All the Colours of the Dark is a 1972 Italian/Spanish giallo horror thriller film directed by Sergio Martino (Mountain of the Cannibal God; The Great Alligator; Torso) from a screenplay by Ernesto Gastaldi and Sauro Scavolini, based on a storyline by Santiago Moncada (although Gastaldi has disputed this). It stars George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Ivan Rassimov and Julian Ugarte.

Tutti i colori del buio (Italian title) aka Todos los colores de la oscuridad (Spanish title) has also been released as They’re Coming to Get You, Day of the Maniac and Demons of Dead (US Independent International titles).

The film’s soundtrack score was composed by Bruno Nicolai.

In the UK, the film is released on Blu-ray and DVD by Shameless on 12 June 2017.

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Jane (Edwige Fenech) lives in Putney, London, with Richard (George Hilton), her boyfriend. When she was five, Jane’s mother was murdered, and she recently lost a baby in a car crash. She’s plagued by nightmares of a knife-wielding, blue-eyed man and soon finds herself stalked by him too.

Richard, a pharmaceutical salesman, thinks the cure is vitamins; Jane’s sister Barbara, who works for a psychiatrist, recommends analysis; Mary, a neighbour whom Jane meets, promises that if she participates in a Black Mass, all her fears will disappear…

Reviews:

“As far as gialli go, All the Colors of the Dark is one of the very best. From the get-go, with a quietly terrifying fade to black view of an isolated river cutting to a disorienting nightmare which makes not one lick of sense, the viewer is made to feel just as unsure of their sanity as the heroine! The film does a superb job of identifying with Jane, throwing her into a whirlwind of horrific imagery which she doesn’t understand.” Casey Scott, DVD Drive-In

” …a very head-trippy, surreal and unique giallo flick (given its occult theme, not normally explored within the genre) that unfortunately is a little slow at times (something that is normally associated with the genre). The movie lacks much of the intrigue and plot twists that Martino displays in his better films…” Terrence Kelsey, Feo Amante

” …melds a Hitchcockian woman-in-peril/murder mystery plot with trippy, supernatural frills. Both aspects yield their own strengths. The devil worshipping horror stuff provides some unsettling imagery (particularly those skin-crawling hallucinations) presented in sumptuous scope photography, while Martino ratchets up the tension throughout the mystery angle, as the story takes some satisfyingly twisted turns.” Andrew Pragasam, The Spinning Image

“Special note must be made of Martino’s stylish and fluid direction. The use of stately locations in England helps to give the film an appropriately chilly quality, while the expert framing and use of colour ensures that the film looks good from beginning to end.” Troy Howarth, So Deadly, So Perverse

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

” …while this doesn’t play as sleazily as many of its counterparts, it’s still pulsing with sexuality. Likewise, the violence isn’t as gratuitous or elaborate as what you’ll find in a giallo, but there’s certainly a mean, grisliness to the film, particularly with the Satanic stuff. Transcending the clunkiness is a bit hard–even some of the surrounding performances are often as mechanical as a plot… Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

” …All the Colours of the Dark is so chic it hurts. Great locations, awesome soundtrack, yeah, yeah, there could have been more gore, but Sergio Martino makes stalking seem cool again; not that it ever went out of fashion. A gorgeous leading lady and an effective villain make this Italian giallo worth a look-see.” House of Self-Indulgence

“Of these films Tutti i colori del buio is arguably the most alluring, containing as it does a crazed agglomeration of psychedelic effects to illustrate Fenech’s mounting paranoia […] Martino comes up with such arresting tableaux as an elderly couple frozen in death over their breakfast newspapers.” Jonathan Rigby, Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Despite the requisite wooden acting and baffling plot-holes […] All the Colors of the Dark is an enjoyable piece of hokum that should please fans both of the giallo format and of supernatural horror. Packed with style, suspense and beautiful women, this Euro shocker is not to be missed.” Michael Mackenzie, The Digital Fix

Choice dialogue:

Jane:”These dreams I have are like horror stories.”

Richard to Barbara: “Beauty should be shown. Why hide yours under all this clothing?”

Richard to Barbara: “You must be the most unforgiving bitch in the world.”

Cast and characters:

• George Hilton as Richard
• Edwige Fenech as Jane Harrison
• Ivan Rassimov as Mark Cogan
• Julian Ugarte as J.P. McBrian
• George Rigaud as Dr. Burton
• Maria Cumani Quasimodo as Elderly Neighbour
• Susan Scott [Nieves Navarro] as Barbara Harrison
• Marina Malfatti as Mary Weil
• Alan Collins as Lawyer Franciscus Clay
• Dominique Boschero as Jane’s Mother
• Renato Chiantoni as Mr. Main
• Tom Felleghy as Inspector Smith
• Lisa Leonardi as Girl with dog

Previous releases:

The film was released on DVD in North America on October 12, 2004 by Shriek Show.

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Filming locations:

Aldwych underground station, London, UK (platform)
Bishop’s Park, Putney, London, UK
Holland Park underground station, London, UK (entrance)
Kenilworth Court, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, England, UK
Wykehurst Park House, East Sussex (also in Demons of the Mind and The Legend of Hell House)

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Running time and aspect ratio:

94 minutes | 2.35: 1

Wikipedia | IMDb |

Image credits: CineMaterial.com | House of Self-Indulgence | Multiglom | VHS Collector

‘Stalked by fear and terror… day and night!’

The Man Who Haunted Himself is a 1970 British horror thriller film written and directed by Basil Dearden (Dead of Night; The Halfway House) from a screenplay co-written with producer Michael Relph and [uncredited] Bryan Forbes (The Stepford Wives).

The film was based on the 1957 novel The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham by Anthony Armstrong, initially written as a 1955 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It stars Roger Moore (who cited as his favourite of his own films), Hildegarde Neil and Alastair Mackenzie.

Whilst driving his Rover P5B, uptight City of London worker Harold Pelham appears to become possessed and has a serious high-speed accident.

On the operating table, he briefly suffers clinical death, after which there appear to be two heartbeats on the monitor. When he awakes, Pelham finds his life has been turned upside-down; in his job as a director of a marine technology company he learns that he now supports a merger that he once opposed, and that he apparently is having an affair.

Friends, colleagues and acquaintances claim to have seen him in places where he has never been, and Pelham starts being followed by a mysterious silver car: a Lamborghini Islero. Does Pelham have a doppelgänger or is he actually going insane?

Buy Blu-ray + DVD: Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” …though perhaps somewhat middle-of-the-road compared to other British horrors of the time such as The Wicker Man or Don’t Look Now, it had an unforgettable power. It is very skillfully directed by Basil Dearden […] The cinematography is mostly workmanlike, but occasional inspired. The editing, in key sequences, is outstanding. Michael J. Lewis’ score is compelling, the jaunty main theme becoming a haunting element in the narrative itself.” Gary Dalkin, To the Last Word

“It’s an “A” certificate film, though, so don’t be expecting Hammer or Amicus style horror. This is more akin to a big budget version of an episode of Brian Clemen’s Thriller or Tales of the Unexpected, which in no way is meant as a negative. As a macabre and ironic footnote, director Dearden died in a car accident not too long after the film’s release.” The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth

” …somewhat tediously plotted, but it still manages to remain an interesting and well-made swan song from Dearden. For Roger Moore (who was Ian Fleming’s ideal James Bond), it’s a very atypical role, but he does an excellent job and it’s one of his finest hours in terms of acting. Hammer fans will recognize a lot of familiar character actors in smaller roles…” George R. Reis, DVD Drive-In

“The manner of his realization depends largely upon the hero’s personality, and since he is a man of regular, dull habits, the realization follows a regular, dull process—which is finally the shape of the movie. Any number of directors might have found in this a logical development of terror, but Dearden has merely found in it a poorly developed logic, and nothing even partly interesting happens to enliven its progress.” Roger Greenspun, The New York Times, September 4, 1971

Disc releases:

The film was released on DVD format in 2005 with a PG rating. The DVD includes special features including a commentary by Roger Moore and Bryan Forbes.

A new HD restoration from the original film elements was released in a dual-format package on 24 June 2013 by Network Distributing. The Blu-Ray disc is in 16:9 aspect ratio. Special features include – 34 minute music suite of Michael J. Lewis’s original score; a commentary track recorded in 2005, featuring Roger Moore and Bryan Forbes; the original theatrical trailer; four image galleries, including storyboards; and promotional material in PDF format.

