing. I felt the need to say something earlier this week because my inbox was filling up with speculation, and at that moment I thought I would be doing it. Bottom line, I wish them the best with the film and I'm sure it will still be great," he added.

On a side note, "Year Zero" is still in the writing phase: "Also, in all the excitement of the last note I forgot to mention we're still fully engaged with the "Year Zero" mini-series, writing away."

Insidious: This film, from co-creator James Wan (Saw) has been garnering a lot of buzz. It has received positive feedback from those lucky enough to catch the screening and I, for one, am hotly anticipating this one. The premise is as follows: "Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) make the terrifying discovery that the body of their comatose boy has become a magnet for malevolent entities, while his consciousness lies trapped in the dark and insidious realm known as The Further."

Bloody Disgusting, one of the greatest horror sites around, just obtained a slew of images, including a shot of the demon character. It is indeed pretty bad-ass! Check it out!! Again, they did all the work on this one, I'm simply sharing it with you. I've also linked their page for the story below.

Bloody Disgusting's coverage of Insidious.

A Serbian Film - review

2011-03-09T19:00:00.000-05:00

I just received a copy of this film in it's unrated,original format. It has yet to be released in North America and it's speculated that it won't be released uncut in the States due to it's subject matter. This is a tough film to review, but here goes.

The premise is as follows: An aging porn star agrees to participate in an "art film" in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia themed snuff film. Now, onto the hard part.

This film has been quite controversial for it's unflinching projection of brutality and sexual images. Now, I found the film to be very competently made. The film visually is very good. It's easy to soak in the atmosphere and one really does feel the tension, suspense and dread the film builds up. In addition, the degradation and desperation come through in spades. In addition, there is a twist near the end, coupled with another twist in the very last scene. I won't spoil it, but you will be shocked!

Performance-wise this film is terrific. Srdjan Todorovic stars as Milos, the "retired" porn star, and he nails his role. He is at first likable and later deplorable. He plays his part well and one really feels the confusion and horror he is put through. In addition, it's easy to feel his pain and self hatred for what he has become and what he has taken part in. Sergej Trifunovic plays Vukmir, the man who hires Milos to star in the film. He too is really believable as the villain. While he is the antagonist, he makes us believe that he really believes whole heartedly in what he does. The rest of the cast handles their roles efficiently as well.

Now, the effects. There is plenty of blood and gore and plenty of sex and nudity as well. From this point on, here there be SPOILERS of sorts. The gore and bloodshed is incredibly realistic. There is one scene in which Milos is drugged into sleeping with a woman and while doing so he decapitates her with a machete (while still pounding away at her, mind you) This could have easily come off as silly and cheesy, but not the case. It truly does look like a snuff film and can get hard to watch at times.

All the effects are "well done" if you can call it that, considering the subject matter. Without going too much into it, there is a woman who is molested via lead pipe, several gunshot victims, neck breaking, death by skull fucking (I kid you not!) and the now infamous "newborn porn" scene. This scene is as realistic as it can get and it really is hard to watch. While not much is shown in this scene, the implication is efficient enough to make me wish I hadn't seen it. In addition, the sex and rape scenes are as realistic as I've seen. I'll take the rape scene in Last House On The Left or I Spit On Your Grave any day. This is truly like watching torture in this film.

Now, Srdjan Spasojevic (the director) has stated that this film is an allegory for the way the Serbian Government treats it people. Now, I've never been to Serbia so I can't really speak on this issue. I can say that it does effectively (and depressingly) shows the depravity of the entire human race. It also shows the despicable depths that some people will go to simply for satisfaction. The truly horrific thing is that there are people out there capable of such atrocious acts.

This film does indeed go over the top into some really touchy territory. The depiction of pedophilia and necrophilia is stomach turning and at times downright sickening. It's not so much the in your face gore as much as the fact that it makes one wonder if such sick people really exist. However, I feel that this was the films point. Many people say that this film is shock for shocks sake. I don't see it that way, but it is indeed hard to watch at times.

Overall, a good film if you can call it that. It's competently made, the acting is great and it certainly will cause much debate. In addition, it does have a message, if you can look past the torture and porn. Now, be warned, this film is not for everyone. If you have a weak stomach, skip it. If you even think you might be offended by the description, go with your gut on this one. Remember, some things you can't unsee no matter how much you try.

Highlight Scene: The freak out at the end in which Milos massacres a grouip of henchmen is emotional and gory. The way he dispatches with one man, using his penis as a weapon is....inventive to say the least. Also, one can really feel Milos' sanity slipping away from him.

Horror News - Toolbox Murders, Doom, and more!!

2011-03-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

It's recently been reported that shooting has begun on TBK: The Toolbox Murders 2. This will be a sequel to Tobe Hooper's 2003 remake. It's being helmed by Dean Jones, NOT Hooper. It will star Brian Krause, Ethan Phillips and genre fave Lance Henriksen. The premise is as follows:

"Picking up directly after the events Tobe Hooper's 2003 version of 'The Toolbox Murders'; 'TBK' intensifies the terrifying exploration into one of Hollywood's most twisted and morbid serial killers in the annals of American history.

Survivors Nell and Stephen continue their night of Hell as they're rushed to the nearby Hollywood Memorial hospital. Meanwhile, next-generation , tech-savvy CSI detectives Cole and Barnes coordinate with a hard-nosed, LAPD criminal profiler McGavin to exhume TBK's modern day tomb and uncover its origins, leading toward a shocking revelation involving old Hollywood's seedy underground and one doctor's secret past."

In addition, it's been announced that there is a reboot of Doom in the works. The downside is that what inspired this was the success of Paramount's G.I.Joe movie. Hope this doesn't mean we're in for some watered down PG-13 crap. The film will also be released in 3D. Shocking, right?

Lastly, I just saw that Scream has now become the subject of a porn parody! The title is Scream XXX: A Porn Parody. While this isn't exactly horror related, I found it amusing and thought you might get a kick out of it as well. Hell, it can't be any worse than the third movie of the series!!

Horror News - The Walking Dead and Charlie Sheen!!!

2011-03-06T19:32:00.000-05:00

Well, as many of you may recall, this past December there was talk about Charlie Sheen joining the hit show The Walking Dead. This was quickly revealed as a rumor and nothing more. Now comes word that Robert Kirkman (the writer of the graphic novel and producer of the show) has spoken to the Hollywood Reporter stating his overwhelming desire to get Sheen for the show. Below is his conversation with the Hollywood Reporter:

"Charlie call us, we we will totally make that happen. We'll do whatever you want."

While the initial rumor stated that Sheen would play a member of the zombie horde, who know what facet he may now appear in. He has had a lot of publicity lately and garnered tons of followers on Twitter, as well as bringing in some impressive numbers on Two And A Half Men. Kirkman went on to joke:

"We'll recast YOU as Rick. Andrew Lincoln will find something else to do." "He can direct an episode," says Kirkman. "Actually (Sheen) could play a car for all I care. He's awesome."

While Sheen has been under fire lately, his supporters are still plentiful. In addition, no one can deny the success of his long running show. Also, the man is a good actor. While he has done his share of questionable projects, who in Hollywood hasn't? Maybe he can prove his mettle on the show. What do you all think?

Horror News- Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter update

2011-03-03T18:25:00.000-05:00

With the cast rounding out, it has just been reported that Trent Reznor has signed on to score the film. He recently won the Oscar for his work scoring The Social Network and has chosen this as his next project. In addition, Reznor will also appear in the film as the vampire that kills honest Abe's mother. As of now this is still potentially a rumor but Reznor hasn't denied his involvement. More news as it comes in folks.

More Horror News - Rob Zombie and Nick Palumbo

2011-02-28T19:55:00.000-05:00

In some more horror news, its been announced that Rob Zombies new film The Lords Of Salem will begin filming in Spring of this year. Alliance Films have partnered with Haunted Movies (including Paranormal Activity creator Oren Peli) to distribute several films including James Wan's Insidious and Rob Zombie's The Lords Of Salem.

With filming scheduled to begin spring 2011, Rob Zombie will write and direct THE LORDS OF SALEM. The thriller is set in contemporary Salem, where the inhabitants receive a demonic visit from a 300-year old coven of witches. Zombie’s producing partner Andy Gould will produce alongside Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Steven Schneider. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Automatik and the Alliance / IM Global joint venture are executive producers on both films.

