The zombie is one of underground horror's most beloved beasts. The flesh eating dead have spawned some of the most outrageous and gruesome stories in the horror canon. Below I've listed some of my favorites in the genre, in no particular order...
George A. Romero's "Dead" series- The standard by which all zombie movies are measured, Romero mixes sociopolitical commentary in with some of the most gruesome scenes committed to celluloid. 1968's "Night of the Living Dead", 1978's "Dawn of the Dead", 1985's "Day of the Dead", and 2005's "Land of the Dead" are must-have's for any ghoul fan. This year will bring the sixth Dead film, "Diary of the Dead"
"The Walking Dead" comic series- Robert Kirkman's stark, black and white series finely walks the line between soap opera and gore. The characters are fully developed and complex, and the post-apocolyptic world he's created is utterly riveting.
"Return of the Living Dead" film- Dan O'Bannon re-writes the Romero formula as a genre comedy. Some of this film is absolutely hysterical (zombies radioing for "more cops").
"Zombie" film- Lucio Fulci's hardcore masterpiece takes the torch from the Romero films and ups the gore quotient (this film was actually marketed as a sequel to "Dawn of the Dead" in Europe). This film contains the infamous "zombie vs. shark" scene.
"The Serpent and the Rainbow" film- A more realistic, if surreal, take on the voodoo zombie by horror master Wes Craven. The images in this film are disturbing, none more so than acutal footage of people skewering their cheeks with needles and eating glass.
"Dead Alive" film- Before "Lord of the Rings", Peter Jackson was best known for his visceral horror-comedies, none more than this one. Possibly the bloodiest film ever made, it is also one of the funniest. The zombie baby in the park scene is worth the price of admission alone.
Evil Dead film series- Sam Raimi, like Jackson, is now known for his blockbuster Spider-Man films, but he got his start with these acclaimed indie gorefests. 1981's "Evil Dead", 1987's "Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn", and 1993's "Army of Darkness" are now certified cult classics, and, while not zombie films specifically, they do contain some grisly living-dead action.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bits and Pieces
Hello darklings,
Read a nice interview with Robert Englund about his new directorial effort "Killer Pad" and his thoughts on the "Nightmare on Elm St." Remake.
http://www.horroryearbook.com/542940/interview-robert-englund-talks-about-killer-pad-zombie-strippers-and-a-nightmare-on-elm-street
As if "Midnight Meat Train" wasn't enough, check out some info on "Book of Blood", based on another of my horror boyfriend Clive Barker's stories
http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/02/11/first-look-clive-barkers-book-of-blood/
"Juno" star Ellen Page will star in Sam Raimi's first horror flick since "Army of Darkness". Read some info about "Drag Me To Hell"
http://www.actressarchives.com/news.php?id=9479
For those into vampires and presidential politics, this is up your alley
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521826
Here's some cool info about "Final Destination 4", which is being shot in hi-def 3D (!!!)
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11036
Read a nice interview with Robert Englund about his new directorial effort "Killer Pad" and his thoughts on the "Nightmare on Elm St." Remake.
http://www.horroryearbook.com/542940/interview-robert-englund-talks-about-killer-pad-zombie-strippers-and-a-nightmare-on-elm-street
As if "Midnight Meat Train" wasn't enough, check out some info on "Book of Blood", based on another of my horror boyfriend Clive Barker's stories
http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/02/11/first-look-clive-barkers-book-of-blood/
"Juno" star Ellen Page will star in Sam Raimi's first horror flick since "Army of Darkness". Read some info about "Drag Me To Hell"
http://www.actressarchives.com/news.php?id=9479
For those into vampires and presidential politics, this is up your alley
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521826
Here's some cool info about "Final Destination 4", which is being shot in hi-def 3D (!!!)
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11036
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Long Week
The Ring
2002
Director: Gore Verbinski
Dreamworks Pictures
The ghost story is a central theme of Japanese horror films, spawning a wealth of creepy and atmospheric movies full of jump scares and tension. As with any foriegn cinematic trend that seems viable, Hollywood has come knocking, and many of these films have gotten the US remake treatment. Most have been plain awful (The Eye, Pulse), but this is the rare case of a remake that is superior to its original. The Ring is a slinky, creepy masterpiece.
Rachel Kellar is sent on a mission to discover what might have killed her teenage niece and driven her friend crazy. She traces her neices steps to a cabin in the woods, and a mysterious videotape that is rumored to kill you seven days after you watch it. She watches the tape too and begins a desperate race to find the source of the curse and stop it before it claims her or her eerily mature son, Aiden, and his father, her estranged boyfriend Noah, who have both watched the tape as well.
The story unfolds beautifully, layer after layer, making this more a detective story than a horror film. With carefully crafted tension and beautiful camerawork, director Gore Verbinski uses all the tricks in the Hitchcock handbook here, and more skillfully than most directors do. He also gives us the classic "Hitchcock blonde" with Naomi Watts, who plays Rachel as a workaholic, quasi-neglectful mother, whose obsesssions tend to overshadow everything else in her life. Watts is magnetic, and she is matched by Martin Henderson as Noah, and young David Dorfman as Aiden. Amber Tamblyn also shines in her brief role, telegraphing her growing terror to the audience. The film has a wonderful artiness, nowhere more evident than the cursed video itself, which plays like a David Lynch short. The shocks are excellent too, especially the bloated, distorted faces of the curse's victims, which are seen for seconds, but long enough to leave your heart racing.
