Posts

Showing posts from June, 2011

The Possession of David O'Reilly (2010)

Image
 After taking a couple of days off, I decided to jump back into the swing of things with another low budget, independent flick. This time I decided on The Possession of David O'Reilly (AKA The Torment ) from 2010. Plot/ Based on actual events, this is a terrifying supernatural shockumentary about a demonic presence in a young couple's home in London. This low budget flick definitely has its moments. Yes, the plot seems sporadic and incoherent at times, really causing some head scratching moments and some of the cinematographic elements seemed a bit amateurish, but there were also a lot of good things about the film as well. The soundtrack is extremely eerie and definitely adds some depth to the creepy atmosphere, the acting is solid and there is a ton of potential. Unfortunately, that potential is offset by some choppy pacing, poor characterization and a frustrating ending that leaves a blah taste. Sure, I enjoyed it (yes, even the incoherent plot)  but I d

Investigators Journal: The Jersey Devil

Image
These are three case files of an ongoing investigation of the New Jersey Pinelands in search of the famed Jersey Devil.    The Pinelands (Pine Barrens) The Pinelands National Reserve is a vast paradise of nature. Created by Congress under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978, the Pinelands National Reserve became the first nature preserve in the United States. Amazingly, this area encompasses approximately 1.1 million acres covering portions of seven counties and all or parts of 56 municipalities in the state of New Jersey, occupying 22% of New Jersey's land area. It is also said to be home to one of the most mysterious legends known to man. The Legend In 1735, a woman named Mother Leeds, who had already had 12 children, gave birth to a 13 th child on a dark and stormy night. During labor she proclaimed, “ May the Devil take this one, ” and supposedly old Satan granted her wish. Much to the onlooker’s surprise, the baby turned into a monster with

Plasterhead (2006)

Image
With my Sci Fi / Steampunk thirst quenched this weekend, I decided to jump back into my comfort zone. My selection for yesterday evening was the 2006 low budget flick, Plasterhead .   Plot/ Every town has a local legend. Not all of them are deadly. Headed to Miami to celebrate winter break, a group of four college students from New Jersey take a detour into the bowels of rural West Virginia. There, the unwitting friends uncover a grotesque legend that stains the fabric of Rolling Glen, a sleepy backwoods town. I absolutely love independent and low budget horror! Yes, there is usually a slew of problems that go with the flicks and this one is no different. The acting, pacing and storyline are all uneven, as are some of the locations that just do not fit. And yes, some of the make-up and effects suffer from the low budget. However, this film does boast some tremendous camera work, atmosphere and cinematographic excellence. Honestly, this is a beautifully shot flick

Wild Wild West (1999)

Image
After enjoying Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog , I was in the mood for something different. But, with the girls running in and out of the house, my choices are limited. In the end I decided to revisit 1999s Wild Wild West . Plot/ The two best hired guns in the West must save President Grant from the clutches of a 19th century inventor-villain. I remember the TV show, which was an interesting blend of the West and Sci Fi action, and it helped make my Saturday mornings before Super Host more interesting. Unfortunately, this movie did not do the same. Yes, watching it again now (11 or so years later), actually added some entertainment value with the Steampunk feel, but it is still a bad movie. Yes, there are some good points that boast solid acting and decent direction. However, the scripting and some of the performances really brought this flick down. Honestly, this may be one of the worst screenplays ever! All-in-all, it has entertaining moments, but if this is what

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)

Image
This morning my wife put on a short film for all of us to watch over breakfast. Not knowing much about it, I had mixed emotions (especially when she said it was a musical). Soon, I discovered that Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog was not your normal musical. Plot/ Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillain with his own video blog, is attempting to join the prestigious Evil League of Evil, but his plans are usually foiled by the egotistical superhero Captain Hammer. When I sat down to watch this short flick this morning, I had no idea what to expect. But, after laughing and humming along with the songs, I was blown away and left wanting more. This little movie has it all, laughs, drama, action; everything you could want wrapped up in one package. The music, songs, script, and acting are amazing (especially the stars Nathon Fillion, Felicia Day, and Neil Patrick Harris who work perfect together). In the end, this is a great flick that must be seen, if you have not wa

Creep (2004)

Image
Last night, I decided to get back into some horror movie enjoyment by hanging out on Netflix. After some time and debate, I decided on the British horror flick Creep from 2004. Plot/ Trapped in a London subway station, a woman is being pursued by a potential attacker as she heads into the unknown labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city's streets. When I saw this on Netflix, I could not put a finger on why I was not truly excited about watching this one. Now that I have seen Creep, I can understand my lack of excitement. This movie is not creepy at all; in fact other than the isolationism fear it creates, it lacks a gripping atmosphere. This linear, cliché driven storyline is decent and does feature a touch of violence. However, there is not much more to offer. The acting and script are only OK, and the ending does nothing. Really, there is nothing that makes this film stand-out in the crowded horror genre.