In addition, Nick Palumbo, the man behind Murder, Set, Pieces is gearing up for his next film entitled The Last Gas Station. The film will be set in San Francisco and is described as noir in tone. The synopsis is as follows:

“RT”, unable to cope with his haunted past, lives as a lonely short-order cook by day and a rouge drag racer by night. A fateful encounter allows him to save the life of “Midnight”, a mysterious young woman that lives by her cunning, street smarts...and remarkable beauty. Playing an ominous game of life and death with multiple people, she approaches the deplorable anti-hero “RT”, in a seemingly desperate romantic nature. She offers him a rare opportunity to escape to a new life and redemption – or does she? The truth lies in a ghastly odyssey of madness and murder.

It's certainly nice to see Zombie get back to doing original material. I actually enjoyed his Halloween redux but no one can dispute the fact that the man does do a damn fine job with his own material. Also, it'll be interesting to see what Palumbo comes up with for this film. It seems that he may be getting away from excessive gore and focusing on creating an in depth story here. Here's hoping we see something new and exciting for the horror genre.

Horror News - Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter

2011-02-28T19:44:00.000-05:00

In some other news, Jimmi Simpson has joined the cast of the flick that sees our former president take on the undead. While I normally wouldn't report on this as it's been covered already, I am a fan of Jimmi Simpson. Many of you may know him from his appearances in the film Date Night, the television show Psych and my personal favorite: Ryan McPoyle from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. I'm assuming he'll be bringing his distinct style of humor to the role.

Horror News - Tobe Hooper and Ruggero Deodato!!

2011-02-28T18:14:00.000-05:00

Here's a little fun news for you guys. I found out about this and had to fill you all in. True horror fans should be excited!

Ruggero Deodato, the man behind films such as House on the Edge of the Park and Cannibal Holocaust, is re-teaming with House star Giovanni Lambardo Radice (Ricky) to develop a sequel to House at the Edge of the Park! The original was released in 1980, so over thirty years later the two are back together. No word on what the story entails yet, however it is being written by Andrew Jones based on a story by Deodato and Radice. Here's hoping we see this one get off the ground! Remember, this is the man who's been promising us a Cannibal Holocaust sequel for decades.

Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist, Texas Chainsaw, The Mangler, Toolbox Murders) is now confirmed as the director of the new Djinn horror film. It's being described as an "Arabian haunted house thriller" that will begin shooting int he United Arab Emirates in March. The premise is described as follows: "It tells the story of a young Emirati couple who return home from the U.S. and discover that their new apartment in a luxury high-rise built on the site of an abandoned fishing village is also home to malevolent beings known as Djinn."
Fingers crossed everyone, as Hooper has been a little uneven lately.

I'll bring you guys more details as I find them. And, as usual, I check all my stories before I report them here. This has been confirmed several other places as well as bloodydisgusting.com who are always reliable.

Intruder review

2011-02-28T17:21:00.001-05:00

I found this film at my local video store on clearance for two bucks! What was the real selling point was the fact that Bruce Campbell was credited on the front cover. Now, this is a bit of an over exaggeration as he only appears in a blink and you'll miss it cameo. However, this is a good film that's worth checking out.

The premise is simple. A group of employees are working at their local grocery store and the manager informs them that the store will be sold and they will unfortunately all be out of jobs. After a visit from a characters creepy ex boyfriend, the employees are tormented by an intruder upon closing the store.

This movie does create a nice whodunit vibe and even channels My Bloody Valentine in terms of suspense in a confined environment. The fact that the killer isn't revealed until almost the end of the film is refreshing, seeing as so many "slasher" films let you know who the villain is right off the rip. In addition, the big reveal, which easily could have been hammy and schlocky Ala Scooby Doo, is executed well here. The explanation also makes sense, at least as much as a B-movie horror film will allow. Also, the fact that this takes place within the realm of reality does make one wonder about if this could happen to any of us.

The performances are pretty typical here. Nothing award worthy but there isn't really a bad performance throughout. Ted Raimi appears as one of the stores stock boys and he's quite amusing in his role. While he plays his typical role of the oddball, it adds a nice amount of awkward geeky humor. Big brother Sam Raimi also cameos with Bruce Campbell in a scene that I can't really reveal without giving anything away. Sufficient to say, the film could have easily gone on without them, but their appearances are welcome.

Also, there are some really great kill scenes. I won't reveal who dies in what way but there is a death involving a trash compactor, one involving a table saw and a persons head, death by meat hook and more. In addition, the camera angles employed here are reminiscent of Argento, particularly the reflection of one character in a knife before being struck down. There's also some really interesting POV angles as well that provide a nice little change of pace.

Overall, this is a good movie, especially for the bargain price I paid for it. It's a welcome change of pace from the typical fare from the genre and it really reminds us of how great B-movies or cult films can be. I wish more films today could capture the same vibe that a lot of these films had, as they didn't take themselves too seriously but still knew how to deliver a good time! Do yourselves a favor and check this movie out. Us horror fans have a duty to keep these movies alive, lest we get more studio remakes and PG-13 crap (Sorority Row anyone?)

Highlight Scene: The scene where the "intruder" first starts to stalk the employees does build some nice tension and it makes us think what we would do in this situation.

Maniac Cop review

2011-02-28T17:00:00.001-05:00

The other night I was conversing with a friend of mine about the rumored release of Maniac Cop 2! All this talk refueled my desire to re-watch the original that started it all. This film has sadly been overlooked or forgotten by many, which is truly a shame. It's a great film in true "B-movie" tradition.

The premise of the film is this: A man in a cop uniform starts killing people in the streets of New York. A local cop named Jack Forrest is the prime suspect and he and his girlfriend set out to find the real killer and clear Forrest's name. While this may sound like a plot a crime drama, it is indeed a horror/thriller film. In addition, director William Lustig clearly knew his target audience and geared this film directly at them. It's apparent that this is a campy B-movie and instead of taking himself too seriously, he embraces this and weaves an entertaining movie that's well worth the watch.

The performances are what you would expect from a film like this. Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead and Burn Notice fame stars as Jack Forrest, our framed hero. His performance is spot on and quite subdued compared to his role in the Evil Dead trilogy. Campbell does have a few moments where he goes over the top but it flows with the story and his characters situation. Those who are true Bruce Campbell fans should definitely check out his performance in this film.

In addition to Mr.Campbell, Tom Atkins is also present here as Forrest's captain, Frank McCrae. Atkins is great as usual, which should come as no surprise. He's always reliable and his presence does add some much needed levity. Lauren Landon is also present as Campbell's love interest and she plays her part well. Not much is called for from her character, yet she still manages to make her character likable. Then we have Robert Z'Dar in the titular role and he is brilliantly cast. He plays the maniac wonderfully and creates an awesome villain. The fact that more people don't remember the "Maniac Cop" is a shame. While he's no Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger, he is definitely menacing and dishes out the psycho in spades.

Effect-wise, there isn't anything really over the top but what is displayed is executed well. Whatever prosthetics were used on Z'Dar were well done and while it may look slightly schlocky, there is something sinister and creepy about him.

In general, this film does build some suspense, there's a nice little mystery and a good dose of action thrown in. The film never really slows down or drags and we do become invested in the characters. All this makes for a truly enjoyable B-movie and it's well worth checking out. I would say this is a must for any Bruce Campbell or William Lustig fans (The man who also delivered this films sequel and the terrific Maniac!) or cult film fans in general. Don't let this film be forgotten! It deserves it's rightful place amongst other cult classics and it's our duty to keep it alive!

Highlight Scene: The showdown between Campbell and the Maniac Cop is a great example of 80's horror and action. Plus, we get to see the maniac in full, grotesque view.

Highlight Quote: Security Guard- "You always take a leak with a gun in your hand? That's a good way to blow your balls off!"

Hatchet II review

2011-02-26T04:33:00.001-05:00

I know, I'm late on this one. The reason is: I wanted to re-watch it before I reviewed it, just to make sure I didn't miss anything. This is the follow up to Adam Green's Hatchet, which I immensely enjoyed upon it's release. When I heard they were doing a sequel, I was pretty stoked. Many hailed Hatchet as the rebirth of the slasher film and I agree that it was damn entertaining. In addition, Green treated us to a new horror icon in Victor Crowley. Let's head back to the swamp for the review, shall we?

