HOUSE OF GOOD AND EVIL is an upcoming horror / thriller written by Blu de Golyer and directed by David Mun and starringRachel Marie Lewis, Christian Oliver, Marietta Marich, Jordan Rhodes, Rob Neukirch and Bo Keister. While there isn't currently a trailer available (although there should be soon) you can find the synopsis, poster and a delightfully disturbing still from the film below. And don't forget to head on over to the official Facebook page to 'like' the film and follow its progress. Stay tuned to SILVER SCREAM for more news and hopefully a trailer and release date in the near future. Synopsis: "After a family tragedy in the chaotic city, Chris and Maggie Conley, in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage from the temptations of the city, move to an isolated home in the mountains. As they start to get to know each other again, they quickly discover evil has a key...houses are not haunted, people are"
PACIFIC RIM's viral campaign kicked off a few days ago with the release of 'Kaiju Emergency Alert System' clip (below) and a leaked memo from the Pan Pacific Defense Corps official website.
Since then we have seen the release of four blueprints for the massive human-piloted robot Jaegers. Head on down for the blueprints and clips and stay tuned for more viral goodness while we wait for PACIFIC RIM's release on July 12, 2013.
A few weeks back I posted the trailer for THE DEMON'S ROOK, but I thought I'd give people another chance to check it out because I think it's so damn cool. Otherworldly portals, demons, summoned monsters, mind possession; what's not to like? And if that doesn't do it for you then keep scrolling down and check out some stills from the film which show some damn impressive practical effects work. More stills and behind the scenes photos await you at the official Facebook page and make sure you head over to the film's website too. Also if you feel like contributing to this fine looking indie horror you can help out at the IndieGoGo campaign.
Synopsis:“The story follows a young boy named Roscoe who finds a portal to another world where he is taught magic by an exiled demon elder. Confined to their mystical cave, Roscoe is raised up by the demon elder in secret. Once he is discovered by three other demons, Roscoe must escape to avoid their wrath. Through desperation, he is forced to escape through the portal that leads back to our world. Unbeknownst to Roscoe, he leads the demons to discover the portal for themselves. Once the demons pass through, a nightmarish foray of summoned monsters are unleashed. One demon possesses the minds and will of all whom she crosses, another transforms a man into a murderous beast, and the other summons an army of the dead to do his bidding” THE DEMON'S ROOK is directed by James Sizemore and stars Ashleigh Jo Sizemore, James Sizemore, John Chatham, Josh Gould, Dustin Dorough and Sade' Smith.
Bloody Disgusting has referred to this micro budget indie as "one of the best horror film debuts since Sam Raimi unleashed THE EVIL DEAD" and for a film shot in only seven days with a GH1 Digital SLR that is high praise indeed.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DIE takes a familiar yet fresh approach to horror, taking a group of young activists out in the woods to create a habitat for underprivileged kids and then throwing everything into bloody disarray.
Written and directed by Bradley Scott Sullivan and starringEmmy Robbin, Kurt Cole, Indiana Adams, Niko Red Star, Madi Goff, Jeremy Vandermause and Travis Scott Newman, I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DIE began screening in select theatres last month via Tugg and will be available on VOD and DVD in January 2013. Check out the trailer along with some stills for the film below and head on over to the official Facebook page and website for more info. Synopsis: "I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DIE is the story of six young volunteers working on a humanitarian project deep in the remote wilderness. Horrific accidents, rash decisions, and the unpredictability of human nature leads them all to the same disturbing conclusion: Volunteer work can be a killer..."
I fucking love the shit out of this movie. It's a frenetic, black & white piece of Japanese industrial awesomeness. Not a lot of dialogue here but it's the stunning visuals and industrial soundtrack that's most impressive here. Well crafted stop motion and mechanised body-horror all wrapped up in a disturbing, nightmarish hour long film. If you're a fan of David Lynch, Cronenberg and/or Nine Inch Nails then this film should be at the top of your must watch list.