Cast and characters:

• Roger Moore as Harold Pelham
• Hildegarde Neil as Eve Pelham
• Alastair Mackenzie as Michael Pelham
• Hugh Mackenzie as James Pelham
• Kevork Malikyan as Luigi
• Thorley Walters as Frank Bellamy
• Anton Rodgers as Tony Alexander
• Olga Georges-Picot as Julie Anderson
• Freddie Jones as Dr. Harris, a psychiatrist
• John Welsh as Sir Charles Freeman
• Edward Chapman as Barton
• Laurence Hardy as Mason
• Charles Lloyd-Pack as Jameson
• Gerald Sim as Morrison
• Ruth Trouncer as Miss Bird, Pelham’s secretary
• Aubrey Richards as Research Scientist
• Anthony Nicholls as Sir Arthur Richardson
• John Carson as Ashton

Wikipedia | IMDb | Image credits: The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth

Posted in tribute to the late Roger Moore.

Seoul Station – Korean: 서울역 – is a 2017 animated South Korean zombie horror film written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho. The movie is a prequel to Sangho’s much-praised 2016 film Train to Busan. It features the voices of Ryu Seung-ryong, Shim Eun-kyung and Lee Joon.

As the sun sets around Seoul Station, an old man thought to have died sinks his teeth into the warm flesh of a homeless person. Soon, the streets are filled with vicious zombies desperate to feed.

Hae-sun, a runaway, witnesses the frightening sight while her father and boyfriend desperately search for her. As the attacked become the attackers, the government declares a lock out of the station, leaving the uninfected to struggle desperately against the dangerous undead. With zombie numbers exploding, people are forced to flee with no place to run to, not knowing if they will survive…

The film is released by FilmRise on iTunes in the US on May 30, 2017. Studiocanal released Seoul Station on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on 30 April 2017.

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” …Seoul Station‘s aesthetic style and social commentary are certainly in-sync with the more political, European bande dessinée, known for its engagement with real life. And the film also nods at traditions set by George A. Romero’s rough-and-ready subversive zombie flicks, as Yeon moulds the gore and grotesquerie into admittedly understated social metaphors about hopelessness and alienation in a society ridden with inequality.” Clarence Tsui, The Hollywood Reporter

“Where Busan was a brash and frequently deafening spectacle, this is notably more downbeat, cast in a muted, perma-grey hue and focusing on those desolate souls trapped in life’s margins. At times it is oppressively morose, but it has a nice dusting of social realism to go with the violence, and reaches an agreeably nasty conclusion.” Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian

“As much as it has to say about the struggles of Seoul’s marginalized, this is not a movie without it’s guilty pleasures. There are enough close calls, creatively claustrophobic suspense, and hilariously over-the-top voice acting to work as a fun popcorn movie. It’s only unsettling once you let it sink in.” Assholes Watching Movies

“With the final fade to black dawns a realization that “Seoul Station” is a mature horror story disguised in a format not commonly known for adult content. Sang-ho Yeon has found an inventive way to make zombies as relevant as ever, without requiring soap opera theatrics for drama or snarling KNB creatures to convey terror.” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt

” …there are a few neat plot twists that you won’t see coming that add an extra bit of excitement, which the film needs because at 92 minutes long the sombre tone and sociopolitical messages do start weigh it down and it becomes a bit of a slog at around the hour mark. Nevertheless, Seoul Station looks fantastic, has a story to tell and is worthy of your attention…” Amie Cranswick, Flickering Myth

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Terror has no curfew.’

After Midnight is a 1989 American horror anthology film written and directed by Jim and Ken Wheat (Pitch Black; The Fly II; The Silent Scream; et al). It stars Judie Aronson, Marg Helgenberger and Marc McClure.

On September 26, 2017, After Midnight is released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory. Extras are in progress and will be announced at a later date.

Buy: Amazon.com

Allison and Cheryl are two college students in a new class, The Psychology of Fear, taught by a strange man named Edward Derek. One of Derek’s in class experiments makes a jock wet himself in front of everyone, leading to the censuring of the class. Professor Derek invites his students to his home for a private lesson. There, he tells the students three tales centered on fear. In the meantime, the humiliated jock sneaks over to Derek’s home to take revenge…

The Old Dark House: A couple is on its way home when the car breaks down on a nightly scenic route. They seek shelter in a seemingly empty home with a murderous past…

A Night on the Town: Four high school girls go downtown one night to have some fun. They cannot get into a club and look for entertainment elsewhere. They end up at a run-down gas station run by a perverted gas attendant and his ferocious dogs…

All Night Messenger: Alex (Marg Helgenberger) is an employee at a telephone messaging service. Due to a broken leg, she returns from a ski trip early and takes a late night shift. A female client complains of a man who’s been stalking her and leaving messages…

Reviews:

“All stories are realistic thrillers. They have solid build-up, crescendo suspense but boring and predictable endings. The same can be said about the wraparound tale. So After Midnight is not the best horror anthology movie ever made, but there is far worse out there.” Steve Hutchison, Tales of Terror

“While none of the stories are anthology game changers, they are all compactly written in the old EC comics style and well made. I’d say the last story is probably the best of the bunch. In this day and age of droll anthologies that are seemingly just short films thrown together, this is a welcome revisit.” William Wilson, Video Junkie

“Dialogue and production values are well above average. The pace is deliberately slow, a bit too slow really, but the film shows some originality and it keeps the bloody special effects to a minimum.” Mike Mayo, Videohound’s Horror Show

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

” …allows the Wheats to show off some impressive fire and stop-motion effects, but is ultimately ridiculous and pointless, leaving the patient viewer with a somewhat sour taste in his mouth. Anthologies were the rage in the 1980s on television and in films, but Jeff Burr’s From a Whisper to a Scream, for one, is a much better example of the genre.” Marty McKee, Johnny LaRue’s Crane Shot

“Overall, After Midnight has it’s moments but that’s about all it has. If you HAVE to watch every single 80’s horror anthology ever made, then you should probably check it out.” Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum

” …most of the performances in this film are reasonably tidy and it probably should be better known than it is. I only found the movie thanks to a tip on our Facebook page. It was a f*cking good one though!” The 80s Movie Club

Cast and characters:

• Ramy Zada as Professor Edward Derek
• Marg Helgenberger as Alex (Species and sequel; The Tommyknockers)
• Marc McClure as Kevin
• Jillian McWhirter as Allison (Strangeland; Progeny; The Dentist 2)
• Pamela Segall as Cheryl
• Tracy Wells as Amy
• Judie Aronson as Jennifer
• Ed Monaghan as Russ
• Alan Rosenberg as Richard
• Richard Gabai as Dave
• Loyda Ramos as Molly
• Kerry Remsen as Maggie

Filming locations:

2421 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, California, USA

Wikipedia | IMDb | Image credits: HorrorNews.net | The 80s Movie Club

‘The North. The South. The Undead.’

Army of Frankensteins is a 2013 American comedy science fiction horror film written and directed by Ryan Bellgardt (The Jurassic Games; Gremlin). It stars Jordan Farris, Rett Terrell and John Ferguson.

This film should not be confused with Richard Raaphorst’s Frankenstein’s Army, made the same year.

After Alan Jones is savagely beaten by a street gang, he ends up at the lab of mad scientist Dr. Tanner Finski and his assistant Igor, a child genius. There, Jones discovers that he is the key to an experiment that involves Frankenstein’s monster. When the experiment goes wrong, Finski sends Jones and Igor back in time to the American Civil War, where an interdimensional portal has allowed an army of monsters to converge…

Buy: Amazon.com

Reviews:

” …plenty of scenes that are full of action, with some slick CGI used as the monsters attack soldiers or end up as cannon fodder themselves. There are some superb moments during these gore set pieces, with some imaginative kills on display. The final act is thrilling and amps up the zany nature of an unusual tale.” James Simpson, Infernal Cinema

“About half way through this I started to become a bit fatigued by the overly long and convoluted twists and turns of the movie, but I didn’t hate it. There’s some good gore gags with multiple heads being popped like over ripe tomatoes, heads being ripped off the neck by the monsters and some digital effects that while they weren’t fantastic were entertaining…” Ken Kastenhuber, McBastard’s Mausoleum

“Ryan Bellgardt’s amateurism shows through particularly in some of the early mundane scenes where people’s overreactions to normal things… The low-budget stretches fairly well, although the film disappointingly opts for digital gore scenes.” Richard Scheib, Moria

“The effects are okay, with the practical effects being superior to the CG efforts. Some of the gore is fun and well done. It’s clear that some care was taken while making this movie. But the story is too feckless, unrealistic and random to ever build any tension or create any drama. It’s also not terribly funny, which for a horror comedy is a death knell.” Jeremy Blitz, DVD Talk

“As the film becomes more epic in scope we lose the sense of storytelling and it turns into a genre mashup that the effects, cast and direction can’t quite cope with. From pantomime style acting and almost joke-like false moustaches, the film does stumble and you feel it almost immediately.” Craig Huntley, UK Horror Scene

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Cast and characters:

• Jordan Farris as Alan Jones
• Christian Bellgardt as Igor
• Rett Terrell as Solomon Jones
• John Ferguson as Dr. Tanner Finksi
• Raychelle McDonald as Virginia
• Eric Gesecus as Frankenstein’s monster
• Gary Olinghouse as Eugene

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Con artist. Psychopath. Monster movie maker.’