This film picks up at the exact moment that the last film ended, except this time we have genre darling Danielle Harris stepping into the role of Marybeth. As she narrowly escapes Crowley's clutches, she learns the secret of his evil and heads back to the swamp to avenge the deaths of her brother and father. This time, however, she's prepared. Marybeth meets up with Reverend Zombie and together they assemble a rag tag group of hunters to help them take Crowley down. In addition, the good reverend may or may not have some ulterior motives of his own... Green also gives us some back story on Crowley which adds some depth to the character as well as providing a few neat little twists.

Performance wise, the film is pretty solid. Harris' acting is uneven: at times she nails her role spot on and at other times she really goes over the top. I didn't mind this as much as some people did. After all, this is a throwback to 80's horror and I dare you to find me an 80's horror movie without a campy performance by at least one player! Tony Todd is also back for the sequel in a much bigger role and it's good to see him again. He really hits the nail on the head as Reverend Zombie, playing sinister as well as somehow charming and funny.

In addition, there are cameos and references aplenty! Shawn Ashmore (of X-men and Green's Frozen) cameos, as does A.J. Bowen and Perry Shen is back as his characters twin brother. There's also a nice little nod to Frozen as well as Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon. One thing I really enjoyed was the inclusion of R.A. Mihailoff (who portrayed Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw III) and he gets to go hand to hand with Crowley himself!

Now, I can't forget the real star of the show, Kane Hodder. He pulls double duty here as both Victor Crowley and his father Thomas. Now, as Victor, Hodder is his usual menacing and fearsome self. He is a hulk of a man and he really decimates everything in his path. It's as Thomas, however, that we are treated to a nice surprise. Kane gets a chance to flex his acting muscles, and the man is pretty damn good! There's a particularly emotional scene in which wanders into town after losing his son and we really feel for the man as he breaks down and cries in the middle of the street. (A little trivia for you as well, Kane has his first onscreen kiss in this film!)

Onto the effects. The kills are indeed bloody, brutal and inventive. Without spoiling much, we get a six foot long chainsaw, jaw ripping, impailing, decapitation, body ripping, face slicing, as well as one poor bastard who gets his intestines ripped out and is then promptly strangled with them! The kills look pretty realistic and the makeup on Crowley is a nicely done. He really looks great this time around and Kane's considerable bulk doesn't hurt!

Overall, this is an immensely enjoyable movie. It's a true throwback to the slasher films of decade's past and Adam Green makes a welcome return. Tight direction, solid story and acting and a nice little back story help flesh out the Crowley legacy. Also, there are some twists and turns, one of which you think you have pegged and then does a prompt about face on you. While some people knocked this film, I really enjoyed it and thoroughly encourage any slasher fans to see it. One thing is for certain-Adam Green is a sick man who knows how to deliver on the gore and horror!

Highlight Scene(s):
The aforementioned Thomas Crowley breakdown is really quite touching and emotional.
The montage of "fisherman" kills is pure bloody fun!
R.A. Mihailoff throwing down with Crowley is a horror enthusiasts wet dream
The ending scene. ( I won't spoil it, but once you see it you can't help but smile)

Highlight Quote: I can't really give any without spoiling things, therefore, I will refrain.

Shock Waves review

2011-02-26T03:54:00.001-05:00

This film was recommended to me, and as I have been on a bit of a zombie kick lately, I figured it was about time I check it out. I'm glad I did, as it's a fun film and it's certainly a nice change of pace.

The premise is as follows: A former Nazi commandant is inhabiting an island and conducting experiments on Nazi Zombies. Pretty simple and to the point. While this film isn't perfect, it does exude a certain amount of charm that makes it a fun watch.

Performance wise, it's pretty uneven. Peter Cushing stars as the semi-retired Nazi and he's a blast to watch. There's also a nice extended cameo from John Carradine as the captain of the vessel that brings our visitors to Cushing's island. The rest of the cast is so-so. Performances often tend to run on the campy side, but that's what makes it enjoyable for me. Horror doesn't always need to be grim and serious!

The zombies in this movie are pretty cool too. While there's nothing revolutionary in the makeup department, the effects suffice. The creepy goggles that the zombies wear are sort of unsettling as we don't really see their eyes. In addition, I dig the fact that the zombies reside underwater. This was a pretty cool touch as that hasn't really been done before. It also makes for a pretty awesome scene as they emerge from their underwater tombs.

Now, on the downside, there isn't really much gore. For a zombie movie there is very little bloodshed. The zombies actually tend to dispatch their victims much as a soldier would, including a lot of stealth neck breaking. While I would've loved to see some brain munching and gore, this is only a minor fault as they are soldiers, so the methodical approach to killing does indeed make sense. Also, this was initially rated PG so what can you really expect gore wise?

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable film. I wouldn't say that it's one of my favorites of the zombie sub genre, but it was certainly worth the watch. I do suggest that zombie fans check it out as it does offer some unique and creative additions to the zombie world.

Highlight Scene: The emergence of the zombies from the ocean is pretty awesome. The slow trod as their heads begin to surface is eerie and effective and will definitely stick in your mind.

Damned By Dawn review

2011-02-25T20:51:00.001-05:00

"Sick of waiting for Evil Dead 4? Check out Damned by Dawn" is the tagline that graces the cover of this film. Whoever had the balls to put this on the cover deserves to have said balls removed with a butter knife. Yeah, it's that bad. It was a dollar to rent and wasn't worth the buck. This film was truly awful and I can't emphasize this enough. Well, onto the review.

The premise was actually decent: a woman returns home after a two year absence to find her grandmother on her deathbed. Her grandmother tells her not to worry, that she will be okay. The "lady of sorrows" is coming to take her to her afterlife. The Lady of sorrows is a spirit who cries for the dead and comes to take them safely to the afterlife. However, one must not interfere with the Lady or harm her in any way or else.....

I won't lie, the first fifteen minutes of this movie aren't bad. There is a decent amount of suspense built up and the thought of watching your loved one being taken by a spirit is heartbreaking. It's at this point, however, that all the good disappears from this film. What follows is an eighty minute borefest ripe with awful performances, poor character development, unforgivably poor character choices as well as truly horrendous CGI.

Of course, our heroine interferes with the Lady and this causes the dead to rise, for some unexplained reason. In addition, there is a mysterious urn that somehow has the power to fix everything, which our heroine is too stupid to even attempt to use until the very end. There is really not a good performance to be had, there are plot holes aplenty and all the "scares" are piss poor. Someone even had the brilliant idea that the dead would be flying skeletons (seriously! I wish I was making this up!) Army of Darkness used this idea twenty some years ago and their effects are far superior to this film. The skeletons look horrendous and while the Lady Of Sorrows seems like a cool villain, not the case. A white dress and some bleeding eyes are the only effect and it fails yet again.

Whoever put this film together really should be ashamed of themselves. I have sat through some truly awful movies and this one ranks right up there. What's even worse are the shameless ripoffs from other films that aren't even well executed. In addition, that quote comparing this to Evil Dead is truly an example of the shameless self promotion of an awful movie trying to ride on someone else's coattails. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. This film isn't even enjoyable in a "so bad it's good" way. If you do rent this, don't say I didn't warn you.

Highlight Scene: None. There wasn't a single salvageable moment to be had here.

Cinema Wasteland Convention - Coming Soon!!!

2011-02-25T20:24:00.000-05:00

As many of you may know (and many may not,) the Cinema Wasteland convention is quickly approaching. For those of you who won't be attending, rest assured, I will be. I'll be covering everything that I possibly can as well as bringing you pics and videos of whatever I can. In addition, I'll be doing my best to try and land some interviews as well, assuming the guests have time in their busy schedules. Some of this years guests include the ladies of the Evil Dead, as well as the cast of Cannibal Holocaust! There will also be Ruggero Deodato, genre fave Michael Berryman, David Hess and Robert Kerman, among others. This year is shaping up to be amazing, so keep checking in for coverage! In addition, my friend Kdaver will have something special for you all as well, so I recommend checking him out if you haven't already. I've linked his page as well as cinema wasteland below for you all. Stop on by and show some love!