TETSUO: THE IRON MAN: "A strange man known only as the "metal fetishist", who seems to have an insane compulsion to stick scrap metal into his body, is hit and possibly killed by a Japanese "salaryman", out for a drive with his girlfriend. The salaryman then notices that he is being slowly overtaken by some kind of disease that is turning his body into scrap metal, and that his nemesis is not in fact dead but is somehow masterminding and guiding his rage and frustration-fueled transformation"
Starring: Scout Taylor-Compton, Christina Ulloa, Travis Van Winkle
Imagine being trapped in a sauna while the heat steadily climbs and to make things worse nobody outside actually knows where you are. That would be terrible right? In fact it would probably be almost as bad as having to sit through this movie.
If you want to know the plot well I've pretty much just summed it up in the previous paragraph. Three friends (Compton, Ulloa & Van Winkle) staying at a holiday house get trapped inside a sauna. A fourth friend awakens from a drunken stupor and thinks that his pals have left for the party they were planning on attending, so he’s no help. The owner of the cabin is away making preparations for said party so he’s no help either. As the heat rises and the supply of bottled water runs out the trapped trio start losing their shit as they realize that nobody is coming for them. The sauna is a sturdy building made out of trees and the door simply won’t budge, and the only window is a tiny porthole with enough room to stick an arm out. What to do then? Cue a lot of yelling, screaming, crying etc.
Lots of movies have tried to tackle the idea of filming almost solely in a single isolated location, and with varying success. A good example of a success would be the recent film BURIED with Ryan Reynolds, and while I was not a huge fan of it (mostly because I can’t stand Reynolds) I couldn't deny that the filmmakers did a fantastic job of handling a movie that is set entirely in a fucking coffin. That’s a coffin. Buried underground. With one person in it. You’d think a sauna with three people in it would be no problem then, right? Well apparently not.
247°F is in my opinion much too long and would have been much more effective as a shorter film with less filler. The start of the movie (before the whole sauna incident happens) drags on for way too long and even when these three characters are trapped, the film insists on showing scenes happening outside which really have no bearing on the plot.
Also there is a weak subplot embedded in there somewhere which really has no impact at all.
Making the characters as annoying as they are just makes things worse. I didn't know this but apparently the best way to escape from a sauna is to bitch and argue and fight with each other, or at least that’s what these three think of as the best idea. If I were in the sauna with them I would be welcoming death with open arms.
But it’s not all bad news. There are a few exciting parts although they are few and far between, and the film at least looks good. As far as the acting goes it’s not award winning but it’s decent for what’s needed here. I know it seems like I may be tearing this movie to shreds but there is definitely an audience for 247°F. If your idea of fun is watching a half-naked Scout Taylor-Compton sweat it up in a sauna with another girl and a guy then by all means go ahead. Similarly if you’re in the market for a movie which doesn't require much brain power to process then this will suffice. Personally I was just really disappointed because I thought the concept had more potential than this, and it’s not something I plan on watching again. Having said that however, there have been plenty of worse movies this year so at least there’s that to hold on to.
There's not a whole lot to go on at the moment in regards to the upcoming psychological thriller ÎNGLODA but hey, an intriguing synopsis and poster are better than nothing right? If you like a good psychological thriller and want to support independent films then keep reading and don't forget to check out the film's official Facebook page and website. And stay tuned to this blog for further info.
From the website: "ÎNGLODA is an independent feature film written and directed by Brian Targett and Produced by Everett Burgan. The film will be shot by Cinematographer Robert Bittle. The film is a dark psychological thriller that follows Kelly as she discovers dark secrets about her past. Her friends Kacy and Nikki try to help her as she slowly loses her grip on reality. Îngloda will be shot in the winter of 2013 in the Greater Philadelphia area. ÎNGLODA is expected to be ready for release to independent film festivals and distributors late 2013" ÎNGLODA is set to star Lauren Danese, Rachel Worrell and Amber Figueroa and should start production next month.