The Ring has been lampooned, and even savaged by some critics, but it stands as one of the most effective horror films of the new millenium, setting a template which many have tried to copy, but few have been able to match.
2002
Director: Gore Verbinski
Dreamworks Pictures
The ghost story is a central theme of Japanese horror films, spawning a wealth of creepy and atmospheric movies full of jump scares and tension. As with any foriegn cinematic trend that seems viable, Hollywood has come knocking, and many of these films have gotten the US remake treatment. Most have been plain awful (The Eye, Pulse), but this is the rare case of a remake that is superior to its original. The Ring is a slinky, creepy masterpiece.
Rachel Kellar is sent on a mission to discover what might have killed her teenage niece and driven her friend crazy. She traces her neices steps to a cabin in the woods, and a mysterious videotape that is rumored to kill you seven days after you watch it. She watches the tape too and begins a desperate race to find the source of the curse and stop it before it claims her or her eerily mature son, Aiden, and his father, her estranged boyfriend Noah, who have both watched the tape as well.
The story unfolds beautifully, layer after layer, making this more a detective story than a horror film. With carefully crafted tension and beautiful camerawork, director Gore Verbinski uses all the tricks in the Hitchcock handbook here, and more skillfully than most directors do. He also gives us the classic "Hitchcock blonde" with Naomi Watts, who plays Rachel as a workaholic, quasi-neglectful mother, whose obsesssions tend to overshadow everything else in her life. Watts is magnetic, and she is matched by Martin Henderson as Noah, and young David Dorfman as Aiden. Amber Tamblyn also shines in her brief role, telegraphing her growing terror to the audience. The film has a wonderful artiness, nowhere more evident than the cursed video itself, which plays like a David Lynch short. The shocks are excellent too, especially the bloated, distorted faces of the curse's victims, which are seen for seconds, but long enough to leave your heart racing.
The Ring has been lampooned, and even savaged by some critics, but it stands as one of the most effective horror films of the new millenium, setting a template which many have tried to copy, but few have been able to match.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
More Cheese, Please
Horror fans are always defending their entertainment tastes to thier friends and families, pointing out that the desire to be scared is totally primal, Spielberg and Jackson made horror movies, blah, blah, blah. But secretly, we all have a stash of flicks so ridiculous, so cheesy, that we only watch them in private, ashamed, but enthralled.
Here I share my favorite Cheesy Horror Movies. Please comment with some of your faves..
10- Flesh Eating Mothers- Badly acted, terribly written, and laugh-your-ass-off hysterical!
9- Slumber Party Massacre- The movie people think of when they think of co-ed's being stalked. Interesting note- all of the films in this series were written and directed by women.
8- Silent Night, Deadly Night- Killer Santa! How awesome is that! Throw in some scary nuns and good, violent death scenes, and you've got a holiday classic.
7- The Howling 2: Subtitled in some markets "Stirba, Werewolf Bitch", this deliciously silly movie has hot wolf on wolf action, and some god-awful acting. Check out poor Christopher Lee tyring desperately to elevate this dreck.
6- Subspecies (series)- Full Moon fans will remember this vampire story, one of the first vampire films to be shot in Transylvania. The acting is awful, the script is terrible, and the vampire Radu (Anders Hove) is disgusting. Adds up to a fine waste of a few hours.
5- Seed of Chucky- Actually well-written and acted, this qualifies as cheese because of it's tongue in cheek style and outrageous gags. Doll boobs, doll semen, a tranny/split-personality doll, and a cameo from cult legend John Waters! Genius!
4-Leprechaun In the Hood- Oh yes, my friends, I said Leprechaun. In. The. Hood. 'Nuff said.
3- The Hills Have Eyes 2 (the 1985 version)- The dog has a flashback. Seriously. THE DOG.
2- Blood Feast- Hershell Gordon Lewis' masterpeice is a bloody, and awful, flick about a guy who carves up and eats hot chicks. Features Playboy Playmate Connie Mason, who I met at a convention a few years back. She's awesome, and the movie is terrible.
1- Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers- Oh yes, tranny serial killer Angela is back, and she's gonna make sure you have a good time at camp, or else. Z-grade acting, but surprisingly well-written, this cheese classic contains one of my favorite kills in a gore flick, the outhouse drowning of the camp bitch. Trivia: Angela is played by Bruce Springsteen's sister, Pamela.
I've enclosed climactic scene for you here. Enjoy!
Here I share my favorite Cheesy Horror Movies. Please comment with some of your faves..
10- Flesh Eating Mothers- Badly acted, terribly written, and laugh-your-ass-off hysterical!
9- Slumber Party Massacre- The movie people think of when they think of co-ed's being stalked. Interesting note- all of the films in this series were written and directed by women.
8- Silent Night, Deadly Night- Killer Santa! How awesome is that! Throw in some scary nuns and good, violent death scenes, and you've got a holiday classic.
7- The Howling 2: Subtitled in some markets "Stirba, Werewolf Bitch", this deliciously silly movie has hot wolf on wolf action, and some god-awful acting. Check out poor Christopher Lee tyring desperately to elevate this dreck.
6- Subspecies (series)- Full Moon fans will remember this vampire story, one of the first vampire films to be shot in Transylvania. The acting is awful, the script is terrible, and the vampire Radu (Anders Hove) is disgusting. Adds up to a fine waste of a few hours.