Cinema Wasteland

Kdavers Movie Morgue

5 Must See Zombie Films!

2011-02-22T16:08:00.000-05:00

I recently delved into my DVD collection and immersed myself in a plethora of zombie movies. I've always loved zombie films, so I decided to compile a list of the must sees of the genre. Read on and educate yourselves!!

Return Of The Living Dead
Boy, what a fun movie here. I remember watching this for the first time when I was about six years old and it scared the crap out of me! This film serves as a pseudo-sequel to Night of the Living Dead, taking the basic premise but aknowledging the fact that it was just a horror movie. Two bumbling idiots release a hazardous chemical that brings the dead back to life... Pretty simple. However, it's all in the execution. There's plenty of tongue in cheek humor, the gore is good, the acting is wonderfully hammy and the effects look good considering the time it was made. This film is truly a good time popcorn film. Zombie fans need to see this, you WILL love it! I dare you not to love the line "Send more paramedics."

Zombi
Yeah, it made a list of mine already. But thats because it's that good. Fulci is truly a gore master and proves it in this film. His zombies actually look scary! The makeup alone is worth watching this movie for. In addition, the acting and score are both effective and serve the film well. Plus, a zombie fights a shark! You don't get much more ridiculous and epic than that! Seriously, this is a great film that builds tension and proves that zombies can actually be terrifying. This is among Fulci's best, so check it out!

Dead Alive
Long before venturing to middle earth, Peter Jackson decided to instead venture to hell on earth. This is easily one of the most fun zombie movies ever made. It's certainly not to be taken seriously but it makes for a great evening at home. A rare creature bites a man and he transports a disease turning people into zombie. Pretty simple set up, but that's not what this film is about. There are gross out scenes aplenty and gore that will make Eli Roth blush. I don't want to delve into it too much as I don't want to spoil anything for you but there are plenty of memorable scenes including a baby zombie in a blender and the most creative usage of a lawnmower I've ever seen. I don't know how much money was spent on blood but it had to be a pretty penny! In addition, we get a truly likable antihero who we root for the entire time. Also, a pretty gross scene involving some pus and a mans custard..... "Nuff said

Dawn Of The Dead
Who could forget this film? One of the original zombie masterpieces that everyone should see. And, I hate to admit it, the remake was pretty damn good too. Zombie run amok at a shopping mall, how much better can it get? Then you add Romero's name and it's cinematic gold. The zombie master at work is not to be missed. You need to check out one of the films that popularized the genre. If you can only find the remake, it will suffice but I recommend checking out the original. You won't regret it.

Evil Dead Trilogy
Yeah, yeah, it's a trilogy. I don't care. These films are, in my opinion, the greatest of the genre. Pure fun, tons of great action and gore and the brilliant performance by Bruce Campbell as Ashley J. Williams. These films have lines that you can't help but quote and so many memorable scenes, I don't know where to begin. In addition, the third film gives us Zombies in mideval times! Also, a true icon is born. Ash Williams, the man with the chainsaw hand is the greatest horror hero ever. Imagine the 3 Stooges meats Die Hard with zombies and that still doesn't do these films justice. Sam Raimi cut his teeth on this film and you can see his talent in it's rawest form here. Also, made on a shoestring budget with practical effects and promoted by the cast and crew, this is truly a labor of love. You can feel the dedication that each player had to these films and it translates to the screen. Everyone is clearly enjoying themselves, knowing they're creating something special. In addition, while there is plenty of humor there are some creepy moments as well including a tree rape scene and the zombie Cheryl tormenting Ash from the cellar, to name a few. Check these out and Hail to the king baby!

Other honorable mentions include 28 Days Later, Zombieland, Night of the Living Dead, Pontypool, The Crazies, 28 Weeks Later, Dead Snow and Planet Terror.

The House Of The Devil review

2011-02-15T22:05:00.000-05:00

I have been hearing a lot of buzz lately about Ti West. People have been hailing him as the greatest thing to happen to horror in decades. Being the horror fanatic that I am, I had to check this out for myself. I had heard much praise for his House Of The Devil so I decided to check it out for myself.

The setup is nothing new on the surface. Samantha is a college student desperately trying to move out of her dorm into a new house. The house is perfect, but it's way out of her range. To make some money, Samantha decides to respond to a flier on campus for a couple seeking a babysitter. Upon meeting the couple, something seems odd right off the rip. The man of the house is played brilliantly by genre vet Tom Noonan and let me tell you, this man does not miss a beat. He has a certain charm about him, coupled with a vague air of menace. As the night wanes on strange things start happening: creaks in the house, someone moving around and a potential intruder are just the beginning. In addition, we find out that there is no child. Noonan is actually seeking someone to care for his wife's mother for the evening. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however. Without spoiling anything major, let's just say that satanism plays a part in the plot....

The acting was superb all around. Jocelin Donahue is spot on as Samantha, the reluctant babysitter. She nails her role, playing vulnerable with a will to survive in equal doses. Tom Noonan is wonderfully creepy as Mr. Ulman, ranking right up there amongst his best performances. A.J. Bowen is also great as Victor Ulman, putting on a kind exterior with a murderous core. In addition, there's a nice little cameo from Dee Wallace, who many of you may know from Rob Zombie's Halloween as well as the original Hills Have Eyes.

The direction and execution of the film really was great. I have to give credit where credit is due, and Ti West definately earns some respect here. He really does a great job of developing Samantha, making her someone we care about and worry for her safety. Also, setting the movie in the eighties was a stroke of genius, as there was a lot of speculation about cults in that time. The clothing, music, cars, etc are perfectly placed for the time period. West also pulls duty as editor and writer and wears these hats well.

Onto the effects. There really aren't many to be had here. This film relies more on mood, atmosphere and our own immagination rather than gore. The effects required are all well executed. The prosthetics required for one character (whom I won't spoil) are well done and pretty damn creepy. While this film won't necessarily have you screaming in your seat, you will definately be weary when visiting a strangers house or babysitting for a new family.....

Highlight Scene: The scene in which Samantha is being chased by Victor, Ms. Ulman and Mr. Ulman is really suspenseful and will have you on the edge of your seat. Coupled with the showdown at the end, we have a really tight scene in which you really feel for our heroine.

5 Italian Horror Films You Need To See!

2011-02-15T20:44:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years I have become aware of the great genre films to come out of Italy. While some of the names were familiar, I had never actually seen them. This, I knew, had to change. I dove in head first and soaked up all I could find. Some of them were terrific and many were crap. To help anyone else ween out good from the bad, I decided to compile this list as a jumping off point. These aren't meant to be the best ever, simply the most easy to enjoy and the ones I happened to like the most.

Zombi
Lucio Fulci's zombie masterpiece is truly one of the best examples of Italian horror. A group of Americans venture to a tropical island in search of a woman's missing father. Once there, zombie's run rampant. Pretty simple setup, but the story isn't what makes this film so impressive. The execution is terrific, the zombie effects are great and the acting is decent considering the fact that the film is over thirty years old. Also, the zombies in this film are actually scary! Looking at the creatures created for this film, one can certainly understand the fear felt by the characters. Also, the film is visually captivating. Fulci really was a tremendous director and his talent shines through here. Also, there's a hilarious scene in which a zombie fights a shark!

Cannibal Holocaust
Ruggero Deodato has truly created a disturbing film here. A group of American filmmakers goes missing while exploring an exotic island. Then, American professor Monroe ventures out to find them. He instead finds only their footage, along with a tribe of cannibals which the kids were documenting. While this may not be a typical horror film, the contents are indeed horrific. Numerous scenes of torture and cannibalism are had here as well as several scenes of actual animal deaths which will indeed turn your stomach. Gore aside, we actually have a really engrossing story here that keeps our attention throughout.

Demons
Lamberto Bava weaves an interesting tale here. A group of people are invited to a premier of a new movie at a Berlin theater. Unfortunately for them, the theater is plagues by a horde of "demons" though they function much more like zombies. The Demons attack the theater, killing and turning everyone they can find. A group of determined survivors band together and try to make it through the night until help arrives. Now, the effects here are pretty dated and the acting is over the top, but what else could one want from a zombie flick from 1985? This film is pure fun in the same vein as the Evil Dead Trilogy, delivering nothing but a good time. There's a good soundtrack to accompany this film and it showcases the lighter side of Italian horror. Also, a little fun fact: the screenplay was written by none other than Dario Argento!