You may remember there being quite a bit of coverage for this film on this blog earlier in the year. The self proclaimed 'scariest movie of 2012' is directed by Joe Raffa and was filmed at the Hotel of Horror in Saylorsburgh, PA and stars Corey Feldman,Joe Raffa, Nicole Cinaglia and David Bonner. Well SIX DEGREES OF HELL has finally been released and is available for purchase on both DVD and Blu-ray at Amazon and Breaking Glass Pictures at reduced prices. You can also find the film on Netflix. Haven't yet heard about SIX DEGREES OF HELL? Then read on for the synopsis and make sure you check out the trailer and official Facebook page.
Synopsis: "In rural Pennsylvania, six people are connected by a supernatural force that has claimed the life of one of them. Now, a paranormal perfect storm is about to descend on a local Halloween haunted house while a paranormal investigator (Corey Feldman) tries to piece together exactly what's happening"
DARK HOLLOW is the sophomore effort from director Paul Campion who last brought us the demonic Nazi film THE DEVIL'S ROCK. The film is an adaptation of bestselling author Brian Keen's novel of the same name and concerns a writer who discovers an evil creature living in the forest. And it just so happens that Campion used to be a visual effects artist for WETA, working on the likes of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and has managed to get them on board so expect some impressive creature effects. Read on below for the synopsis, trailer and poster and if you like what you see make sure you go check out the official Facebook page for further updates.
Synopsis: "Set in a small Central Pennsylvania town that borders a woodland with a sinister reputation, Dark Hollow sees women beginning to disappear. Strange pipe music can be heard drifting in from the woods, which has a strange effect on the libidos of those who hear it. The trees in the woods seem to move with a will of their own. Adam Shay, a mid level mystery writer, and a small group of his neighbours discover the evil behind this and become determined to put a stop to it, leading to a showdown with the force orchestrating the disappearances"
Welcome to yet another new segment on this blog. Indie Spotlight is exactly what the title suggests, every week, month or whenever the heck I feel like it I will post an upcoming indie film that intrigues me and hopefully it will intrigue you as well. I hope that in doing so I can expose some people to some horror films which they otherwise may not have found on their own, even if I turn just one new person on to these films I will consider it a success.
To open this brand new segment I bring you SLEDGE, the upcoming slasher written by Kristian Hanson and directed by Hanson and John Sovie II. SLEDGE promises a generous dose of both horror and humor and by the looks of the trailer some good old fashioned practical effects as well as a brand new masked killer in the villain Adam Lynch. If you're a fan of sledgehammers, face collecting, blood and laughs then check out the full trailer below along with some images from the film and if you like what you see make sure you check out the official Facebook page.
Synopsis: SLEDGE: A True American Horror Story hits you from the beginning with originality. From the skull crushing death, to the killer, Adam Lynch, who in his psyche believes he is living in a movie and video game world. With each kill, he adds to his collection, which happens to be the faces of his victims. As a new group of people show up to the secluded rental camp ground, Adam meticulously watches them all to see if any is worth sparing their life. With Alex (Dustin Bowman) as the funny guy, Sarah (Stephanie Tupper) the girl Alex wants to be with, Nash (Russ Matoes) the pansy boyfriend who takes the insults Alex dishes at him, Shawn (Travis Hanson) the dimwitted friend and Michelle (Desiree Holmes) the girlfriend of Shawn, they begin their camping trip with fun, booze and sex, all the pieces needed for a good horror movie.
When the sun rises on the next day however, that is when the death begins and people begin to die, one by one in gruesome and hilarious ways. Sledge is a Horror Comedy not seen before, and will leave you screaming with fear and laughter as you leave the theater. Adam Lynch (Kristian Hanson) is one killer, you don’t want to mess with.”
If you're one of the many people who enjoyed this year's anthology V/H/S then you are definitely looking forward to its sequel which is titled S-V/H/S. The first official image for the film is online and you can find it below.
S-V/H/S will feature work from Gareth Evans (The Raid) co-directing with Timo Tjahjanto (Macabre); Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) co-directing with his long time producer Greg Hale; Jason Eisener (Hobo With A Shotgun); Adam Wingard (You’re Next) and writer Simon Barrett who will be making his directorial debut.