5- Seed of Chucky- Actually well-written and acted, this qualifies as cheese because of it's tongue in cheek style and outrageous gags. Doll boobs, doll semen, a tranny/split-personality doll, and a cameo from cult legend John Waters! Genius!
4-Leprechaun In the Hood- Oh yes, my friends, I said Leprechaun. In. The. Hood. 'Nuff said.
3- The Hills Have Eyes 2 (the 1985 version)- The dog has a flashback. Seriously. THE DOG.
2- Blood Feast- Hershell Gordon Lewis' masterpeice is a bloody, and awful, flick about a guy who carves up and eats hot chicks. Features Playboy Playmate Connie Mason, who I met at a convention a few years back. She's awesome, and the movie is terrible.
1- Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers- Oh yes, tranny serial killer Angela is back, and she's gonna make sure you have a good time at camp, or else. Z-grade acting, but surprisingly well-written, this cheese classic contains one of my favorite kills in a gore flick, the outhouse drowning of the camp bitch. Trivia: Angela is played by Bruce Springsteen's sister, Pamela.
I've enclosed climactic scene for you here. Enjoy!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Bits and Pieces
The Boston Globe doesn't think much of the remake of "The Eye" starring Jessica Alba.
http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2008/02/02/her_newfound_sight_stirs_up_a_world_of_supernatural_visions/
Click below for a set visit and tons of AMAZING pics from "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army".
http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4224&Itemid=99
This looks like an interesting read...
http://www.computercrowsnest.com/articles/books/2008/nz12211.php
And here's a long interview with Quentin Tarantino about his original "Grindhouse" concept, among other things
http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49432
http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2008/02/02/her_newfound_sight_stirs_up_a_world_of_supernatural_visions/
Click below for a set visit and tons of AMAZING pics from "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army".
http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4224&Itemid=99
This looks like an interesting read...
http://www.computercrowsnest.com/articles/books/2008/nz12211.php
And here's a long interview with Quentin Tarantino about his original "Grindhouse" concept, among other things
http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49432
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sympathy for the Devil
The Exorcist
1973
Director: William Friedkin
Warner Brothers
Some images are so shocking, so primal, that they burn themselves into your brain. This film, easily one of the ten best films of all time, horror or otherwise, contains several glances at such images. The twisted, grimacing black and white demon that pops onscreen for a fraction of a second at several moments, the infamous crucifix masturbation sequence, the horrifying ‘head twist”; each of these sequences have earned “The Exorcist” its reputation as one of the most disturbing and unsettling films in the horror canon.
The film tells the story of Regan McNeil and her mother, actress Chris, who are in Georgetown while Chris works on a film. Experiments with a Quija Board lead to mysterious rappings, then unexplained and bizarre behavior from Regan. Chris’ director dies mysteriously at the McNeil home while only Regan was there, and finally the girl begins to manifest a thick-voiced, amber-eyed presence capable of incredible and atrocious feats. Finally, the weary mother turns to a priest, the haunted Father Karras. Karras is having a crisis of faith, exacerbated by the loss of his mother. Faced with what seems like incontrovertible proof of the existence of the devil, Karras seeks, and is granted, permission to perform an exorcism, under the watchful eye of Father Merrin, who may have battled this demon before.
Friedkin shot the film in documentary style, his set-ups are never arty or contrived, so when the horror starts, it is unexpected and, well, horrifying. The cast is stellar, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, and Linda Blair all received Oscar nominations for their work. Burstyn is particularly effective, her realistic emotional responses grounding the enormous spiritual questions at the center of the film. Blair is also magnificent, helped in no small part by the demonic vocalizations of veteran actress Mercedes McCambridge. The script is exquisite, languid and beautifully paced. Watch “The Exorcist” to be reminded of how satisfying a slow build up can be. Writer William Peter Blatty, adapting his own equally exceptional novel, wisely plays it neutral, not taking a side on the faith vs. science debate, but still providing a satisfying story with real philosophical weight.
“The Exorcist” remains a litmus test, a way for horror fans to prove their mettle by sitting through it. Unfortunately, this has kept meeker eyes off the film, which is a shame, since it is one of the most extraordinary movies of all time, a film that shows you, rather than tells you, that opens the window to the horror, but points no fingers. It is a classic, and I still can’t watch it with the lights off.
1973
Director: William Friedkin
Warner Brothers
Some images are so shocking, so primal, that they burn themselves into your brain. This film, easily one of the ten best films of all time, horror or otherwise, contains several glances at such images. The twisted, grimacing black and white demon that pops onscreen for a fraction of a second at several moments, the infamous crucifix masturbation sequence, the horrifying ‘head twist”; each of these sequences have earned “The Exorcist” its reputation as one of the most disturbing and unsettling films in the horror canon.
The film tells the story of Regan McNeil and her mother, actress Chris, who are in Georgetown while Chris works on a film. Experiments with a Quija Board lead to mysterious rappings, then unexplained and bizarre behavior from Regan. Chris’ director dies mysteriously at the McNeil home while only Regan was there, and finally the girl begins to manifest a thick-voiced, amber-eyed presence capable of incredible and atrocious feats. Finally, the weary mother turns to a priest, the haunted Father Karras. Karras is having a crisis of faith, exacerbated by the loss of his mother. Faced with what seems like incontrovertible proof of the existence of the devil, Karras seeks, and is granted, permission to perform an exorcism, under the watchful eye of Father Merrin, who may have battled this demon before.
