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Showing posts from February, 2010

The Circle File - Death By Dialogue (1988)

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I am not one that usually bashes a movie, for the most part, I can find something it in that makes it appealing. That is until tonight. Death By Dialogue may be the worst 80s horror flick in existance. It took everything, every fad, and threw it together in a story about a haunted script. Unfotunately, for the writer and director, it didn't work. Now no I why it was part of the Drive-In Classics DVD set, because no one in their right mind would buy it for themselves if they knew what it was. I know that I didn't go into great detail, but, thit really didn't warrent it. If you want to see a movie with a terrible script, subpar acting and terrible FX, this is your film. Let me warn you though, you better drink a lot before hand, you are going to need it.

Bored on Sunday - Built My Mummy Diorama

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Being bored and dealing with the remnants of the past winter storm I needed to find something to do before I went crazy. Since I am out of bottles for my Jersey Devil Project, I decided to work toward building a mummy diorama, having scored a loose Little Big Head Mummy at the thrift store the other day. After struggling over two days with clay, finding sand and misplacing the glue, I finally finished it earlier. Unfortunatly, the sand that I added as a mist to the jar to create a sandstorm effect is preventing me from scoring a great picture...

Succubus (1967)

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While thinking of Lilith, the 1967 classic Succubus came to mind. This international cult classic stars Janine Reynaud as Lorna, a nightclub performer whose act involves simulated murder, sex, and torture. Her husband (Jack Taylor) owns the club, and is worried about her. Her fantasies are becoming indistinguishable from reality, and maybe she is killing for real. A mysterious stranger (producer Adrian Hoven) follows her around, claiming to be a demon lover from the past. To try and describe any more would be futile. Suffice it to say, this is one of those 1960s art movies where a dwarf in a tuxedo solemnly puts LSD on everyone's tongue at a swinging party. Composer Jerry Van Rooyen keeps things jumping with an incredible score of strings and surreal jazz. (from Yahoo pictures)     Note: this film has more nudity, sadomasochism, lesbianism, word-association, mannequins, murder, and general decadence than any sane person can soak up in one viewing; hence it needs to b

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

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The Satanic Rites of Dracula , or  Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride , is definitely a different entity when it comes to Hammer Horror and the great Christopher Lee’s rendition of the famed character. While this film is nowhere near the glory of the original ones in the series, there are some very entertaining moments that truly make this a must see. For me, the modern storyline is awesome and when looking back at that era, it is on the money as Lavey’s Church of Satan was rising. Plus, it was great to see Dracula going to great measures to strike a fatal blow to mankind instead of the clichéd Van Helsing family getting the last laugh. Vampires are powerful creatures and this portrayal added some flair to a character that had been growing a bit stagnant over the years (not to mention today) The basic plotline is that a secret organization meeting at Pelham House worries the British Intelligence after evidence is unearthed of high-ranking officials taking part of satan

Instead Of Watching Paranormal Activity Revisit Poltergeist And Its Curse

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With all the talk that  Paranormal Activity  has received, I thought it would be interesting to look back at a paranormal classic and the apparent curse that has haunted it all of these years. It is hard to believe, but it has been nearly three decades since the release of the original Poltergeist   film and, surely, the segment of the public who clamor to blood-and-gore flicks of the 21st century would not be overly interested in voices coming from a static filled TV set…or would they? With a rehash of classic 1980s supernatural thriller tentatively set for a 2011 release, which, in reality is not too far off. Horror film fans old enough to remember the original Poltergeist movie series may or may not rejoice at the thought of a frame for frame shot for shot remake of the original Steven Spielberg / Tobe Hooper collaboration but it looks to have been green lighted. Don’t remember the original three films? Let me set you up with a primer to the movies – and the curse. Yes, the curse