I'd heard that Shia LaBeouf had written and directed a few short films but it wasn't until this week that I actually managed to check one of them out. Seeing as MANIAC is about serial killers I thought it would be a good place to start.
MANIAC is a short mockumentary film in which a camera crew follow the exploits of a pair of serial killers as they try to reach their goal of 8 murders each. If that sounds familiar then perhaps you've seen MAN BITES DOG from 1992 which took a similar path although it explored a lot more themes and ended up being a fairly multifaceted black comedy. MANIAC seems to be more of an exercise in style over substance however and although I know you can only fit so much into a 10 minute short I would have preferred if there were a little more here storywise. But then the story isn't really important because as far as I know this short film is just a platform to showcase Kid Cudi and Chris Palko's collaboration on the track Maniac, or something like that. I'm not too familiar with either artist but that's what I understand anyway.
But aside from the wafer thin plot there is plenty to enjoy about this short because visually and technically it is really quite good. Black & white is used effectively as is the color grading and there are a lot of nice shots including the slow opening tracking shot. Even the action shots are followed fairly well and the soundtrack fits the film quite nicely. I did have an issue with the use of CGI blood at one point and there is a fairly questionable scene involving a molotov cocktail that doesn't seem to act like a molotov cocktail really should, but apart from that there are far worse ways to spend 10 minutes of your life.
If you're a fan of Shia, Kid Cudi or Cage then you should probably check this out, and even if you're simply a fan of short film there is enough going on here to hold your attention for the full running time. Even though there's barely a plot and obviously a lot borrowed from MAN BITES DOG, I found this to be an enjoyable short film and if nothing else it looks great. And you can find the full film on Youtube (or below).
DEEP RED (or PROFONDO ROSSO in its native Italian) is not only my favorite Argento film it's also my favorite giallo and also happens to have one of the best soundtracks of all time courtesy of the one and only Goblin. I know a lot of people argue that SUSPIRIA is Argento's finest film and that's perfectly fine, but if you haven't seen DEEP RED then you most certainly need to. Right now. It's probably as close to a perfect example of giallo as you'll find. It's a very visually stunning film with high contrast, bright colors, Argento's signature camerawork, plenty of blood, a long twisting story and a mystery killer. Check out the full movie below, and yes this video is in English although there are some scenes in Italian without subtitles because some of the original English audio was lost.
DEEP RED: "A musician witnesses the murder of a famous psychic, and then teams up with a fiesty reporter to find the killer while evading attempts on their lives by the unseen killer bent on keeping a dark secret buried"
THE COLLECTION hits US theatres on November 30th and in the lead up this latest clip has been released. Personally I thought THE COLLECTOR was a bit crap and didn't really warrant a sequel but hey, maybe this will be one of those sequels that completely eclipses the original. Only time will tell. Check out the clip below. Synopsis: “When Elena’s friends take her to a secret party at an undisclosed location, she never imagined she would become the latest victim of The Collector, a psychopathic killer. The Collector kidnaps and transports her to an abandoned hotel he’s transformed into his own private maze of torture and death. Upon learning of his daughter’s disappearance, Elena’s wealthy father hires a group of mercenaries to retrieve her from the vicious grips of The Collector. These mercenaries coerce Arkin, the only man to have escaped the wrath of this heinous monster, to lead them through the gruesome labyrinth. Now, Arkin finds himself fighting for his own life in order to save Elena"
I always get a little excited at the prospect of a new Australian horror movie and hopefully Andrew Traucki's upcoming film turns out to be a good one. After covering the swamp with BLACK WATER and the ocean with THE REEF Traucki is now heading into THE JUNGLE. The film is currently in post production but if you'd like to give it a helping hand you can head over to the official IndieGoGo campaign and chip in some spare cash.