Friedkin shot the film in documentary style, his set-ups are never arty or contrived, so when the horror starts, it is unexpected and, well, horrifying. The cast is stellar, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, and Linda Blair all received Oscar nominations for their work. Burstyn is particularly effective, her realistic emotional responses grounding the enormous spiritual questions at the center of the film. Blair is also magnificent, helped in no small part by the demonic vocalizations of veteran actress Mercedes McCambridge. The script is exquisite, languid and beautifully paced. Watch “The Exorcist” to be reminded of how satisfying a slow build up can be. Writer William Peter Blatty, adapting his own equally exceptional novel, wisely plays it neutral, not taking a side on the faith vs. science debate, but still providing a satisfying story with real philosophical weight.
“The Exorcist” remains a litmus test, a way for horror fans to prove their mettle by sitting through it. Unfortunately, this has kept meeker eyes off the film, which is a shame, since it is one of the most extraordinary movies of all time, a film that shows you, rather than tells you, that opens the window to the horror, but points no fingers. It is a classic, and I still can’t watch it with the lights off.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bits and Pieces
Lionsgate made a deal with IFC today, giving the indie cable broadcaster first free TV rights to over 70 films, including both "Hostel" films, "House of 1,000 Corpses", and "The Devil's Rejects".
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=292816
In, um, interesting news, Michael Bay (cough*hack*cough) is in talks to re-make "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Near Dark", among other horror classics. Your humble host is not amused.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080130/film_nm/nightmare_dc_1
Read a review of Joe Hill's new short story collection 20th Century Ghosts, here. For those not in the know, Hill is the son of Stephen King.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/books/review/Rafferty-t.html
And last, but not least, famed "women's fiction" publisher Harlequin has launched a new line of "paranormal romances". I laugh heartily already.
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/080129/harlequin_ghost_blog.html?.v=1
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=292816
In, um, interesting news, Michael Bay (cough*hack*cough) is in talks to re-make "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Near Dark", among other horror classics. Your humble host is not amused.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080130/film_nm/nightmare_dc_1
Read a review of Joe Hill's new short story collection 20th Century Ghosts, here. For those not in the know, Hill is the son of Stephen King.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/books/review/Rafferty-t.html
And last, but not least, famed "women's fiction" publisher Harlequin has launched a new line of "paranormal romances". I laugh heartily already.
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/080129/harlequin_ghost_blog.html?.v=1
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Best of the Bloodsuckers
The vampire myth is one of horror’s go to stories. Since the publication of Dracula in 1897, the eternally youthful blood drinker has popped up in a plethora of films, plays, and novels, some of them very good (see below), some not so good (“Queen of the Damned” anyone?). Listed here are my 10 favorite vampire stories, be they printed or filmed, and 5 stinkers to avoid.
The Best:
10- Interview With the Vampire (novel)- Anne Rice’s debut novel is still her most fully realized work. Erotic, blood-soaked, and ultimately tragic, the prose here is lush and magnetic, and free of the flowery nonsense that plagues her recent work.
9- “Near Dark” (film)- Kathryn Bigelow’s vampire-western-urban noir hybrid is a genre-busting classic. Featuring a stellar cast (borrowed largely from her then husband, Jim Cameron’s “Aliens”) and a quirky, brutal realism that influenced the likes of Tarantino and Rodriguez, this is not your typical aristocratic lovelorn undead tale.
8- “Interview With the Vampire” (film)- Neil Jordan’s take on Rice’s novel strips the tale of all the unnecessary tangents, and leaves you with the humid New Orleans scenery, the subtle sexual overtones, and what is probably Brad Pitt’s finest film performance. The show is stolen by 11 year old Kirsten Dunst, who is utterly riveting as the child vampire Claudia.
7- “Dracula’s Daughter” (film)- The sequel to Tod Browning’s 1931 classic take on the Dracula mythos is a haunting film, long on atmosphere and gothic melodrama, and a strong lesbian undercurrent.
6- The Hunger (novel)- Famously made into a (very good) movie featuring Susan Sarandon and Catherine Deneuve in a hot lesbian scene, Whitley Strieber’s novel is a more nuts and bolts take on the vampire myth. It deals with the impracticalities of vampire life, and takes a sci-fi twist on the material that is unique.
5- The Queen of the Damned (novel)- Anne Rice’s last truly good novel is also her best. Rice weaves nothing less than a history of the vampire around a philosophical argument about the roots of violence. The characters as unforgettable, and the climax of the book is heart-pounding good stuff.
4- “The Addiction” (film)- Abel Ferrara’s grim, black and white art film is a stark fable of addiction and weakness. Wonderfully weird and creepy, this film features an unforgettable cameo by Christopher Walken as a recovered vampire who recommends Burroughs Naked Lunch, as a cure for blood-lust.
3- Dracula (novel)- The standard by which all vampire fiction is measured, Bram Stoker’s classic tells the tale of a Transylvanian count with a taste for babes and blood. Fans of the film adaptations will be surprised to learn that the count is described as physically ugly, and that his attacks on his female victims are less seduction than rape.
2- “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (TV series)- Easily the finest television series of the 90’s, Joss Whedon created a universe around his failed, late-80’s film of the same name. With real, complicated characters, unmatched writing, and a glorious supporting cast, BTVS became one of the most acclaimed shows of the WB generation. The musical episode “Once More, With Feeling”, is possibly the greatest hour of television EVER.