Paranormal Activity = The Blair Witch Project in 10 Years

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Viral ad campaign, check; creepy subject matter; check, unknown filmmaker creating something special on a shoestring budget, check; I am talking about the famed The Blair Witch Project , right? Well, not this time. While 2009 did mark the 10th anniversary of the independent masterpiece, it is Paranormal Activity   that took the world by storm following much of the same rules made famous a decade ago. This film, reportedly made for roughly $18,000 by writer/director/producer/editor Oren Peli, struck fear in the hearts of viewers and eventually outshined some big-budget competition at the box office. The premise of the story is typical to many ghost stories or paranormal themed movies that frequent the big screen. A young couple begins experiencing strange occurrences in their house after moving in together. Not long after the activity begins, Katie (one of the two main characters) reveals that she has experienced some of the same happenings before as a child. Excited by the possibil

Zombie and CSI - One Week Away

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I am not a huge fan of CSI Miami, but when I saw that they brought Rob Zombie on as a guest director for their March 1st episode, I was at least intrigued to watch it. Zombie's work has been really hit and miss with me. For everything that I enjoy (Devils Rejects), there is stuff that drives me insane (Halloween II). Plus, to hear he may be redoing The Blob... Ugh! In this episode (from the press release) entitled, "L.A." - Horatio and Delko must travel to Los Angeles when a secret from Jesse's past may allow a killer to go free, on CSI: MIAMI, Monday, March 1 (10:00-11:00 PM, EST on CBS.  To help complete the environment that he want he brought along guest stars including Zombie's wife Sheri Moon Zombie ("Halloween") as a Los Angeles photographer; William Forsythe ("Halloween") as the Los Angeles Police Chief, Malcolm McDowell ("Heroes") as a sleazy lawyer defending the murder suspect and Michael Madsen ("Kill Bill") as a

Dissecting the Creature - The Wendigo

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With winter being in full force and creature features everywhere, I figured I would come up with a look into this world. If I may, let me take you on a venture into the dark forest for an encounter so terrifying, your entire visage may change. For now, the wind is howling and the chills of the clear winter’s night are setting in. Outside, surveying your every move in to the taboo is the vile Wendigo , waiting patiently for you to partake in the pleasures of the flesh. A giant, with a heart of ice; stands menacingly before you. This creature is a malevolent spirit, a cannibal and a shape-shifter, all parts of a deformed skeleton waiting to engulf your life force, craving an opportunity to possess your existence. From Algonquin mythology, this legendary tyrant was a picture of gluttony, greed, and excess; unable to quench their appetite with one bite, or body. They were constantly on a quest for new sinners, new victims that indulge in overwhelming greed or cannibalism. All the while, g

Short Film Script - The Missing Scene From The Blob

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After eating some of the great Blob cake that Brenda made me for my birthday, I started to think back to Blobfest  and the interesting day we spent in Pheonixville, home of the Blob. Last year as part of the the 10th Anniversary Blobfest, they had a short film script-writing contest to offset their short film contest. As a writer it was a challenge to in 500 words or less, create the missing scene from The Blob. If you are familiar with the movie, this would be about what happened in the bar on Second Street that is talked about in the movie but never shown. In scene 240, Sgt. Burt recounts how he stopped at the Second Street bar while making his rounds, finding no one there. Also, when two of the teens stop in another bar to help rally the town against the monster, the bartender tells them about some excitement at the Second Street bar earlier that night. While my entry did not win, I held my head high as it was the first screenplay of any type that I finished.   Here

My Awesome Birthday Gift That Replaced The Flea Markets This Week (Besides the Snow)

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With snow still covering much of our countryside here in New Jersey, the flea market / estate sale finds have been at a minimum. Fortunately, between writing and watching many of my favorite horror movies, I have been able stay somewhat sane. However, todays lack of sales was replaced by joy when I dove deep into my birthday present from my wife, Saturday passes to the Saturday Nightmares  Expo in Jersey City, NJ next month. What a cool gift and awesome schedule of events for me to look forward too! SATURDAY - 10 AM - 7 PM Vendors/Guests signing - 3 PM Ken Foree  - Main Auditorium - 6:30 PM Panel Discussion - George Romero, Ken Foree, Tom Savini, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, John Amplas and Adrienne Barbeau. - Double-Feature Film Screening - 'CreepShow' & 'Dawn of the Dead'! - 'Twilight Zone' Marathon Main Auditorium - (All day between events) vote it up!