Synopsis: “The Jungle” tells the story of an Australian Leopard conservationist who ventures into the remote Indonesian jungle with his documentary filmmaker brother; to investigate reported sightings of an endangered species of leopard. Their trek into the jungle becomes ever more bizarre and sinister – with the realization they are being stalked by a deadly unseen predator”
Lately I've been reliving my childhood through a bit of a DOS game binge, playing the classic games I grew up with as a kid. Surprisingly while both graphically and in terms of gameplay most of them have aged not so gracefully, in terms of sheer entertainment and enjoyment a lot of them still stand up pretty well to this day. As far as FPS games go I love DOOM, DUKE NUKEM 3D & SHADOW WARRIOR but I've always had a soft spot for BLOOD.
As far as plot goes there's not really a whole lot going one here. Basically the protagonist Caleb has been somehow resurrected in order to seek revenge and answers from sinister cult 'The Cabal' for whom he was once supreme commander. But this isn't the type of game where you really need to think about plot, all you need to know is that each level is filled with various undead creatures which want you dead. Your job is to kill them all and try to stay alive (or as alive as a resurrected corpse can be) for as long as possible.
To complete these two main tasks you will come across a wide array of interesting weapons, possibly one of the coolest and most unique collections in any FPS. Starting off with a pitchfork you quickly progress to a flare gun (more shooters need to utilize this awesome weapon), dynamite, the classic shot gun and eventually more bizarre weapons like the voodoo doll, aerosol flamethrower and the powerful shock rifle. My favorite was always the shotgun because walking around blowing apart the undead with a shotgun gives the game a heavy ARMY OF DARKNESS vibe which is awesome. Surprisingly for the time this game was released, some of the weapons have alternate fire modes and there is also a pickup which lets you wield dual weapons for a time.
Using a slightly modified version of the Build engine, BLOOD's gameplay resembles that of 3D Realms' classic DOOM. Apart from shooting, stabbing and blowing apart your enemies you will also need to scour the levels for keys in order to advance. Some of the levels have up to 6 separate keys which can be a little too many in my opinion, especially when every corner seems to hide a bloodthirsty monster and at some points you can have a fairly large group converging on you at once. It goes without saying that you will probably find yourself dying a lot in BLOOD.
Another reason I love BLOOD so much is because of its use of pop culture references and especially film references. ARMY OF DARKNESS, JAWS, THE SHINING, FRANKENSTEIN, FRIDAY THE 13TH, DAWN OF THE DEAD and the list goes on. The levels are also filled with hidden rooms and compartments which provide hours of extra gameplay if you want to find them all. As far as level design goes, I always thought BLOOD was a lot better than other similar FPS games although some of them can be a little complicated and involve a bit of backtracking when you inevitably get lost. The levels are quite varied and you will find yourself in graveyards, mortuaries, hospitals, carnivals, temples and an array of other locations.
As you may have guessed by its title BLOOD is quite a graphic game, maybe not nowadays but definitely at the time it was released. Blood is everywhere, spraying walls and the floor and out of the necks of decapitated demons. Each weapon dispatches your foes in its own bloody way, my favorite being the flare gun which lights them on fire before they explode in a mass of flesh and bone. Yes it is quite tame to look at now but believe me in 1997 this was pretty damn gory for a PC game. There is also a lot of dark humor in the game as Caleb spits out one-liners which mainly reference films like JAWS and ARMY OF DARKNESS and the combination of dark imagery, humor, undead creatures and blood give the game a horror movie type feel which in my book is always a good thing.
Aside from the single player campaign BLOOD also had multiplayer options although I don't remember ever trying them. Bloodbath is the game's version of deathmatch which is played on specially designed multiplayer levels and also the campaign levels. I had so much fun playing the campaign that I never even considered the multiplayer not that it matters because even the single player has a ton of gameplay especially when you add the expansion packs The Plasma Pak & Cryptic Passage which give the game more single player levels, multiplayer levels, new enemies and bosses but unfortunately no additions to Caleb's arsenal.
While it's probably difficult to find a physical copy of BLOOD and its expansion packs, all of them are available on gog.com for a very reasonable price. Fans of DOOM, QUAKE and similar style FPS games will get a kick out of BLOOD but even if you're a fan of retro games I'd say this is well worth checking out. Personally it's one of the best First Person Shooters I've ever played.
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