1- “Nosferatu” (film)- The unnerving, atmospheric expressionist take on the Stoker legend remains the most emotionally powerful vampire film to date. Max Schreck as Count Orlok has lost none of his power to terrify in the 87 years since it’s release. Bram Stoker’s widow actually won a court case to have every copy of this film destroyed, thankfully, she failed to get every copy.
And the worst-
5- Blood Canticle (novel)- Thankfully, the last of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. An awful, badly-written book.
4- “Queen of the Damned” (film)- Absolute garbage.
3- “Dark Shadows” (TV series)- The cheapest, campiest vampire take in history.
2- “Salem’s Lot” (Miniseries)- Stephen King’s clunky vampire take is even worse in this cheesy 70’s movie.
1- “Vampires” (film)- Remember when John Carpenter was talented? Me either.
The Best:
10- Interview With the Vampire (novel)- Anne Rice’s debut novel is still her most fully realized work. Erotic, blood-soaked, and ultimately tragic, the prose here is lush and magnetic, and free of the flowery nonsense that plagues her recent work.
9- “Near Dark” (film)- Kathryn Bigelow’s vampire-western-urban noir hybrid is a genre-busting classic. Featuring a stellar cast (borrowed largely from her then husband, Jim Cameron’s “Aliens”) and a quirky, brutal realism that influenced the likes of Tarantino and Rodriguez, this is not your typical aristocratic lovelorn undead tale.
8- “Interview With the Vampire” (film)- Neil Jordan’s take on Rice’s novel strips the tale of all the unnecessary tangents, and leaves you with the humid New Orleans scenery, the subtle sexual overtones, and what is probably Brad Pitt’s finest film performance. The show is stolen by 11 year old Kirsten Dunst, who is utterly riveting as the child vampire Claudia.
7- “Dracula’s Daughter” (film)- The sequel to Tod Browning’s 1931 classic take on the Dracula mythos is a haunting film, long on atmosphere and gothic melodrama, and a strong lesbian undercurrent.
6- The Hunger (novel)- Famously made into a (very good) movie featuring Susan Sarandon and Catherine Deneuve in a hot lesbian scene, Whitley Strieber’s novel is a more nuts and bolts take on the vampire myth. It deals with the impracticalities of vampire life, and takes a sci-fi twist on the material that is unique.
5- The Queen of the Damned (novel)- Anne Rice’s last truly good novel is also her best. Rice weaves nothing less than a history of the vampire around a philosophical argument about the roots of violence. The characters as unforgettable, and the climax of the book is heart-pounding good stuff.
4- “The Addiction” (film)- Abel Ferrara’s grim, black and white art film is a stark fable of addiction and weakness. Wonderfully weird and creepy, this film features an unforgettable cameo by Christopher Walken as a recovered vampire who recommends Burroughs Naked Lunch, as a cure for blood-lust.
3- Dracula (novel)- The standard by which all vampire fiction is measured, Bram Stoker’s classic tells the tale of a Transylvanian count with a taste for babes and blood. Fans of the film adaptations will be surprised to learn that the count is described as physically ugly, and that his attacks on his female victims are less seduction than rape.
2- “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (TV series)- Easily the finest television series of the 90’s, Joss Whedon created a universe around his failed, late-80’s film of the same name. With real, complicated characters, unmatched writing, and a glorious supporting cast, BTVS became one of the most acclaimed shows of the WB generation. The musical episode “Once More, With Feeling”, is possibly the greatest hour of television EVER.
1- “Nosferatu” (film)- The unnerving, atmospheric expressionist take on the Stoker legend remains the most emotionally powerful vampire film to date. Max Schreck as Count Orlok has lost none of his power to terrify in the 87 years since it’s release. Bram Stoker’s widow actually won a court case to have every copy of this film destroyed, thankfully, she failed to get every copy.
And the worst-
5- Blood Canticle (novel)- Thankfully, the last of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. An awful, badly-written book.
4- “Queen of the Damned” (film)- Absolute garbage.
3- “Dark Shadows” (TV series)- The cheapest, campiest vampire take in history.
2- “Salem’s Lot” (Miniseries)- Stephen King’s clunky vampire take is even worse in this cheesy 70’s movie.
1- “Vampires” (film)- Remember when John Carpenter was talented? Me either.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Suspiria
Not a full review, but I was just thinking of this great, creepy Argento flick. It's a good entrance into Argento's body of work, great performances, beautifully shot, very scary, and that opening!
Here's a link to the trailer, for the uninitiated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8zbV_fFkYs
Here's a link to the trailer, for the uninitiated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8zbV_fFkYs
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Into Hell
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
1988
Director: Tony Randel
New World Pictures
Readers of this fledgling blog might have figured out already that I’m something of a fan of Clive Barker. His mingling of Cronenberg-esque flesh-mutilating and erotic imagery are fascinating to me, beautiful and grotesque all at once. His film debut “Hellraiser” stands as one of the most brutal and creative horror films of the modern age. That said, when I’m looking for my Cenobite fix, I turn to this, one of the few sequels that surpasses its original. “Hellbound” is more exciting, more visceral, and a more satisfying film than its predecessor.