The Creep Behind the Camera is a 2014 American documentary/drama written and directed by Pete Schuermann. The Slithering Carpets production stars Josh Phillips, Jodi Lynn Thomas and Bill LeVasseur. 

An exploration of the making of B-movie sci-fi movie The Creeping Terror and its con man director Art “A.J.” Nelson aka Vic Savage.

Buy: Amazon.com

Synapse Films is releasing the film on Blu-ray on September 12, 2017 with the following special features:

• All-new 2K scan of The Creeping Terror (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Audio Commentary with Director Pete Schuermann, Producer Nancy Theken and Stars Josh Phillips & Jodi Lynn Thomas
• The Making of The Creep Behind the Camera
• How to Build a Carpet Monster
• Breaking Down Art’s Death Scene
• Monster Movie Homages
• “One Mick to Another” with Byrd Holland & Allan Silliphant
• Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending
• Screamfest Black Carpet Q&A with Frank Conniff
• The Creep Behind The Camera Original Theatrical Trailer
• The Creeping Terror Screamfest Promotional Trailer

Reviews:

“I’m not sure I remember the last time a movie made me laugh so hard one moment then chilled me to my core seconds later. Anyone that has an interest in the seedy underbelly of Hollywood would be well served by The Creep Behind The Camera.” Mike Snoonian, All Things Horror

“The Creep Behind the Camera is a well-intentioned and engrossing project that wears some warts stemming from mixed messages, non-sequiturs, spurious “facts,” and the need for one more coat of polish to tidy its tone together.  Nevertheless, the film is a docudrama of high interest for bad movie buffs.” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt

” …when it comes to the portrayal of Art Nelson, Josh Phillips is all psychotic bully/drug addict and nothing more. It is a caricatured performance that conveys certain aspects of what Nelson’s character is said to have been.” Richard Scheib, Moria

“Schuermann’s balance between documentary and docudrama is pitch-perfect, making The Creep Behind the Camera not only engrossing but thoroughly entertaining.” August Ragone, Famous Monsters of Filmland

Running time:

111 minutes

IMDb

‘You haven’t got a prayer.’

The Unholy is a 1988 American supernatural horror film directed by Camilo Vila from a screenplay by Philip Yordan (Cataclysm) and Fernando Fonseca. It stars Ben Cross, Ned Beatty and features Trevor Howard in his final role.

New Orleans: Having miraculously survived a fall from a seventeen storey building, Father Michael (Ben Cross) is appointed pastor of St. Agnes church, which has been closed for three years following the mysterious deaths of his predecessors.

Father Michael attempts to find out why he has become the ‘Chosen One’ while resisting a powerful demon who takes the form of a seemingly irresistible beautiful woman…

The film is released for the first time on Blu-ray on June 27, 2017 as part of Lionsgate’s new Vestron Video Collector’s Series line.

Buy: Amazon.com

• Audio Commentary with director Camilo Vila
• Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview with Composer Roger Bellon
• Audio Interview with Production Designer and Co-Writer Fernando Fonseca, Featuring Isolated Selections from His Unused Score
• ”Sins of the Father” with Ben Cross
• Demons in the Flesh: The Monsters of The Unholy
• ”Prayer Offerings” with Fernando Fonseca
• Original Ending Featuring Optional Audio Commentary with Producer Mathew Hayden
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Radio Spots
• Original Storyboard Gallery
• Still Gallery

Reviews:

“Whether you see the cruet as half empty or half full, The Unholy remains an intriguing curiosity due to its unusual evolution and unique position as a time capsule of late 1980s horror. Even undercut by hokey creatures, divergent dialogue, and a mishmash of myriad pieces, the gravitas of its cast and guts to go all in on ill-advised gambles sees the film holding up well enough three decades later, all things considered.” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt

“The Unholy embraces 1980s style and aesthetic – including colorful lighting from cinematographer Henry Vargas and an electronic score by Roger Bellon (Waxwork) – but its structure largely resembles that of religious horror films such as The Exorcist and The Omen. Struggling to find its footing between two styles, the film has the overt sexuality and gore of the ‘80s without the sense of fun commonly associated with the decade…” Alex DiVincenzo, Broke Horror Fan

“The practical effects work and creature creations that are employed in the last half of the film are sufficiently icky if never particularly terrifying (the two mini-demons that accompany the main demon are pretty goofy, but still kind of cool in their own strange way) and there’s a fair amount of gore and nudity on display. This keeps the picture’s exploitation content reasonably high.” Ian Jane, Rock! Shop! Pop!

“Vila leans into purely visual filmmaking, summoning up frenzied lighting and Jigoku-esque montages of Hell’s torments. If only the rest of the film could live up to this sort of potential instead of wasting just about everything, from its impressive cast to a New Orleans locale that’s rarely exploited. By the end, The Unholy feels less like an Exorcist rip-off and more like a half-hearted stab at cashing in on the previous year’s much superior Angel Heart.” Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

Cast and characters:

• Ben Cross – Father Michael
• Ned Beatty – Lieutenant Stern (Repossessed; Exorcist II: The Heretic; Deliverance)
• William Russ – Luke
• Jill Carroll – Millie
• Hal Holbrook – Archbishop Mosely (Creepshow; The Fog; Rituals)
• Trevor Howard – Father Silva (Craze; Persecution; The Night Visitor)
• Claudia Robinson – Teresa
• Nicole Fortier – Demon
• Peter Frechette – Claude

Trivia:

SFX creator Bob Keen (Hellraiser) was hired to add additional gore after production wrapped.

Wikipedia | IMDb | Image credits: Wrong Side of the Art!

‘He can taste your fear’

Jeepers Creepers 2 is a 2003 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Victor Salva (Dark House; Clownhouse). It stars Ray Wise, Jonathan Breck and Luke Edwards and is, obviously, as sequel to Salva’s Jeepers Creepers (2001).

At the box office, the film took $63.1 million against a reported budget of $17 million. An expected yet long-belated sequel, Jeepers Creepers 3, finally arrived in 2017.

The Creeper, disguised as a scarecrow, abducts young Billy Taggart in front of his father and Billy’s older brother. The following day, a school bus carrying a high school basketball team and cheerleaders suffers a blowout, after one of the wheels is hit by a handcrafted shuriken made from bone.