Suspiria
Dario Argento makes the list for this film (amongst his many others) A new dancer is accepted to a prestigious ballet academy and after a short time there she learns that the staff is actually a coven of witches obsessed with chaos. Beautifully shot and brilliantly executed, Argento really shows what a master of suspense he is. The man really knows how to build tension and dread and does so with great expertise. The colors that he uses suit the mood perfectly and every scene foreshadows the terror awaiting our heroine at the end. Argento really does give us a perfect example of the Italian "Giallo" films. A must see for any fan of the genre and anyone who loves a well crafted witch story.

Deep Red
Another Argento film here, and one that many people are split on. Some people view this as one of his best, while others aren't very fond at all. I, for one, thought this was a very well crafted film. While it isn't as horror-esque as his other films, there are certainly many horror aspects present. The story follows a musician who witnesses a murder and decides to investigate the crime with a reporter. Shortly after taking up their investigation they themselves become targets of the killer. Argento has crafted a tightly bound whodunit here, and keeps people guessing. Even if you figure out who the killer is, it doesn't lessen the experience any. I personally found the acting to be of good quality and the murders are certainly viscous. Well worth checking out if you enjoy a little more suspense with your horror.

Now, there are plenty of other terrific Italian horror films, these are simply the most easily accessible. If you're truly dedicated to finding them, I recommend: City of the Living Dead (Lucio Fulci), Seven Doors Of Death (also by Fulci) Demons 2 (by Lamberto Bava,) Inferno (Dario Argento), Tenebre (Argento), The Beyond, House By The Cemetary and New York Ripper (All by Fulci) and The House On The Edge of the Park (Ruggero Deodato)

Top 5 Ghost/Haunting Movies (in my humble opinion)

2011-02-15T19:22:00.000-05:00

I, for one, am a huge fan of Haunted House/Ghost movies. Unfortunately they are hard to come by these days, as the vast majority of the recent attempts fail on most counts. Therefore, for any other like minded individuals out there, I have decided to compile a list of my top 5 faves! This is not meant to be a list of "The Best," simply a list of the one I happen to enjoy. As always, I welcome your feedback.

The Changeling (1980)
This film stars George C. Scott as widower who recently lost both his wife and child. Upon taking up residence in a new home, he begins to notice strange noises and odd goings on . While this film is not scary in the typical sense, it does one hell of a job of building tension and suspense. In addition, there is actually a deep story and some tender moments as well. Scott is terrific in his role and it's a shame that more people haven't seen this flick. Also, this film makes simple objects unnerving and you won't look at them the same way again. Case in point, the wheelchair scene and the lone ball bouncing down the stairs. Should I ever find myself alone in a house and find a rubber ball rolling my way, I'm getting the hell out of Dodge. (See what I did there? Dodge, ball? No? Moving On....)

Thirteen Ghosts
Tony Shaloub of Monk fame stars here as a single father of two, still mourning the death of his beloved wife. Upon the death of his uncle Cyrus, Shaloub inherits his sprawling manor and decides to move the clan in. Upon arriving they are met by a phony electrician/pro ghost hunter portrayed by Matthew Lillard. What the family doesn't know is that Cyrus hunted ghosts to trap them and ultimately harness their power. While many people dismissed this film, I quite enjoyed it. The performances are good across the board, including an extended cameo from F. Murray Abrams (hey, he was good enough to be in Amadeus, he's good enough for this.) Also, the effects are truly well done here. Not a single ghost is similar and each are horrifying in their own right. A few standouts are The Juggernaut, The Princess, The Jackyl and The Torso. I recommend checking this out. While it doesn't really create anything new, there is a solid story, good performances and, in my opinion, some of the best ghost effects I've seen.

Book Of Blood
This was always one of my favorite stories, so naturally when I heard it was being adapted to film I was both excited and skeptical. Upon seeing this, however, my doubts were put to bed. Is it a perfect adaptation? No, it isn't. It is easily one of the best Clive Barker adaptations though. And, being an offspring of the twisted mind of Mr. Barker, it is pretty intriguing. Local man Simon claims to be a medium who can communicate with the dead. This is exactly what Mary Florescu is looking for, so naturally, she hires Simon. Her and her crew begin to experience some phenomenon of the ghostly variety. The twist is, these ghosts are only interested in communicating by carving their stories into Simon's skin! Well worth checking out for an interesting take on the genre. Also, Sophie Ward is great in her role as Mary and there's a nice bit of nudity as well.

1408
This film is far from perfect, however it does manage to recapture some of the same dread from Stephen King's other hotel film "The Shining." Now, I'm NOT saying this film compares, as that's simply apples and oranges. This film does have in interesting premise though, as John Cusack plays an author who investigates haunted places. Upon checking into the Dolphin hotel's notorious room 1408, he learns that what he suspected to be mere myth may be more real than he could have ever imagined. The ghostly effects are all well done and there are actually a few scares. One also feels the dread that Cusack is experiencing as it builds with each scene. To quote Cusack's character "Hotel rooms are inherently creepy places," and this film really builds off of that tension. Overall, not a perfect film but quite enjoyable. Plus, it's always nice to see a talented actor take on the genre. For me, the only downside is the inclusion of Sam Jackson, who really does nothing more than shout the entire time.

Candyman
Allright, I know what you're all thinking. Many of you were expecting to see The Shining or Ammityville on here, but you're wrong. Not that those aren't both good movies, they're simply over played. Everyone and their brother has seen these two and I didn't personally find either of them that scary or original. Again, both quality films, but not the purpose of this list. And yes, while the Candyman may be a slasher, he's also a ghost. The film tells the tale of Helen, a woman writing her thesis. She decides to investigate the local legend of the titular character, a former Slave who was put to death for his love of the master's daughter. By reciting his name 3 times into the mirror, his spirit comes to like and wreaks havoc on you and your loved ones with his trusty meat hook. Let me tell you, if Bloody Mary didn't scare the shit out of you as a kid, give this one a try. Tony Todd is brilliant as the Candyman, and he truly creates a character that's terrifying, iconic and also relatable. This is a must see as it transcends one single genre. There is plenty of gore as well as elements of a slasher, ghost story, and even gothic love story!

Well, thats the list. Again, this isn't meant to be a "Best Of" or anything of the like. These are simply underrated ghost films that I enjoy. Some other honorable mentions that were enjoyable but didn't make the list: House On Haunted Hill, The Ammityville Horror, The Shining, The Orphanage, Dark House, Blood Night: The Legend Of Mary Hatchet, Ghost Busters, Sixth Sense, Stir of Echoes, and House(1986), And who could forget the Blair With Project and Paranormal Activity? Oh, yeah, ME!!

The Tripper review

2011-02-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

I have recently been journeying back through my extensive DVD collection and checking out some of the movies I haven't seen in a while. The Tripper stuck out in my mind, for I have fond memories of my first viewing of this film. Hoping to replicate that experience, I popped in the disc and away I went. Let me tell you, It was just as much fun this time around.

The setup is a familiar one, borrowing from many horror films past. A group of drug loving friends, one of which is Jason Mewes no less, pack into a van and head to a hippie music fest deep in the woods. As luck would have it, someone is determined to ruin their good time with a heavy dose of murder. One character has a psychotic ex boyfriend and the rest of the gang ran afoul of a group of local hicks, led by David Arquette (who also makes his directorial debut) so the suspects are plentiful.

We also have the hippie hating sheriff, masterfully played by Thomas Jane who seems to be loving his chance to ham it up. Then theres douche bag concert promoter portrayed by Paul Reubens, who is actually quite amusing the whole duration. Lastly, the killer: An axe wielding madman dressed as none other than Ronald Reagan!! That alone was worth the price tag of the film for me!

Performance wise, this film is nothing special. Everyone executes their roles well, but the characters are rather one dimensional. However, I felt that this was intentional as it is a throwback to the eighties slasher flicks of yesteryear. Jason Mewes is more or less Jay with black hair, and the rest of the gang are your typical stock horror characters.