The film picks up at the end of “Hellraiser”, with Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) now in a mental hospital, being treated for the shock of seeing her uncle torn to bits by Cenobites while wearing her father’s skin. She’s looked after by Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) and his assistant Kyle (William Hope). She tells her story and begs them to destroy the bloody mattress that her evil stepmother, Julia (Claire Higgins), died on. Channard has other ideas, as he has been obsessed with the demon-summoning puzzle box from the first film. He gets the mattress, secures an inmate from the asylum, then lays him on the mattress and hands him a razor in one of the most vicious scenes ever put to film. The blood brings a skinless, but otherwise whole, Julia back and the two plot to get the box opened by using Tiffany, a mute patient with an affinity for puzzles. Kyle gets wind of what’s going on, and takes Kirsty and Tiffany to Channard’s house, where Kyle gets sucked dry (and not in the good way) by Julia and Tiffany opens the box, bringing everyone’s favorite pale, S&M baddies out, led by Pinhead (Doug Bradley).
The film then shifts gears, as Channard, Julia, Kirsty, and Tiffany lead us through a tour of the Cenobite’s hell dimension. Considering the budget constraints, the film is art directed beautifully, even the obvious matte paintings, actually work in the creepy, other-worldliness of the hell dimension. Ashley Laurence, who was sometimes painfully stilted in the first film, works much better here, as Kirsty races through Hell in the hope of saving her father. The other performances are fine, but the real star is Higgins as the maniacal Julia. As in the first film, she is leaps and bounds better than her co-stars, and given full reign to play Julia as a psycho vamp, she steals the film right out from under the entire cast.
The film is shockingly violent, and extremely disturbing, with images that I’d never seen in a film before. The violence is somewhat less eroticized than in the first film, but it still has remarkable impact. The “kiss” between Julia and Kyle is the best example of this, Kyle’s desperate attempts to wrench free of Julia as he is drained are absolutely chilling. The aforementioned death by razor (with an assist from Julia) of the mental patient is almost impossible to watch, the manic squealing and the flowing blood are realistic to the point of being disturbing. The finale, involving someone’s skin being worn to fool a Cenobite, is equally shocking and bloody. For gore-hounds, this one is an visual feast.
The series went off the rails after this one, but for those of us who love the red stuff and lots of it, this film is tops.
1988
Director: Tony Randel
New World Pictures
Readers of this fledgling blog might have figured out already that I’m something of a fan of Clive Barker. His mingling of Cronenberg-esque flesh-mutilating and erotic imagery are fascinating to me, beautiful and grotesque all at once. His film debut “Hellraiser” stands as one of the most brutal and creative horror films of the modern age. That said, when I’m looking for my Cenobite fix, I turn to this, one of the few sequels that surpasses its original. “Hellbound” is more exciting, more visceral, and a more satisfying film than its predecessor.
The film picks up at the end of “Hellraiser”, with Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) now in a mental hospital, being treated for the shock of seeing her uncle torn to bits by Cenobites while wearing her father’s skin. She’s looked after by Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) and his assistant Kyle (William Hope). She tells her story and begs them to destroy the bloody mattress that her evil stepmother, Julia (Claire Higgins), died on. Channard has other ideas, as he has been obsessed with the demon-summoning puzzle box from the first film. He gets the mattress, secures an inmate from the asylum, then lays him on the mattress and hands him a razor in one of the most vicious scenes ever put to film. The blood brings a skinless, but otherwise whole, Julia back and the two plot to get the box opened by using Tiffany, a mute patient with an affinity for puzzles. Kyle gets wind of what’s going on, and takes Kirsty and Tiffany to Channard’s house, where Kyle gets sucked dry (and not in the good way) by Julia and Tiffany opens the box, bringing everyone’s favorite pale, S&M baddies out, led by Pinhead (Doug Bradley).
The film then shifts gears, as Channard, Julia, Kirsty, and Tiffany lead us through a tour of the Cenobite’s hell dimension. Considering the budget constraints, the film is art directed beautifully, even the obvious matte paintings, actually work in the creepy, other-worldliness of the hell dimension. Ashley Laurence, who was sometimes painfully stilted in the first film, works much better here, as Kirsty races through Hell in the hope of saving her father. The other performances are fine, but the real star is Higgins as the maniacal Julia. As in the first film, she is leaps and bounds better than her co-stars, and given full reign to play Julia as a psycho vamp, she steals the film right out from under the entire cast.
The film is shockingly violent, and extremely disturbing, with images that I’d never seen in a film before. The violence is somewhat less eroticized than in the first film, but it still has remarkable impact. The “kiss” between Julia and Kyle is the best example of this, Kyle’s desperate attempts to wrench free of Julia as he is drained are absolutely chilling. The aforementioned death by razor (with an assist from Julia) of the mental patient is almost impossible to watch, the manic squealing and the flowing blood are realistic to the point of being disturbing. The finale, involving someone’s skin being worn to fool a Cenobite, is equally shocking and bloody. For gore-hounds, this one is an visual feast.
The series went off the rails after this one, but for those of us who love the red stuff and lots of it, this film is tops.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Bits and Pieces
There's some news about "The Grudge 3":
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/10936
Here's a quick zombie movie quiz for you
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6589329.stm
Here's a HUGE interview with Clive Barker about the Hellraiser remake, and a whole mess o' other stuff
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/429
Rob Zombie talks about the "Halloween" DVD
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/434
And here's some clips from the remake of "The Eye"
http://www.joblo.com/movietrailers_archive.php?mode=trailer&title=Eye%2C+The
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/10936
Here's a quick zombie movie quiz for you
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6589329.stm
Here's a HUGE interview with Clive Barker about the Hellraiser remake, and a whole mess o' other stuff
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/429
Rob Zombie talks about the "Halloween" DVD
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/434
And here's some clips from the remake of "The Eye"
http://www.joblo.com/movietrailers_archive.php?mode=trailer&title=Eye%2C+The
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Forgotten Nightmare
A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge
1985
New Line Cinema
Director: Jack Sholder
Let’s get it out of the way. ANOES 2 is a gay allegory. There, I said it. Now if we push that undisputed fact to the side, let’s take another look at this, one of the best and most entertaining films in the Nightmare series.