Cheerleader Minxie has a vision of Billy and Darry Jenner, the Creeper’s victim from the first film, who both attempt to warn her about the Creeper. With the party stranded, the Creeper singles out several of the occupants. Minxie has another vision in which Darry explains that every twenty-third spring, for twenty-three days, the creature emerges from hibernation and hunts victims for specific body parts which it then consumes in order to replace those of its own…

On June 14, 2016, Scream Factory released the film on a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray. Special Features Include:

Disc 1:
Audio Commentary by writer/director Victor Salva, and cast members
Audio Commentary by Jonathan Breck (The Creeper), Brad Parker (Production Illustrator), and Brian Penikas (Special Effects Makeup)

Disc 2:
“Jeepers Creepers 2: Then and Now” featuring new interviews with writer/director Victor Salva, director of photography Don FauntLeRoy, editor Ed Marx, and actor Tom Tarantini (22 minutes)
“A Father’s Revenge” – an interview with actor Ray Wise (15 minutes)
“Don’t Get Off the Bus” – interviews with actors Tom Tarantini, Thom Gossom Jr., and Diane Delano (20 minutes)
-“A Day in Hell” – A look at the filming of Jeepers Creepers 2 (26 minutes)
-“Lights, Camera, Creeper: The Making of Jeepers Creepers 2” featuring writer/director Victor Salva, actors Travis Schiffner, Josh Hammond, Billy Aaron Brown, Eric Nenninger, Nicki Aycox, director of photography Don FauntLeRoy, and more (15 minutes)
-“Creeper Creation” featuring interviews with production illustrator Brad Parker, special makeup effects artist Brian Penikas, and Jonathan Breck (12 minutes)
-“The Orphanage” visual effects reel (4 minutes)
-“Creeper Composer” – an interview with composer Bennett Salvay and writer/director Victor Salva (10 minutes)
-Storyboard Renditions of Scenes Not Filmed – “The Creeper’s Lair” and “Ventriloquist Creeper”
-Deleted Scenes (16 minutes)
-Photo Gallery
-Theatrical Trailer

Buy: Amazon.com

Reviews:

“Few things are scarier than a sequel to a bad movie, but, in fact, Jeepers Creepers 2 is substantially better than its predecessor, even while staying strictly within the genre’s well-defined boundaries […] Bennett Salvay’s score may be hugely derivative — bits of Stravinsky, Bartok, and Marius Constant’s Twilight Zone theme drift through — but it’s very effective.” Andy Klein, Variety

“Instantly taking to the meals-on-wheels concept, the creature selectively dines out on the captive students, and any remaining inventiveness and suspense has exited quicker than the air in the stranded vehicle’s tires […] while it may have minimized location setups, the concept gets old really quickly, and it certainly doesn’t help matters when those bickering kids are so annoying that the Creeper can’t seem to pluck them away fast enough.” Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter

“JC 2 is by no means a great film, but it is a good one, especially if you’ve been disappointed by a lot of Teen Slashers out there right now. It’s probably too straightforward for its own good, and the middle, when the Creeper calmly takes its time assaulting the bus, might be a bit too slow for the teen crowd. Still, the film has enough action, suspense, and good special effects to satisfy most people.” Beyond Hollywood

“Jeepers Creepers 2 is competently made, but it lacks the suspense – and the scares – of its predecessor. As a sequel it delivers on bigger set pieces, improved special effects, and more bloodshed, but the writing fails to give us any compelling characters. The teenagers are entirely unlikeable, and I found myself excited by the prospect of watching the Creeper turn their school bus into a smörgåsbord.” Adam Frazier, Geeks of Doom

“The most notable character on the bus is Scott Braddock (Eric Nenninger), a virulent homophobe who doth, I think, protest too much as he accuses fellow team members of being gay […] To call the characters on the bus paper-thin would be a kindness. Too bad, then, that we spend so much time on the bus, listening to their wretched dialogue and watching as they race from one window to another to see what foul deeds are occurring outside.” RogerEbert.com

“JC 2 is by no means a great film, but it is a good one, especially if you’ve been disappointed by a lot of Teen Slashers out there right now. It’s probably too straightforward for its own good, and the middle, when the Creeper calmly takes its time assaulting the bus, might be a bit too slow for the teen crowd. Still, the film has enough action, suspense, and good special effects to satisfy most people.” Beyond Hollywood

“Jeepers Creepers 2 looks far more elaborate, and yet…it’s nowhere near as frightening as the first half hour or so of the original, nor is it any more coherent or meaningful than the original’s last half hour. Gloss has overtaken terror here, as director Salva indulges in longer and longer takes of wide, wide shots that certainly look pretty […], but which are inevitably drained of any substantial tension or suspense.” Paul Mavis, DVD Drive-In

Cast and characters:

• Jonathan Breck as the Creeper
• Ray Wise as Jack Taggart, Sr. (Halloweed; Suburban Gothic; Big Ass Spider!, et al)
• Luke Edwards as Jack “Jackie” Taggart, Jr.
• Garikayi Mutambirwa as Deaundre “Double D” Davis
• Nicki Aycox as Minxie Hayes
• Eric Nenninger as Scott “Scotty” Braddock
• Travis Schiffner as Izzy Bohen
• Marieh Delfino as Rhonda Truitt
• Billy Aaron Brown as Andy “Bucky” Buck
• Lena Cardwell as Chelsea Farmer
• Josh Hammond as Jake Spencer
• Al Santos as Dante Belasco
• Kasan Butcher as Kimball “Big K” Ward
• Drew Tyler Bell as Jonny Young
• Diane Delano as Bus Driver Betty Borman
• Thom Gossom, Jr. as Coach Charlie Hanna
• Tom Tarantini as Coach Dwayne Barnes
• Shaun Fleming as Billy Taggart
• Justin Long as Darius “Darry” Jenner

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Knowledge leads to extinction’

Child of Satan aka Neron is a 2016 American horror film directed by Mitesh Kumar Patel and Sam Son. It stars Eric Roberts, Kacey Clarke [Barnfield] and Caite Upton.

After a freak accident during her baby shower, Allison, a dedicated nurse, is rushed to the hospital. After the premature birth of her son Neron, strange events emerge: illusions, vivid dreams, and unexplained killings.

The events are linked back to Neron as Allison is taken by sudden premonitions that reveal the victims of her son’s next choice. Reverend Jones (Eric Roberts) recognizes an evil power in Neron and tries to free the boy by all means possible…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com

Reviews:

“This is in fact arguably the single worst film I’ve had to sit through in my long reviewing tenure not just here at Blu-ray.com, but other internet sites […] I should probably add a caveat that Child of Satan was so relentlessly bad that I may in fact have gone into some kind of beta state while watching it and cannot completely recall all of the events I was forced to witness.” Jeffrey Kauffman, Blu-ray.com

Main cast:

Eric Roberts (Evil Exhumed; Sorority Slaughterhouse; Amityville Death House; et al), Kacey Clarke [Barnfield] (Clash of the Dead; I Spit on Your Grave 2; Roadkill; et al), Caite Upton, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Yves Bright, James Martin Kelly, Raymond Forchion, Meg Wolf, Sophia Santi, Gregor Manns, Skoti Collins, Ashley Cordelia, Kirk Bovill, Bianca Desai, Concetta D’Agnese.

IMDb

‘When it flies… someone dies!’

The Bat is a 1959 American murder mystery film written and directed by playwright Crane Wilbur (screenplay for Mysterious Island; The Mad Magician; House of Wax; storyline for The Amazing Mr. X). It stars Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Gavin Gordon.

It is the fourth film adaptation of the story, which began as a 1908 novel The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart, which she later adapted (with Avery Hopwood) into the 1920 play The Bat.

In the US, The Bat was distributed by Allied Artists on a double-bill with the British Hammer film The Mummy.

Cornelia Van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead) is a mystery author who lives in a town terrorised by a mysterious murderer known only as “The Bat” who is said to be a man with no face.

The Bat enters Van Gorder’s rented house, The Oaks, and releases a bat, which bites van Gorder’s maid Lizzy (Lenita Lane). With Lizzy in a panic, fearing she may now have contracted “the rabies”, an outbreak of which local papers have reported, Van Gorder calls her doctor, Dr Malcolm Wells (Vincent Price), who is conducting research on bats…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” …the cast virtually drips with greasepaint conjuring up the atmosphere of an intimate stage with a killer lurking just beyond the curtain. Such an approach proved mild in a decade filled with an increasing reliance on rampaging aliens and sinister ghouls, but time has been kind to the film… Nathaniel Thompson, Turner Classic Movies

“House of Wax‘s Crane Wilbur, directing his own script, had again chosen to revive a creaky old melodrama which, on this occasion, remained every bit as creaky and melodramatic as the original […] After seven reels of wearisome comings and goings, Wilbur disposes of more to-ings and fro-ings by a last minute change in construction, switching from real time to flashback mode…” Denis Meikle, Merchant of Menace: The Life and Films of Vincent Price

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

“Crane Wilbur’s direction is fairly static, although he does make effective visual use of the deep dark shadows that are part and parcel of these “old dark house” stories. He also gives his cast free rein, allowing Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead to take the performing ball and run away with it. They’re frequently over-the-top and occasionally campy…” Craig Butler, AllMovie

” …The Bat isn’t really scary as much as it’s “charming” […] The Bat is a great time waster, a film that will put a smile on the face of those who may remember it from days gone by…” Don Sumner, Horrorfreak News

” …Crane Wilbur, the scenarist-director, keeps the plot perking and the bodies falling (seven), with some amusing touches along the way. Finally, and fortunately, there is Agnes Moorehead’s good, snappy performance.” Howard Thompson, The New York Times, December 17, 1958

“Worth watching for fans of Morehead, Price, or The Bat Whispers. But I felt the whole thing should have been freakier and jazzier, and not so stately and professional.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Choice dialogue:

Lizzie Allen: “All the victims died the same way, like their throats had been ripped open by steel claws.”