The special effects here are pretty solid, minus one scene where someone (I won't ruin who) is bisected and it looks pretty damn cheesy. Again, this just adds to the films charm and makes it feel as if it were actually filmed some years prior. The killer requires no effects as it's simply a Ronald Reagan mask, a blue suit and an axe. This works in favor of the film in a "less is more" fashion.

There are some twists thrown in and all are executed well. Also, it's nice to have a little whodunit involved as we try to figure out who this psycho is, right up until the end. In addition, this film was a passion project for Arquette, who clearly showcases his love of horror and proves himself as a capable director. Is he the next Scorsese? No. But for this kind of film, he's right on the money.

In short, if you're looking for Oscar worthy material, look elsewhere. If you're looking for something psychological that has a deep, underlying meaning, sorry again. But, if you're looking for an old school slasher film with a mean streak to match its tongue in cheek humor, this is it. It accomplishes what it sets out to do: be a memorable horror film that gives us a new slasher to root for, and above all us, provide us with a good time. After all, that's what this type of film is for; having fun. There's no need to be so serious all the time and The Tripper proves that at every turn.

Highlight Scene: One party goer gets dosed with LSD and then gets ambushed by Reagan. What follows is a terrifying "trip" through the woods that would make Hunter Thompson's head spin! Also, there's a scene in which Pee Wee Herman opts to hide in a Porto-potty filled with shit. If you want disgusting, you got it!

Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon review

2011-02-13T13:39:00.000-05:00

I recently re-discovered this little gem. It has been on my DVD shelf since it was released and has since become a favorite of mine. I re-watched this movie and it still delivers. Let me start by saying that every horror fan should see this movie!

The premise is an interesting one for the genre. Local man Leslie Vernon aspires to be a slasher like his idols Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. He decides to contact a college film crew and allow them to document his back story, his training for his big night and how he selects and stalks his victims. Of course the film crew think he's either kidding or crazy, but they'll soon learn.

I'll begin with the performances: There's not a weak one to be had. Nathan Baesel is terrific as Leslie and creates a character that is both likable and terrifying in equal doses. Angela Goethals is decent as Taylor, the head of the documentary crew. She nails her role, being both likable yet slightly bitchy. It's reminiscent of Courtney Cox's now "classic" Gail Weathers. There's also a great cameo from genre veteran Robert Englund as Leslie's "Ahab," who is the spitting image of Dr.Loomis from the Halloween franchise, right down to the beige overcoat!

Onto the effects- All well done. There is no crappy CGI, as everything is done with practical effects. The blood looks real, the gore is realistic without going over the top and there are some really inventive kills, one of which involves an apple juicer... The character design is also phenomenal. Leslie's getup is something original. The mask he sports is something we haven't seen before and does come off as quite creepy, especially when coupled with Baesel's thousand mile stare. Also, big points for choosing an original weapon of choice; a sickle. While it has been used before, at least it's not the kitchen knife or machete that modern horror movies seem to rely on!

This film, for me anyhow, is what Scream tried to be. It is self referencing, tongue in cheek and at the same time, creepy. The first half of the film plays as horror comedy and then transitions into straight up horror film. The humor never becomes obnoxious like in the Scary Movie sequels. In this film, it works quite well, as it pokes fun at the genre but also shows it's fond love for the classics of the past. There are also some twists throughout that one does not see coming from a mile away. Nothing here seems forced and it propels the story nicely.

Also, I have to mention the great usage of the song Psycho Killer performed by the Talking Heads. If ever there was a song that needed to be used in a horror film, it's this one. Overall, there are plenty of memorable scenes, tons of quotable and memorable lines and some really great kills. Combined with an original and well crafted story and solid performances throughout, we have a really great film here. Genre fans need to watch this and hopefully you have the love for it that I do. Leslie Vernon is truly on track to become a new slasher icon, and here's hoping the long anticipated sequel gets off the ground soon!!

Highlight Scene: Leslie's chase scene with (I won't spoil the character) through the apple orchard, wielding his sickle, is truly terrifying. It hearkens back to the street chase scene from Carpenter's Halloween.

Highlight Quote: Leslie (to camera) - "Do you know how much cardio I have to do? Everybody is running their asses off and I have to catch 'em while making it look like I'm walking the whole time!"

Doug Johnson: - "What kind of a survivor girl passes out in a pinch?"
Todd Best: - "Passes out? What kind of survivor girl hops on the nerdy kid's johnson like it's a pogo stick?"

Creep review

2011-02-11T15:15:00.000-05:00

What a pleasant surprise! That's what I have to say about this little gem. I had heard about this film on a few message boards and the premise intrigued me. I always thought a subway was an inherently creepy place, so what better setting for a horror movie? While there have been a few, this one is towards the top of the pile.

The film starts with Kate, played by the lovely Franka Potente, on her way to catch a train to meet and possibly shag George Clooney. Upon arriving at the train station, she falls asleep waiting for the last train. When she wakes, everyone else is gone. Kate boards a train and is attacked by fellow co-worker Guy, who is coked up and ready to rape her. Something unseen grabs guy and Kate flees into the tunnels. That's the basic premise without giving anything away.

Along Kate's journey we are introduced to several supporting players including a trapped sewer worker, a dickish security guard, Guy the rapist, and an easily likable homeless couple. In addition, there's the Creep. The Creep is the tunnel dwelling antagonist in this film and a creepy one at that.

Jimmy and Mandy are the homeless couple who attempt to help Kate. Instead of making Jimmy the typical hobo often portrayed in this type of film, we get a caring protector who is a good person despite his circumstances. We also get some back story on most of the supporting cast, which makes the viewer actually grow attached and care about their fate.

The Creep is a pretty interesting villain. We never get a confirmation on his back story, but we don't always need to know what makes the "bad guy" tick. We can infer where his evil comes from and that suffices, as it adds an air of mystery. Effects wise, he looks pretty damn good. It would have been easy to use a poorly created CGI creature but the director smartly opts to use an actor with some pretty terrific prosthetics. In addition, the gore is well done as well, with out going overboard into "torture porn" territory.

The performances are all pretty solid. The Creep is sufficiently creepy, Kate is strong yet likable, Jimmy is easily identifiable and Guy is easy to despise. There are also some pretty creepy scenes, one of which builds a good amount of suspense and is quite heartbreaking.

The film does have flaws though. One of which is the fact that Kate had numerous opportunities to kill the Creep, but instead left him wounded and pissed. Another is the ridiculous actions of the security guard, demanding to see the body of an injured person before sending help! However, these flaws are easy to overlook when one considers the achievements the film reaches, especially on a modest budget. I recommend checking this one out. It's not perfect, but it delivers. It's effectively creepy, theres some character development and quality effects. Creep is certainly better than alot of the mainstream crap being force fed to us under the label of horror. I'm looking at you The Roommate.

Highlight Scene: George the sewer worker desperately trying to distract the Creep while Kate tries to swim to safety is quite suspenseful. In addition, the "abortion scene" is particularly horrific despite the fact that there is almost no gore shown. Here, what is implied is much more terrifying than what we're shown.

Highlight Quote: Creep- (mimicking Mandy) "Please don't hurt me. I'll do whatever you want. If you let me go, I won't tell anybody. Jimmy....?"

Paranormal Activity 2 review

2011-02-11T14:51:00.000-05:00

Well, this one is difficult to review. It seems that this film is either love it or hate it, with very little room in between. I, for one, enjoyed this film. I felt that the original was incredibly overrated. While I appreciate what Oren Peli did with a minimal budget, I feel that the hype was just that. The original had a decent premise and was well executed, but it fell flat, in my humble opinion.

The sequel, which is actually a prequel, is superior in my opinion. As the franchise is already established we get to jump in to the suspense relatively quickly. While keeping this review relatively spoiler free, I will say that this film does answer a lot of questions left by its predecessor.

The "acting" all around was pretty good, the effects all seemed pretty realistic and pacing was relatively tight. My one complaint is that there are some flat out ridiculous decisions made by two main characters. The father in this film is borderline retarded.