I can hear you saying, “conventional wisdom and/or all the critics tell me that Freddy’s Revenge is the most craptastical horror sequel to ever blemish a strip of celluloid.” Indeed, the overwhelming majority of gorehounds will cry foul at my argument that the film has any merit at all, and, as a gay man, I might be biased. But let me try to convince you…
The plot, in a nutshell, is as follows: Jesse (sweet-faced innocent) moves into the cursed house on Elm Street with his family of stereotypes (asshole dad, annoying sister, blah blah). He makes friends with Meryl Streep lookalike Lisa, and spends a lot of time in various platonic states of undress with sexy, tanned Grady. Jesse is stalked in his nightmares by everyone’s favorite scarred child killer, one Fred Kruger. Seems Freddy needs Jesse’s body to come out and play slice-and-dice with the kiddies. Jesse and Lisa find the diary of Nancy (from ANOES 1) and Jesse pieces together the story of who Freddy is, why he wants him, etc. After Freddy uses Jesse to kill his sadistic, queer coach, sexy Grady, and a handful of kids at a pool party, Lisa chases Jesse/Freddy back to the infamous boiler room, and frees Jesse with her true love.
Corny, right? But wait, there’s more here than meets the eye.
Jesse’s nightmares seem to always involve heat; his room is sweltering, records and lamps melt, and he’s always coated in sweat. Even the framing is claustrophobic, tight shots right on faces. The first impression I had of the film was the oppression, the melting, the suffocation. The imagery is affecting, so affecting that I think watching the movie is actually uncomfortable. The acting, often criticized, is actually stellar. I’ll go on a limb and say it is by far the best acted of the Nightmare films, with the possible exception of New Nightmare. The performances are remarkably natural, and Kim Myers as Lisa is exceptionally good, and a brave choice as she’s not the typical balloon breasted horror scream queen. The show is stolen though, by Robert Rusler as Grady. His dry as a bone delivery and comic timing are pitch perfect, and he looks pretty nice in his multiple shirtless scenes.
About the gay stuff, it clearly is a film with a homoerotic bent, and the concept of a young man wrestling with his homosexuality runs through the film without any subtlety at all. Jesse talks about something inside him, something that makes him leave a hot and steamy make-out session with Lisa, to go to Grady’s bedroom. Then there’s the death by bondage and spanking of Jesse’s coach, who Jesse runs into at a LEATHER BAR (!!!!). After a bout of S&M jogging at the high school gym, Freddy comes out of Jesse in the shower (!!!!!!), then strips the coach nude (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), ties him up and whips his bare ass with towels before doing the requisite hack and slash. Add that to the gratuitous male nudity (can you name another horror flick with more men either nude or in underwear than female breasts?), the dad who “just doesn’t understand”, and the aforementioned lack of wardrobe for the nubile young men in the cast. My only beef with the gay theme is that the whole point of it all seems to be that the right woman can bring the man out of the monster, and the whole equating of homosexuality with a monster who may or may not have also been a child molester, but considering the film is almost 23 years old, the amount of gay content is remarkable.
So I hope you’ll all give Freddy’s Revenge another look. It might not be the “Godfather, Part 2” of horror flicks, but it has all the qualities of an undiscovered gem.
1985
New Line Cinema
Director: Jack Sholder
Let’s get it out of the way. ANOES 2 is a gay allegory. There, I said it. Now if we push that undisputed fact to the side, let’s take another look at this, one of the best and most entertaining films in the Nightmare series.
I can hear you saying, “conventional wisdom and/or all the critics tell me that Freddy’s Revenge is the most craptastical horror sequel to ever blemish a strip of celluloid.” Indeed, the overwhelming majority of gorehounds will cry foul at my argument that the film has any merit at all, and, as a gay man, I might be biased. But let me try to convince you…
The plot, in a nutshell, is as follows: Jesse (sweet-faced innocent) moves into the cursed house on Elm Street with his family of stereotypes (asshole dad, annoying sister, blah blah). He makes friends with Meryl Streep lookalike Lisa, and spends a lot of time in various platonic states of undress with sexy, tanned Grady. Jesse is stalked in his nightmares by everyone’s favorite scarred child killer, one Fred Kruger. Seems Freddy needs Jesse’s body to come out and play slice-and-dice with the kiddies. Jesse and Lisa find the diary of Nancy (from ANOES 1) and Jesse pieces together the story of who Freddy is, why he wants him, etc. After Freddy uses Jesse to kill his sadistic, queer coach, sexy Grady, and a handful of kids at a pool party, Lisa chases Jesse/Freddy back to the infamous boiler room, and frees Jesse with her true love.
Corny, right? But wait, there’s more here than meets the eye.