Cornelia van Gorder: “That I suppose is the cat dropping its dentures!”

Cast and characters:

• Vincent Price as Dr. Malcolm Wells
• Agnes Moorehead as Cornelia van Gorder (Bewitched, Dear Dead Delilah; Frankenstein: The True Story)
• Gavin Gordon as Lt. Andy Anderson (Bride of Frankenstein; Mystery of the Wax Museum)
• John Sutton as Warner
• Lenita Lane as Lizzie Allen
• Elaine Edwards as Dale Bailey
• Darla Hood as Judy Hollander
• John Bryant as Mark Fleming
• Harvey Stephens as John Fleming

Running time and aspect ratio:

80 minutes | 1.85: 1

View The Bat pressbook at Zombo’s Closet

Wikipedia | IMDb

Image credits: Dr. Macro’s High Quality Movie Scans | OriginalPoster.co.uk | Wrong Side of the Art!

‘Eaten alive! The ultimate terror movie…’

Cannibal Holocaust is a 1980 Italian cannibal film directed by Ruggero Deodato (The Washing Machine; Dial: Help: House on the Edge of the Park) from a story and screenplay by Gianfranco Clerici (The New York Ripper; The Antichrist). It was filmed in the Amazonian rainforest with real indigenous tribes interacting with American and Italian actors and follows on from the director and writer team’s Last Cannibal World (1976). It stars Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen, although no actors are acknowledged in the opening credits.

‘For the sake of authenticity some sequences have been retained in their entirety’

Led by New York-based anthropologist Harold Monroe (Kerman), a team is assembled to search for a missing film crew who had ventured deep into the Amazonian rainforest to film a documentary about tribes still practising cannibalism.

Assisted by local guides, Monroe ventures into the unknown and meets with members of the local Yacumo tribe who it seems were greatly upset by the film-makers whom he is seeking. Later meeting with the warring Yanomamö and Shamatari tribes, he gains the trust of the former by immersing himself in their culture, only to find the best they can do to help him find his friends is show him a pile of bones and some film cans.

After securing the tapes by taking part in a rather unpleasant cannibalistic ceremony, he returns to New York to try to piece together what has happened. We learn that the documentary, titled ‘The Last Road To Hell’, though veiled under the pretence of being a thoughtful study of ancient rites and culture, is an appalling catalogue of brutality on the part of the Americans to stage footage for maximum effect back home.

The final reels show a sudden turn in events, after molesting a female member of the tribe, they later find her ritually impaled as a punishment for ‘her’ crimes. However, she isn’t the only one to face trial, the cannibals seeking to avenge her fate by hunting down the film crew in merciless fashion. As the final reel finishes, Monroe wonders aloud, just “who the real cannibals are”?

Review:

Though, quite rightly, hailed as the benchmark and indeed the last word on the cannibal subgenre, Cannibal Holocaust was far from the first venture into jungle brutality. The Richard Harris-starring A Man Called Horse (1970) had appeared a decade earlier and, even as a mainstream feature, alerted directors to the potential for shocking but fact-based films as serious money-makers, though earlier explorations in the pseudo-documentary field, classed as ‘mondo films’, beginning with Franco Prosperi and Gualtiero Jacopetti’s 1962 film Mondo Cane (A Dog’s World), had seen many film-makers cutting their teeth using sometimes outrageously exploitative footage.

It wasn’t until Umberto Lenzi’s 1972 film Man from Deep River, that the genre took off, with Italy firmly leading the way. Deodato’s own (excellent) Last Cannibal World (aka Ultimo Mondo Cannibale/Jungle Holocaust) appeared in 1976 to exceptional box-office results. Sergio Martino’s The Mountain of the Cannibal God even featured Ursula Andress in the lead role, despite the graphic content, a sure sign of the bankability of the cannibal boom.

With the success of Last Cannibal World and the backing of German investors, Deodato and his producers, Franco Palaggi and Franco Di Nunzio (who also produced Deodato’s grimy, relentless House at the Edge of the Park) scouted South America for suitable locations, eventually settling on Leticia in southern most Colombia, despite the remoteness meaning that getting there involved arduous trekking and boat trips.

Armed with a screenplay by the prolific Italian writer Gianfranco Clerici (The New York Ripper, The Antichrist, Last Cannibal World) they assembled a largely unknown cast but one that spoke English, both establishing a certain amount of credibility in terms of their background and making the film more saleable to foreign markets.

By far the most famous name was Robert Kerman who had made quite a name for himself in the adult film industry using the pseudonym R. Bolla. Continuing to act, though hampered by his former hardcore career, he has since appeared in Cannibal Ferox and even a minor part in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002).

The only other member of the cast to have had any sort of career not completely overshadowed by their role in Cannibal Holocaust is the Italian/Uruguayan Luca Barbareschi, who entered politics as part of Silvio Berlusconi’s government in 2008 and gained more notoriety in a filmed exchange with a journalist which resulted in the reporter being knocked out by Barbareschi.

Though Deodato has claimed that the shocking, visceral nature of the film and its dynamics are a commentary of events in Italy during the early 1970’s when the Red Brigade launched terrorist attacks in an attempt to bring about a revolutionary state through a destabilised country, this echoes slightly of many of his retrospective assertions about the film to paper over accusations over his allegedly tyrannical methods of direction.

What is clear is his adoption of cinéma vérité techniques which used methods including provocation and staged scenarios in order to portray a ‘truth’ and realism to their films; these has already proved popular and successful in the mondo films of the 1960’s and 1971’s. The pops and crackles on the viewed footage (filmed on 16mm to add to the authenticity) in New York and the scratched frames add a genuinely convincing edge to the action.

Adding to the documentary feel is the oft-discussed violence and cruelty inflicted upon animals in the film, ranging from shrew-like fluffy creatures (actually a coati), a large spider, two monkeys (the lopping off of the head required two takes), a tethered wild pig and perhaps most notoriously, a turtle that suffers a protracted death for no other reason than to prompt revulsion and disgust from the audience.

Deodato’s views have mellowed significantly over the years, indifference changing to ‘but the locals ate them afterwards’ to complete rejection, re-editing the film to excise the footage in 2011. Recollections from the cast, particularly Kerman who objected throughout the the animal deaths (and also Perry Pirkanen, who apparently cried after the turtle scene, a strange paradox considering his apparent on-screen glee). Viewed over thirty years later, these scenes are still amongst the strongest and most stomach-churning in the whole of the horror genre.

There have long been rumours that the coitus scene between Yorke and Ciardi was not simulated, Ciardi already having been admonished by Deodato for her ‘prudishness’ in not wanting to bare her breasts. Real or not, it is another example of the blurring between fact and fiction that permeates the whole film.

Deodato was also accused of underpaying his actors (and not paying the locals at all), as well as dictatorial behaviour throughout the shoot, upsetting and alienating most of the cast at one stage or another. The cast had a clause in their contract which stated that they were to give no interviews nor make any appearances regarding the film for a year after its release, so as to create the impression that they had indeed been slaughtered in the film. This backfired badly (or depending on your viewpoint, worked magnificently) as the authorities, convinced by the animal sequences and incredibly realistic gore, arrested Deodato on counts of not only obscenity but also murder.

In order to prove his innocence, the very much alive actors were gathered together to appear in a television program whilst many of the scenes had to be explained in great detail to convince the court that no-one was killed during the filming. The most iconic image in the film, that of the raped cannibal girl having been impaled on the wooden spike was revealed to be an actress sat on an obscured bicycle seat with a small piece of wood held between her teeth. It must be said that all the scenes of death and violence within the film remain as incredibly convincing and impressive as the day they were first screened.

The controversy did no harm to the film’s success, taking an alleged $5 million in the first ten days of release alone. Commercial video releases also did a roaring trade, the UK Go Video VHS release being a mainstay of homely video libraries for two to three years before the Video Recordings Act declared it prosecutable to rent or sell. It was also banned in many other countries, including Germany, Australia and New Zealand, but bucked the trend in Japan where it became the second biggest grossing film in the year of its release.