After the demon terrorizes the house, the family assumes they were the victims of a break in and decide to install several cameras, then terror ensues. That's the basic premise. My problem is that even when strange goings on start to happen, the father only checks the cameras twice! If my family came to me with complaints of being terrorized I would at least check my DVR before dismissing their claims as nonsense. Also, there is a scene in which he opts to leave his wife and baby home alone at 2am even after the haunting has been verified.

My other complaint is the stereotypical Latina nanny who just so happens to be an expert in the paranormal. In addition, this film opts out of the "less is more" mentality of the first film which works for the most part. The weak aspect of this is the reveal of the entity, which looks rather cheesy. I've seen better creature effects in films with a much smaller budget.

The film was overall enjoyable, building a good amount of suspense by putting a newborn child directly in the demon's sights. The daughter in this film, Ali, was the stand out. While her acting was nothing spectacular, she at least exuded some common sense. Also, there is a nice cameo from Micah and Katie which really ties up some loose ends. I did feel that the end was a bit abrupt, however. This story reminded me of Stephen King in the sense that it was an eerie story but the ending was a bit botched.

Overall, a worthwhile watch and a worthy companion piece to the original. While it does tread familiar ground with some of the demons tricks it does make clever and original use of the amateur footage technique. A decent film worth the price of a rental. If you enjoy a good ghost story, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

Highlight Scene: Kristi (the mother and Katie's sister) runs to check on her baby and is brutally dragged out of his room, flung down the steps and locked in the cellar. The terror here seems real and the effects, which easily could have looked ridiculous, actually looked pretty damn realistic.

Murder Set Pieces review

2011-02-04T14:30:00.001-05:00

This movie leaped off the shelf at me. The cover looked intense, the imagery looked fierce and the quotes on the cover.... "The most graphic horror film ever committed to celluloid." I had to check this out. It was compared to the early works of Dario Argento, a bold statement indeed. Let me tell you, it's all lies. Every last word of it.

The premise sees a fashion photographer in Vegas that secretly has the urge to kill. The film follows him as he loses control and massacres a bunch of young women. Sven Garrett stars as The Photographer, if you can really call it "starring." The majority of the movie consists of him speaking German, thinking about his dead mom who was a whore and working out. Seriously.... that's about it.

The script had a few interesting ideas but squandered them. We see a brief flash of the photographers grandfather as a Nazi. This whole Nazi theme runs through the movie as if it has some major significance to the plot, yet it does not. The only purpose this serves is to display a few swastikas and excuse Sven's German accent.

The acting is atrocious. Not a single worthy performance at all. Sven Garrett looks like a pumped up James Roday (the guy from Psych) and does nothing at all. All the supporting players would be shown up by any actor on All My Children, which is not a good thing. This brings me to the gore, or lack there of. I don't know what the hell movie the critic from Hustler magazine was watching that this was "the most graphic horror film committed to celluloid." This description was formerly applied to Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer, which actually deserved it. Every single kill, even those that happen on screen (which are few) are obstructed, and we see nothing except the occasional blood spatter.

Overall, this film is a blatant rip off of American Psycho and Henry, without any of the charm. Several scenes seem to be directly lifted from each movie and fall flat here. Even cameos from Gunnar Hansen and Tony Todd can't salvage this pile of crap. It is truly awful in every sense of the word. The last twenty minutes desperately try to build some tension and succeeds for about 60 seconds. Even the ending is ridiculous.

*Spoilers* We're to believe that this hulking German monster gets his ass handed to him by a 10 year old girl! Then, after getting stabbed in the gut by a rather large pair of scissors and getting his face mashed by a two by four, he's seen at the end perfectly fine and bruise free. The little girl walking alone, covered in blood is directly lifted from Texas Chainsaw Massacre and there is no resolution. We never find out what happens to anyone! A total waste of time and the dollar it cost to rent. I actually want my dollar back, thats how bad this pile of German shit is.

Highlight Scene: A brief chase scene with the photographer and little girl through his home actually manages to build tension. Beware though, it lasts about a minute. Blink and you'll miss it.

Highlight Quote(s): The Photographer- "In my minds eye I light fires in your cities."
The Photographer- "I'm looking for a snuff film called The Nutbag"
The Photographer - "It's ironic. Women suck blood from men every day but at the end of every month, it leaks out."

Midnight Movie review

2011-02-03T18:22:00.000-05:00

I found this movie at RedBox and I have to say, it was pretty damn enjoyable. It's got a semi-original premise and a lot of heart. Like most straight to dvd films, it's not without it's flaws but it's still worth a watch.

The film starts out with a movie director who has been committed to a mental ward. After all treatments seem to fail, his doctor decides to show him his one and only film which is believed to have driven him insane. Upon doing so, the night doctor arrives to find everyone massacred and the patient M.I.A.

We're then taken to a revival theater that specializes in showing old cult films. The film being shown tonight is that very same film. The surviving doctor along with a detective show up to the screening, suspecting that perhaps the fugitive will show up. Right they are, to a degree.

Joining the doctor and cop are a stock cast of attractive young teens. We have the typical heroine, her little brother, the typical douche bag, the nerd and the doting boyfriend as well as a few other disposable extras and a biker couple. Upon starting the film we notice something awry as people start disappearing. Pretty standard horror plot, right?

Well, what set this film apart for me is the interesting method in which the killer selects his victims. The killer in the "movie" is actually coming out of the film to murder the moviegoers. Also, as they are killed we see their murders on the big screen that everyone else is busy watching. This film actually makes clever usage of the "movie within a movie."

Also, there are a few likable characters (the biker's are actually my favorite, ironically enough) and the villain is pretty unique. He sports a pretty creepy mask and an interesting weapon as well. It looks to be a cross between a knife and corkscrew!

Again, there are faults to be had. Some of the acting is typical of a DTV (direct to video) movie and there are some questionable decisions made by the cast, but then again, what horror film of late doesn't? There is also a lack of explanation about the killers origins, which are briefly alluded to being wicca related and then abandoned. The effects are actually pretty well done and their is a nice bit of tongue in cheek humor that runs throughout.

Overall, not perfect but enjoyable. For me, this movie has a lot of heart and is a worthy throwback to the slasher films of the 80's. Certainly nothing earth shattering and it won't win any awards but there are worse ways to pass 90 minutes. I truly enjoyed this movie, as I took it for what it is; a fun horror film made by someone who obviously had a love of the genre.

Highlight Scene: The moviegoers are watching the "movie" as the usher gets attacked. Not realizing that it's not part of the film, the crowd is gleefully watching his demise, even critiquing how "fake" it looks!

Highlight Quote: (Not knowing he's watching an actual person's demise)
Mario- " This looks so fake! And there's like, no blood!"
Sully - "It's only the first kill. It'll get bloodier, it always does."

Grimm Love review

2011-02-03T17:55:00.000-05:00

Well, that to say? Seeing as I had recently had a positive experience with one of the Fangoria Frightfest films, I decided why not stick with the series? I'm glad I did. I recently checked out Grimm Love and let me tell you, it's one hell of a movie!

First off, let me warn you that this is not your traditional horror film. It's not a slasher/ghost story or anything along those lines. It's much more in tone with the likes of Zodiac or Black Swan in that it's a psychological horror film. There is not a lot of gore, as this is a performance driven horror movie, however it is still a great film.

The premise is based on real life events that many of you may recall. In Germany, a few years back, a man took out an add on line seeking someone willing to be his victim. This man had long had the urge to eat someone and has decided that now is the time. Another man, Simon, who has a rather troubled past, has always had a desire to sacrifice himself to someone. They were the perfect match for one another. Enter Katie, an American student in Germany who is writing her thesis paper on said cannibal, Oliver Hartwin.

What I really enjoyed about this film was the untraditional approach. Rather than bastardizing Oliver and making him out to be a cannibalistic monster, this movie decides to make him the protagonist. We see what makes both Simon and Oliver the way they are and it's actually quite heartbreaking. In addition, as Katie investigates the details of the case we learn a lot about her as well as she begins to grow obsessed with her subjects.

Performance wise, their isn't a weak actor here. Keri Russell (whom I must admit, I'm not a fan of) was actually really something as Katie. You really see her transformation as she begins to become more and more consumed with this case, going so far as to track down the video that Oliver made of his "feast." Thomas Huber is terrific as Simon as well, giving a lot of depth to his character and nailing it spot on. While Huber received much praise for this film I feel that the real star was Thomas Kretschmann as Oliver.