Jesse’s nightmares seem to always involve heat; his room is sweltering, records and lamps melt, and he’s always coated in sweat. Even the framing is claustrophobic, tight shots right on faces. The first impression I had of the film was the oppression, the melting, the suffocation. The imagery is affecting, so affecting that I think watching the movie is actually uncomfortable. The acting, often criticized, is actually stellar. I’ll go on a limb and say it is by far the best acted of the Nightmare films, with the possible exception of New Nightmare. The performances are remarkably natural, and Kim Myers as Lisa is exceptionally good, and a brave choice as she’s not the typical balloon breasted horror scream queen. The show is stolen though, by Robert Rusler as Grady. His dry as a bone delivery and comic timing are pitch perfect, and he looks pretty nice in his multiple shirtless scenes.
About the gay stuff, it clearly is a film with a homoerotic bent, and the concept of a young man wrestling with his homosexuality runs through the film without any subtlety at all. Jesse talks about something inside him, something that makes him leave a hot and steamy make-out session with Lisa, to go to Grady’s bedroom. Then there’s the death by bondage and spanking of Jesse’s coach, who Jesse runs into at a LEATHER BAR (!!!!). After a bout of S&M jogging at the high school gym, Freddy comes out of Jesse in the shower (!!!!!!), then strips the coach nude (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), ties him up and whips his bare ass with towels before doing the requisite hack and slash. Add that to the gratuitous male nudity (can you name another horror flick with more men either nude or in underwear than female breasts?), the dad who “just doesn’t understand”, and the aforementioned lack of wardrobe for the nubile young men in the cast. My only beef with the gay theme is that the whole point of it all seems to be that the right woman can bring the man out of the monster, and the whole equating of homosexuality with a monster who may or may not have also been a child molester, but considering the film is almost 23 years old, the amount of gay content is remarkable.
So I hope you’ll all give Freddy’s Revenge another look. It might not be the “Godfather, Part 2” of horror flicks, but it has all the qualities of an undiscovered gem.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Clive Barker
Writing about "Midnight Meat Train" earlier got me to thinking about Clive Barker. More than many of the macabre-slingers that I idolize, I identify with Clive. Gay, a writer, passionate about working with grisly, yet erotic themes; Barker's novels and films are brutal and bloody, yet undeniably sexy.
Although he is forever linked with "Hellraiser", his first film (an undeniable classic, as is its sequel, a film I will be writing about soon), it is in his fiction that his thoughtful, violent tapestries really come to life. Although any of his books will do, I advise you start with Books of Blood, a 3-volume collection of short stories that have a little something for every gore-hound. "Midnight Meat Train" is there, as is "The Forbidden" the story that was radically changed and filmed as the horror classic "Candyman". Pick it up, you won't be disapppointed.
Although he is forever linked with "Hellraiser", his first film (an undeniable classic, as is its sequel, a film I will be writing about soon), it is in his fiction that his thoughtful, violent tapestries really come to life. Although any of his books will do, I advise you start with Books of Blood, a 3-volume collection of short stories that have a little something for every gore-hound. "Midnight Meat Train" is there, as is "The Forbidden" the story that was radically changed and filmed as the horror classic "Candyman". Pick it up, you won't be disapppointed.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Bits and Pieces
Fans of Clive Barker's Books of Blood series will love this. Follow the link to see the trailer for "Midnight Meat Train". I'll be first in line for this one.
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/bdtv/Player.php?id=1208
Zombie lovers (like me) will also enjoy the trailer for the master of flesh-munching undead flicks, George A. Romero's "Diary of the Dead".
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=25823794
Have you heard about "Teeth"? If not, I won't say much to spoil it for you, but you can get some clues to the, um, unique nature of this flick by reading this interview with the film's star, Jess Weixler.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=47390
More to come...
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/bdtv/Player.php?id=1208
Zombie lovers (like me) will also enjoy the trailer for the master of flesh-munching undead flicks, George A. Romero's "Diary of the Dead".
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=25823794
Have you heard about "Teeth"? If not, I won't say much to spoil it for you, but you can get some clues to the, um, unique nature of this flick by reading this interview with the film's star, Jess Weixler.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=47390
More to come...
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
I Bid You Welcome...
The unquiet grave.
Things that go bump in the night.
The unmistakable presence behind you that you can’t quite see, but makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.
I don’t have to tell you how much we like to be scared. As horror buffs, we go from movie to book to movie to book always searching for that certain sense of tingly dread, the adrenaline fueled, fight-or-flight response that makes a great film or story so appealing. Horror is the most primal, the most visceral of all art forms, and one of the oldest. From vampires and werewolves to masked psychos and killer dolls, pop culture is a blood-strewn wonderland, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This blog will be my space to post thoughts on some of my favorite films and books, to share news and information about new horror/exploitation releases and happenings, and a place for me to share my own scary stories from time to time. Please comment, share your favorite films and stories, critique my writing; make yourself at home.
So, open the creaky door, mind the cobwebs…
…and, come in.
BX
Things that go bump in the night.
The unmistakable presence behind you that you can’t quite see, but makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.
I don’t have to tell you how much we like to be scared. As horror buffs, we go from movie to book to movie to book always searching for that certain sense of tingly dread, the adrenaline fueled, fight-or-flight response that makes a great film or story so appealing. Horror is the most primal, the most visceral of all art forms, and one of the oldest. From vampires and werewolves to masked psychos and killer dolls, pop culture is a blood-strewn wonderland, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This blog will be my space to post thoughts on some of my favorite films and books, to share news and information about new horror/exploitation releases and happenings, and a place for me to share my own scary stories from time to time. Please comment, share your favorite films and stories, critique my writing; make yourself at home.
So, open the creaky door, mind the cobwebs…
…and, come in.
BX
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