The film’s soundtrack was composed entirely by Italian composer Riz Ortolani, whom Deodato specifically requested because of Ortolani’s work in Mondo Cane, particularly the film’s main theme, “Ti guarderò nel cuore” (also known as “More”). Ortolani was (and still is) known for his rather romantic, sweeping scores, full of large string sections of plaintive melodies. His work on Cannibal Holocaust, perhaps surprisingly, is no different, the main theme being achingly beautiful, a reflection of the stunning settings but a counterpoint to the horrific violence portrayed.

Buy Death Waltz vinyl soundtrack: Amazon.co.uk

The score has become a classic of the genre and helped to elevate Ortolani to the upper echelons of Italian soundtrack composers, his work having since being used by directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Nicolas Winding Refn.

Buy Republic of Music vinyl soundtrack: Amazon.co.uk

Though the cannibal subgenre ran out of steam in the mid-80’s, the influence of Cannibal Holocaust is still felt today, the found-footage theme being used in the likes of The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity, whilst also inspiring directors like Eli Roth — whose jungle-set The Green Inferno is an obvious homage — to forge their own careers.

Rather like many of the zombie films of the 1970’s and 1980’s, many films have passed themselves off as sequels to the original film but despite interest from Deodato in his own follow-up, set in an American city, slated to be titled simply Cannibals, this has yet to happen and the film remains as a stand-alone beacon of depravity, gut-churning set-pieces and one of the great achievements of horror cinema.

Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia

Grindhouse Releasing issued a Blu-ray in the USA on July 1, 2014, packed with extras:

• Three Disc Deluxe Edition – 2 Blu-rays + CD
• New hi-definition digital restoration of the original director’s cut
• Spectacular digital stereo re-mix and original mono mix
• Two feature-length commentary tracks – with director Ruggero Deodato and star Robert Kerman, and with stars Carl Yorke and Francesca Ciardi
• New in-depth interviews with Ruggero Deodato, Francesca Ciardi, assistant director/co-star Salvo Basile (shot in Columbia!) and cameraman Roberto Forges Davazati
• Classic interviews with Robert Kerman, Carl Yorke and Oscar-nominated composer Riz Ortolani
• Extensive still galleries and theatrical trailers from around the world
• CD – original soundtrack album by Riz Ortolani newly remastered in stunning 24bit/96khz sound from the original studio master tapes
• Glossy 24-page booklet containing liner notes by director Eli Roth, legendary horror journalist Chas. Balun, Euro-music expert Gergely Hubai and Italian exploitation film authority Martin Biene
• Reversible cover with original art by notorious illustrator Rick Melton
• Beautiful embossed slipcover
• Nine Easter eggs – including the Grindhouse Releasing theatrical re-release premiere and Necrophagia music video directed by Jim VanBebber

Buy: Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Main cast:

Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen,Luca Giorgio Barbareschi, Salvatore Basile, Carl Gabriel Yorke.

Buy uncut DVD from Amazon.com

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Buy t-shirt: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Wikipedia | IMDb | Ruggero Deodato

‘When you drive by a graveyard, don’t ever forget…’

Hold Your Breath – stylized as #HoldYourBreath – is a 2012 American supernatural horror film directed by Jared Cohn (The Domicile; Devil’s Domain; Little Dead Rotting Hood; 12/12/12) from a screenplay by Geoff Meed and Kenny Zinn. Katrina Bowden, Randy Wayne and Erin Marie Hogan star.

1956: Van Hausen, a serial killer with a German accent, is executed in the electric chair with some of his victims’ family members watching. He breaks free and manages to kill one of the officers before another officer finally puts him on the chair.

Present day, a group of friends are taking a road trip including Jerry (Katrina Bowden), Johnny (Randy Wayne), Jerry’s sister Samantha (Lisa Younger), Kyle (Seth Cassell), Natasha (Erin Marie Hogan), Heath (Jordan Pratt-Thatcher) and Tony (Brad Slaughter).

While driving near a cemetery Jerry starts to freak out and tells everyone to hold their breath saying that evil spirits can possess them if they don’t. Everyone does except Kyle who is smoking pot, Unfortunately, this allows the spirit of Van Hausen to possess him…

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

” …the film is still a fun watch, despite some moronic characters. Is having sex in a morgue really a good idea? The film’s ending stands out for offering some interesting suspense, while the film’s supernatural rules ground the film in a dramatic reality. Hold Your Breath is a popcorn movie that will entertain most horror fans.” Michael Allen, 28 Days Later Analysis

“When the characters are possessed the only sign seems to be a strangely sinister smile just before they do anything bad […] I have no problem with cliché ridden slasher films that simply deliver what they set out to do but here the story is too confused and the action too laboured to really satisfy.” John Townsend, HorrorNews.net

“Have people gouge out eyes is something that looks rather nice with the practical effects, the blood looked good. I think that if they kept up with those effects then it would have been an awesome movie. The CG is where this falls apart. There is a woman who gets ripped in half would have been an awesome scene except that the CG looked bad.” Adam Livingston, Oh the Terror

“Fortunately, the cast seems to at least #enjoy the roller coaster of #fear and the opportunity, for many of them, to #portray both #heroes and #villains in the same movie. The end result is a #decentHorrorromp that may not be #original but that is at least a little more than a useless #timekiller. That’s about all one can #askfor with #TheAsylum.” Martin Leibman, Blu-ray.com

” …boy howdy is this film packed to the brim with twists and turns. Also major props for a sex scene within the first twenty minutes featuring a couple going at it on a morgue table. Twisted fun stuff fills the 90 minutes running time, sh*t gets nasty fast. Even a few sequences had this gorehound wincing… two words: car battery.” Rob Sibley, Cinema Head Cheese

“Hold Your Breath can’t decide if it wants to exist in the 80’s or 2010’s, let alone if it wants to be a comedy or a horror flick. When all these collide it results in instances of hilarity, boredom and stupidity. With characters changing their stances in every new situation, nothing can be guessed by the audience, and everything feels made-up on the spot.” Trevor Andersen, Move Mavs

“Terrible story, script, acting… oh! Gratuitous nudity! Don’t worry kids, there’s plenty! Whether it be the love scene where we see Erin Marie Hogan wearing some weird butt thong belt outfit or Lisa Younger be tied up (topless, of course) to a tree and cut in half with barbed wire, there’s boobs a plenty! Wait, is it aplenty? Who gives a shit.” The Wolfman Cometh

Choice dialogue:

McBride [Steve Hanks]: “Kid, you’re about as confused as a baby in a titty bar!”

Cast and characters:

• Katrina Bowden as Jerry (Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil; Piranha 3DD)
• Randy Wayne as Johnny
• Erin Marie Hogan as Natasha
• Keith Allan as Van Hausen
• Steve Hanks as McBride
• Joshua Michael Allen as Young McBride
• Brad Slaughter as Tony
• Seth Cassell as Kyle
• Darin Cooper as Warden Wilkes
• Jordan-Pratt Thatcher as Heath
• Lisa Younger as Samantha

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Making movies can be murder’

Effects is a 1978 American horror film written and directed by Dusty Nelson (Necromancer), based on a novel by William H. Mooney. It stars horror FX maestro Tom Savini (From Dusk Till Dawn; Night of the Living Dead [1990]; Dawn of the Dead), Joe Pilato (Day of the Dead), and John Harrison (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie).

A filmmaker (John Harrison) is making low budget horror movie in rural Pennsylvania. During the course of production, the cinematographer (Joseph Pilato) and a female gaffer (Susan Chapek) begin to enter into a romantic relationship. Unbeknownst to them, the film’s director is secretly making a snuff documentary with an unwilling cast and crew…

Effects is released on Blu-ray on August 22, 2017, via American Genre Film Archive (AGFA). It was transferred in 4K from the only 35mm print in existence. Charles Forsman designed the reversible artwork above. Special features:

• Audio commentary with John Harrison, Dusty Nelson, and Pasquale Buba
• After Effects making-of documentary with optional commentary track
• Ubu and Beastie short films
• Liner notes by Joseph A. Ziemba of AGFA

Reviews:

” …the film plays like a good example of the (then-waning) grindhouse era, mixing violence and sexy bits to hang them up on a rather thin storyline […] And while the film isn’t perfectly structured by any means, it does feature a highly original and rather exciting finale, plus in a macabre way it does anticipate today’s fascination with reality TV.” Mike Haberfelner, Search My Trash

“The multi-layered script must have been good for everyone to jump on-board with good intentions, but what results on-screen is only half-successful. Approaching subject matter like a snuff film, which is surefire exploitation material, writer/director Dusty Nelson seems instead interested in creating a “what is real, what is fantasy?” mindf*ck for the audience.” Casey Scott, DVD Drive-In

“I really enjoyed Effects up to a point. I loved how director Dusty Nelson got you wrapped up in the minutia of low budget filmmaking. Having been on a few film sets before, a lot of what I saw rang true. In fact, once the “plot” involving snuff films kicks in (about an hour into the movie), it actually kinda ruins everything.” Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum

” …though the Pittsburgh-based production is of interest, utilizing several George Romero regulars on the technical side […] the film itself lacks any sense of the dramatic.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

Production:

Shot in 1978, the film received its world premiere at the King’s Court theater in Pittsburgh on November 9, 1979. The film was signed up by International Harmony and received limited distribution.