Halfway There!

Image
We are halfway through the voting for the Blobfest 2011 Short Awards and Jillian's short film Blob Zombie  is holding it own with 32 percent of the votes. I want to Thank everyone who has voted for her! Anyone interested in voting can go to the Colonial Theatre website and vote for the Fans Choice Award. Voting will conclude on the 27th. Thanks again!  

Captivity (2007)

Image
While sitting back and looking for something to watch, I couldn’t find anything that I was truly in the mood for. Finally I sat down to Captivity from 2007. Plot/ A man and a woman awaken to find themselves captured in a cellar. As their kidnapper drives them psychologically mad, the truth about their horrific abduction is revealed. I was on the fence before watching this, really not sure on what to expect. What I found was a decent flick. Sure, it was rather cliché, but, it had a good feel throughout. Yes, there were flaws, yes, the editing was subpar, the plot had holes and the acting offered very little excitement. However, there was at least enough atmosphere and style to keep the film moving. Yes, this movie is far from perfect, but it is interesting and worth watching at least once.

The Naked Witch (1961)

Image
After taking a few days off from blogging, I decided to just back into it with something a little different. My selection was The Naked Witch from Something Weird Video . Plot/ A student researching the German settlements of Central Texas unearths the grave of a reputed witch. The witch (who happens to be both beautiful and naked) rises from her grave and embarks on a campaign of seduction and murder against the descendants of her persecutors. It's up to the student to stop her bloody reign of terror-if he can resist the seductive powers of her evil beauty. If you have read my blog, you know that I am a fan of weird and strange B Movies, and honestly, I find that Something Weird Video is awesome. However, this entry from their catalogue left a lot to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good points (especially considering the budget) like the setting and some of the camera work, but that does little to make-up for the bad. The plot holes, acting a

Voting Now Open! Blobfest 2011 Shorty Awards.

Image
Voting opened today and you can vote for daughter Jillian's short film  Blob Zombie  for the 2011 Shorty Awards for Blobfest! Anyone interested in voting can go to the Colonial Theatre website and vote for the Fans Choice Award.

Collecting Haunted Items

Image
In many ways, the paranormal boom of recent years has been a blessing. Not only has it brought a fringe science into the forefront of the adult collective, it has opened the eyes of many skeptics that once overlooked the spirit world that surrounded them. Research in the paranormal has also opened up a new hobby - paranormal collecting. Ironically, to many people, this pastime is nothing new. Collecting items of interest is something many people do to show off their personality. Personally, I have an affinity for hats, especially older hats that I find at estate sales and such. These sales now receive a boost in business from collectors looking to find the next addition to their collection. Finding these collectibles is the fun part; for many of us, it is like a treasure hunt or a race, hoping to beat someone to that believed one-of-a-kind artifact that can set you apart. However, if you are a paranormal enthusiast, collecting paranormal items can be more challenging than collecting

Behind the Scenes of Blob Zombie

Image
Here are some random pictures from making Jillian's movie Blob Zombie for Blobfest ! It is awesome that the girls did all the make-up and scripting. It was definitely a FUN project! Thanks to J.J. Abrams and Super 8 for showing kids that the can really make movies. 

Jillian's Blobfest Video - Blob Zombie

Image
The Shorty’s Contest is our way of paying homage to the late, great Shorty Yeaworth, Jr., director of The Blob . This year is our 5th annual contest and the films just keep getting better and better! To enter the contest just round up some willing victims, er friends and neighbors, and make a short film that is centered on The Blob, Blobfest, or sci-fi in general. Last year, I made a video for the contest (which won Fans Choice). This year, my daughter Jillian wanted to try her hand at filmmaking, and actually created a better flick than I did. Here is her movie Blob Zombie!

Child's Play 2 (1990)

Image
After dinner I decided to kick back with the kids and watch Child’s Play 2 . While I am not the biggest Chucky fan, for some reason the daughters enjoy him. Plot/ Chucky's back as the doll possessed by the soul of a serial killer, butchering all who stand in his way of possessing the body of a boy. This film suffers like many sequels by lacking the elements that make the first of a series so much fun. Sure, that is not to say that this film is terrible, it just lacks the overall depth and originality of the original. The story is decent, the acting is solid and there is enough gore to go around. Plus, you have Chucky who has some hilarious moments that keep you wanting more. Unfortunately, in this case, the gore may be a bit too much, taking away from the atmosphere that made the Child’s Play so memorable. In the end, this is decently entertaining and a decent follow-up. If you are a fan of Chucky this can be a fun flick!