Kretschmann is simply engrossing as Oliver, giving a human side to this "monster." Unlike many films, we actually see what drives Oliver to cannibalism and what ignited this fire that burns inside him. Honestly, it is truly heartbreaking. We actually develop feelings for the two male leads which makes it all the harder to watch Simon's imminent demise.

Now, this movie isn't perfect. There are some pacing issues and there are a few secondary characters who are introduced only to never be seen again without any explanation. These things aside, the performances are strong, the cinematography is the quite good for an obviously low budget. Theres also a nice use of "home footage" to show us the character's backgrounds. In addition, there's a pretty haunting score that fits the mood well and we actually get to see a smart horror movie that cares about it's characters. Overall, a good film that I highly recommend if you want a smart horror flick that'll leave you thinking about what beast may lie inside us all.

Highlight Scene: Without giving away any spoilers, there is a scene in which Simon and Oliver are waiting for the "sedatives" to kick in and the dialogue between the two of them is terrific. Also, the scene in which Katie views the actual tape really resonates with the audience as she witnesses this horrendous act.

Highlight Quote: Oliver- "I'd love to devour you"

Give 'Em Hell Malone review

2011-02-02T03:11:00.001-05:00

Though I've had it for a while, I finally got around to watching Give 'Em Hell Malone starring Thomas Jane and Ving Rhames. Lately I've been enjoying noir type films and this was touted as being a "neo-noir" film.

Thomas Jane stars as Mallone, a hard to kill gun for hire. He's hired to retrieve a briefcase, which he finds and opens. Something in the briefcase piques his interest and Mallone sets off to find out who hired him and where the case came from.

Along the way Mallone encouters your typical damsel in distress as well as several sinister henchmen, one of whom named Boulder, is expertly played by Ving Rhames. It's probably his coolest performance since Pulp Fiction (not his best, simply the most suave.) Doug Hutchison also guest stars as Matchstick, a pyro who was burned as a child.

There are several good twists thrown in and the acting is quite good. For the most part the dialogue works and the action scenes are very well done. Jane makes a very convincing hard as nails private detective, channeling his Punisher performance with a smidge of Bogart thrown in for good messure. Rhames, as usual, intimidates quite well. There's even an amusing cameo from French Stewart who manages to not be annoying as hell!! I know-I was shocked too!!

There were some negative aspects, however. There are two scenes featuring a character being burned and the cgi involved is pretty shoddy. Also, Doug Hutchins seems to be mimicking Heath Ledger's Joker in both voice and mannerism. This aside, it's a pretty enjoyable movie. My only regret is letting it sit on my shelf this long without viewing it.

Is it a flawless film? No, it isn't. Is it revolutionary and going to change cinema forever? No, it won't. What it is, however, is an entertaining 90 minute romp featuring solid acting, attractive leads, plenty of bloodshed and an interesting story. While it is a departure from my usual horror movie selection, it is a fitting tribute to the noir movies that quite obviously inspired it.

Highlight Scene: The opening gunfight in which Mallone wipes out wave after wave of baddies all by himself. This scene alone rivals half the shoot outs previously seen in Shoot 'Em Up.

Highlight Quote(s): Frankie the Crooner: "Suck my Sinatra!"

                            Boulder:"Next time there's a new guy, tell him to let the big black motherfucker go"

                            Mallone to Evelyn: "Are you a whore?"
                            Evelyn: "What's your cheek tell you?"
                            Mallone: "My cheek?" (Evelyn slaps him across the face)

I Come In Peace review

2011-02-01T20:01:00.002-05:00

I had seen this movie on cable many years ago and have been trying to find it for years. I found it online and ordered it, and eagerly awaited it's arrival. Upon receiving it, I was like a kid on Christmas.

Be warned: This movie is a late 80's early 90's piece of sci-fi/ horror schlock, and I mean that in the greatest way. Dolph Lundgren stars as a detective who's investigating a multiple homicide. The culprit? An alien who's on earth to steal a drug found inside the human body to bring back to his home planet! As to be expected, Dolph spends the duration trying to hunt him down and next to nobody believes him.

Premise wise, nothing special. This movie does exude a subtle charm though. Much like Evil Dead, it's clear this movie isn't trying to be taken seriously. It's simply trying to be fun and it succeeds. You can clearly tell that everyone involved had a blast making this movie, and in all honesty, it's really enjoyable!!

It doesn't matter what type of film you're seeking, be it horror, science fiction, action or comedy, this one will hit the spot. If you enjoy a little "cheese" with your movies, I suggest you check this out. Good performance's all around and some really good action set pieces make this a really fun watch with a group of friends. It would even make for a hell of a drinking game. And it boasts one of the greatest, cheesiest lines ever.

Highlight scene: Showdown/gunfight in grocery store parking lot.
Best Quote: Alien: "I come in peace"
Dolph: "You go in pieces"

Road Kill review

2011-02-01T19:53:00.002-05:00

I recently rented and watched Road Kill, another film in the Fangoria Frightfest film series. Having had a positive experience with Dark House, I figured it was worth a shot. This was not the case, however.

Road Kill is unoriginal in plot, borrowing heavily from Joy Ride, Duel and the like. Group of attractive friends piss off a trucker who runs them off road. Upon investigating the truck, the gang gets shot at and ends up hijacking the truck. Gradually the truck, which naturally happens to be evil, starts to turn them all against one another.

Now, the acting is horrid. There is literally no good performance to be had from anyone involved in this production. The effects-non existent. There is literally next to no gore in this film and all the "action" takes place off screen. Plot holes are a plenty and literally nothing is explained in the end. In fact, the ending leaves only more questions, and not in a good way.

In short, while a film like Inception may leave us with questions, they're fun to think about. This movie leaves us with questions like "who the hell thought this was a good script?" Don't waste your time or money.

Highlight Scene: There was one decent scene in which the engine of the truck destroys a human body. The credits would be a close second.

Dark House review

2011-02-01T19:24:00.001-05:00

Released as part of Fangoria's Frightfest. Dark House stars Jeffrey Combs, Meghan Ory and Diane Salinger. The premise is nothing revolutionary: A wealthy man (Combs) buys up property and turns them into haunted attractions using state of the art projection systems. The current location he's working on was formerly the sight of the murder of seven children. From there, he hires several local drama students to staff his new attraction, and as can be expected, the spirit of the murderer returns to wreak havoc.

If this sounds familiar, that's because it probably is. It is vaguely reminiscent of House on Haunted Hill as well as a slew of other haunted house movies. What sets this one apart, however, is the amount of charm that it has to offer. It's certainly not a perfect film, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Browsing the stands of Blockbuster I came across this title. The main selling points for me was the inclusion of the Fangoria brand name as well as Jeffrey Combs. In this film he plays his part perfectly. He mixes the right blend of humor and cold blooded business man that to create a character that I actually grew interested in. He also seemed to be channeling his inner Bruce Campbell for this flick, which certainly doesn't hurt.

Meghan Ory is only ok in her role. She has the tendency to either over or under act, rarely striking the perfect medium. Diane Sallinger is terrific as the murderous Mrs.Darrode and the rest of the cast serves their purpose well. Nothing stellar from the supporting players as they're all pretty much stock horror characters.

The other thing that salvages this movie is the plethora of ghosts/projections. While the "Evil Clown" is nothing special the other spirits are quite inventive and creepy. The makeup effects on them are also very well done and they aren't really thrown in your face at every turn. Also, this film doesn't rely on cheap "jump scares" every two seconds.

Overall, a worthwhile 90 minutes. Jefferey Combs is terrific and Diane Sallinger is a believably creepy antagonist. If you enjoy a good ghost movie with some original kills thats not interested in remaking/rebooting a franchise, check this one out. If you want something vanilla that you've seen over and over again, go rent Return To House On Haunted Hill.

Highlight Scene: A ghoul sporting foot long razor fingernails approaches a group in the hallway, attempting to impail one unsuspecting employee.....

Highlight Quote: Ariel " If you get me out of here, do I have to bang you?"
Samantha " Yes!"
Ariel "Okay..."