Buy DVD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

In October 2005, it received an official DVD release by Synapse Films.

Trivia:

Also known as The Manipulator.

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Fear the Second Coming.’

Seed of Chucky is a 2004 American supernatural comedy slasher horror film written and directed by Don Mancini (making his directorial debut), who created the series and has written all of the films. It is the fifth installment of the Child’s Play series, and sequel to 1998’s Bride of Chucky.

The film, shot in Romania, continues the series’ evolution from the pure horror genre of the first movie to a hybrid horror-comedy. It was the last Child’s Play film to be released in theaters and stars Jennifer Tilly, Redman and Hannah Spearritt. Italian composer Pino Donaggio provided the score.

Glen, the kind and benevolent son of Chucky and Tiffany, has a nightmare in which he murders a little girl’s parents. In reality, he is living a life of embarrassment and abuse as a ventriloquist’s dummy. After being forced to perform and locked inside a cage, Glen sees Chucky and Tiffany on TV and realizes that he is their son.

Desperate to know his parents, Glen tracks Chucky and Tiffany down to Hollywood, where they are first shown killing a man who is dressed as Santa Claus for a movie.

Jason Flemyng as Santa is killed off

Glen manages to escape his abusive owner, hitch a ride on a truck, and mail himself in a box to California. He wakes up in the prop room of Jennifer Tilly’s horror film, which includes the Chucky and Tiffany dolls. Glen uses the same voodoo amulet seen in previous films to bring them back to life…

Buy Blu-ray collection: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“With its wealth of sly digs at Hollywood (Jennifer Tilly gives a hilarious, self-mocking performance and deserves kudos for it), its display of the most fun dysfunctional family to consist of animated child’s dolls and it’s liberal sprinkling of gore, Seed of Chucky takes the ideas alluded to in Bride… and simply follows them to their natural end.” Kevin Matthews, Flickfeast

“While Seed of Chucky has its moments, there’s just too much goofiness crammed into this one for it to stand up to Bride. Granted, Tilly is great in her role and she shows a real knack for the more comedic elements required of her here but she’s not enough to fix the one major problem with the film – the child doll is completely irritating. For a film that focuses on the character so closely, they did a bad job of making him tolerable.” Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!

“If you’re thinking of Seed of Chucky as a horror movie, you can forget about it. It’s not scary. If you do not by now find Chucky and the other killer dolls tiresome, I do (this is their fifth movie). If you like the way Jennifer Tilly has fun with her image (and, in what can only be called selfless generosity, with Gina Gershon’s image), Seed of Chucky is a movie to be seen on television.” Roger Ebert

“The horror is bland, the characterization is lame, the performances are phoned in especially by Jennifer Tilly who spoofs herself… oddly, and the film’s idea of comedy is having two dolls karate fight, which I’m still uncertain if it was played for comedy or not. Safely speaking, it’s a very bad film that won’t save a franchise that’s already DOA.” Felix Vasquez, Cinema Crazed

“Don Mancini pumps Seed of Chucky up into an outrageous work that quite takes one aback. He plays up the black comedy angle from Bride of Chucky by a factor of ten and delves into an arena that frequently verges on outrageously bad taste. Moreover, his one other ingenious idea is to set Seed of Chucky during the making of a Child’s Play sequel, casting Jennifer Tilly as herself and allowing some rather funny gags at both the meta-film and Tilly’s career.” Richard Scheib, Moria

Cast and characters:

• Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky (Chucky series; Malignant; Spontaneous Combustion)
• Jennifer Tilly as herself / voice of Tiffany (Bride of Chucky)
• Billy Boyd as the voice of Glen/Glenda
• Redman as Himself
• Hannah Spearritt as Joan
• John Waters as Pete Peters (Suburban Gothic)
• Jason Flemyng as himself / Santa (Eat Local; Forbidden Empire; The Bunker; From Hell)
• Steve Lawton as Stan
• Tony Gardner as himself
• Martha Stewart (uncredited, archive footage) as herself
• Rebecca Santos as Fulvia
• Keith-Lee Castle as Bill “Psychs” Sykes
• Paul Grossman as Little Boy
• Simon James Morgan as Richard
• Stephanie Chambers as Claudia’s mom
• Betty Simons-Denville as Claudia
• Debbie Lee Carrington as herself (DVD deleted scenes, uncredited)

Filming locations:

Almost entirely on the Castel soundstages in Romania

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Death used to be the end. Now it is only the beginning’

The Resurrected is a 1991 American supernatural horror film directed by Dan O’Bannon (director of The Return of the Living Dead; writer of Invaders from Mars; Lifeforce; Dead & Buried; Alien) from a screenplay by Brent V. Friedman (Syngenor; Ticks; Necronomicon). It is an adaptation of the H. P. Lovecraft novella The Case of Charles Dexter Ward and stars John Terry, Jane Sibbett, and Chris Sarandon.

Director O’Bannon and screenwriter Brent V. Friedman had apparently developed the Lovecraft property independently of each other. Friedman’s version of the script was titled Shatterbrain. While Friedman receives sole writing credit, O’Bannon incorporated some of his own ideas into the project. O’Bannon’s title for the film was The Ancestor, which was later changed by the producers.

Claire Ward employs John March, a private detective, to investigate what her husband Charles Dexter Ward is doing in a remote cabin owned by his family for centuries.

Charles is a chemical engineer, and the smells emanating his experiments (and the delivery of what appear to be human remains at all hours) are arousing the attention of neighbours and local law enforcement officials.

When John March and Claire discover the diary of the husband’s ancestor Joseph Curwen from 1771, and reports of gruesome murders in the area begin to surface, they suspect that unnatural experiments are being conducted in the old house…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com

• 2K transfer from the film’s vaulted interpositive film element
• Claire’s Conundrum – an interview with actress Jane Sibbett
• The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward – an interview with S.T. Joshi, author of I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft
• Audio Commentary with producers Mark Borde and Kenneth Raich, screenwriter Brent V. Friedman, actor Richard Romanus and make-up effects artist Todd Masters
• The Resurrected Man – an interview with Chris Sarandon
• Abominations & Adaptations – an interview with screenwriter Brent Friedman
• Grotesque Melodies – an interview with composer Richard Band
• Lovecraftian Landscapes – an interview with production designer Brent Thomas
• Human Experiments – an interview with special effects artist Todd Masters
• Deleted and Extended Scenes from the workprint
• Home Video Trailer & Japanese Trailer
• Photo Gallery

Reviews:

“This one manages to do it right by sticking to the pulpy, grotesque tone of Lovecraft’s prose, and while some of the pacing and acting are highly erratic in the first third or so, the film really works its  magic once the story picks up a full head of steam. It also wisely sticks closely to the source, wisely retaining the central twist ignored completely in the earlier Vincent Price version…” Nathaniel Thomson, Mondo Digital

“Lovecraft lunatics may be able to appreciate the studied, respectful, and somewhat deliberate way in which O’Bannon approaches the master’s material, but the simple truth is that The Resurrected looks, sounds, and feels a whole lot like a late-70s made-for-TV flick. The production was clearly a low-budget one, and most of the actors deliver their work in dry and dusty monotones.” Scott Weinberg, DVD Talk

“This terrifying and spellbinding feature starts out deliberately slow, drawing the viewer deeper and deeper into the unknown. The flashback device is never obtrusive. It instead allows the viewer to pick up clues along the way. There are some truly masterful sequences in this film…” Fred Adelman, Critical Condition

“The Resurrected is the best serious Lovecraftian screen adaptation to date, with a solid cast, decent script, inventive direction, and excellent special effects that do justice to one of [Lovecraft’s] darker tales.” Andrew Migliore and John Strysik, Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

” …Dan O’Bannon conjures something of the mood of Lovecraft and his sense of abominable experiments, unspeakable monstrosities and forbidden knowledge. This makes The Resurrected one of the few post-Re-Animator films that successfully captures the mood of H.P. Lovecraft.” Richard Scheib, Moria

Choice dialogue:

John March: “There are enough explosives in there to give Mount Rushmore a headache.”

Cast and characters:

• John Terry as John March (Nine Dead; Zodiac)
• Jane Sibbett as Claire Ward (Fear, 1990)
• Chris Sarandon as Charles Dexter Ward/Joseph Curwen (Bordello of Blood; Child’s Play; Fright Night; The Sentinel)
• Robert Romanus as Lonnie Peck (Pulse; Tales from the Darkside TV series)
• Laurie Briscoe as Holly Tender
• Ken Camroux-Taylor as Captain Ben Szandor
• Patrick P. Pon as Raymond
• Bernard Cuffling as Dr. Waite

Filming locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Wikipedia | IMDb

Related: Creature of the Walking Dead (1965) |  The Haunted Palace (1963)

Terror-Creatures from the Grave – original title: Cinque tombe per un medium “Five Graves for a Medium” – is a 1965 Italian/American supernatural horror film directed by Massimo Pupillo (Bloody Pit of Horror). The film stars Barbara Steele, Walter Brandi, and Mirella Maravidi. In the UK, it was released as Cemetery of the Living Dead.

Massimo Pupillo was apparently not satisfied with the final result of the film, and allowed the film’s American producer, Ralph Zucker, to take the director’s credit. Zucker also allegedly shot some of the more gruesome scenes that occur in the US version.

A lawyer arrives at Villa Hauff to settle the estate of its recently deceased owner. The owner’s wife and daughter reveal that he was someone who was able to summon the souls of ancient plague victims and, in fact, his spirit was roaming the castle at that very moment. Soon occupants of the castle begin to die off in gruesome, violent ways…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Reviews:

” …a wonderfully grisly affair thanks to the plague spreaders backstory, the desolate village and Castello Chigi settings, the handsome monochrome cinematography was the work of Woody Allen’s later regular cinematographer Carlo Di Palma, and the special effects work.” Eric Cotenas, DVD Compare

“This movie has some nice moments; in particular, a bizarre shot of plants moving in a tank of water, and a shot of a row of severed hands coming to life stay in the memory. The ending itself is pretty good as well, and some of the murders are memorable. Unfortunately, the middle section of the movie feels protracted and tedious…” Dave Sindelar, Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings

” …an atmospheric picture that moves at a fairly languid pace. There are some really impressive shots in here, lots of spooky imagery and of course, the presence of the inimitable Ms. Steele all working in the film’s favor, and those are all very good things indeed. The story itself is a bit clunky…” Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!

” …the film is far from bad and quite arresting in parts: Dr. Hauff’s voice croaking on a phonograph record; the unsettling image of flowers slowly wilting in glass bowl; and the eerily beautiful children’s lullaby that clues the heroes how to survive the horror. Pupillo undercuts the eerie mood with chattering narration from his dopey hero…” Andrew Pragasam, The Spinning Image

“Five Graves for a Medium is a fairly routine mid-60’s Italian horror film. While it isn’t nearly as goofy as Pupillo’s contemporary Bloody Pit of Horror had led me to anticipate, it certainly isn’t any good either, at least in the sense that normal people use the term. I still found it moderately enjoyable, though. There are a few outbursts of amusingly incontinent overacting, some really choice dialogue…” Scott Ashlin, 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting

Choice dialogue:

Albert Kovac: “There’s an owl caught in the engine.”

Cast and characters:

• Walter Brandi as Albert Kovac (The Slaughter of the Vampires)
• Mirella Maravidi as Corinne Hauff
• Barbara Steele as Cleo Hauff (Shivers; The She Beast; The Pit and the Pendulum; et al)
• Alfredo Rizzo as Dr. Nemek (The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance; Playgirls and the Vampire)
• Riccardo Garrone as Joseph Morgan
• Luciano Pigozzi as Kurt, the servant
• Tilde Till as Louise, the maid
• Ennio Balbo as Oskar Stinner
• Steve Robinson
• René Wolf

Filming locations:

Castel Fusano, Rome, Lazio, Italy (Girl in Room 2a; Cold Blooded Beast)

Wikipedia | IMDb

Image credits: DVD Beaver

‘Pay to get in! Pray to get out!’

The Funhouse is a 1981 American slasher film directed by Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist; Salem’s Lot; The Texas Chain Saw Massacre) from a screenplay by Larry Block. It stars Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee and Miles Chapin.

The special makeup design of the monster was designed by Rick Baker and executed by Craig Reardon.

A masked intruder attacks Amy as she showers (resembling the famous shower scene from Psycho). The attacker turns out to be her younger brother Joey, a horror movie buff, and his weapon is merely a fake knife. He has played the first of several practical jokes on her.

Against her father’s wishes, teenager Amy visits a sleazy traveling carnival with her new boyfriend Buzz, her best friend Liz, and Liz’s irresponsible boyfriend Richie.

At the carnival, the four teens smoke marijuana, peep into a 21-and-over strip show, heckle fortune teller Madame Zena, visit the freaks-of-nature exhibit, and view a magic show.

Richie dares the group to spend the night in “The Funhouse”, which is actually a dark ride. After the park closes, the teenagers settle down inside the ride, at which point they witness the ride assistant, a silent man in a Frankenstein’s Monster mask, engage Zena as a prostitute. He experiences premature ejaculation, but despite his request Zena will not return her $100 fee. He murders her in a violent rage…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

Reviews:

The ending recalls Chainsaw in its relentlessness… in this case the noise in the machinery room is similar to the effect of the buzzing chainsaw. It jars the senses and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Director Tobe Hooper truly lays the groundwork with the mechanized creatures, the deformed inbred monster, the creepy surreal barkers and more. A fine job is done of building up the suspense…” The Terror Trap

“Taken on its own merits, The Funhouse is a great horror film, every bit the equal of Halloween or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in meaning and use of effective film technique. But seen in the context of Hooper’s career, it picks up even more steam. The childhood obsession with magic and monsters, a facet of Hooper’s life characterised in Poltergeist, Salem’s Lot and Invaders from Mars, plays a big role here, particularly in Joey’s bedroom accoutrements.” John Kenneth Muir, Horror Films of the 1980s

“The Funhouse is a spitty movie, full of great expectorations. That is, there’s more drool on view than blood, which is a new twist for the horror genre […] For all the elegance of photography, pic has nothing in particular up its sleeves, and devotees of director Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will be particularly disappointed with the almost total lack of shocks and mayhem.” Variety, December 31, 1980

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk

”Funhouse is a horror movie, not a really good one, but considering that its central horror is a standard monster (fangs, drool, stringy hair and a sour expression) who pursues four standard teenagers (dope, fornication, mopey expressions), it is not a really bad movie, either. Tobe Hooper, the director, was in there trying.” John Corry, The New York Times, March 14, 1981

“The killer is pitiful if not exactly sympathetic, a nod to Universal’s original Frankenstein’s monster. Unfortunately, the film’s protagonists are not especially sympathetic either. Also, Hooper seems less interested in the set-up for the mayhem that is about to ensue, and more interested in cataloguing the weird and sinister people who people the carnival.” J.A. Kerswell, Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut

“While the director, Tobe (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) Hooper, ought to have moved on to better things, he is the master of this gore-and-sadism genre… The film features an excruciatingly tense final confrontation.” People Weekly, April 27, 1981

“Hooper’s treatment of the monstrous Gunther was reminiscent of his chainsaw-crazed predecessor, with the audience being swayed to sympathize with his repulsively misshapen form […] The film was reasonably well received with John Beal’s creepy score gaining universal commendation.” Peter Normanton, The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies

Main cast and characters:

• Elizabeth Berridge as Amy Harper
• Cooper Huckabee as Buzz (Starved; The Legend of Sasquatch)
• Largo Woodruff as Liz
• Miles Chapin as Richie
• Kevin Conway as Freak Show Barker/Strip Show Barker/Conrad Straker (The Funhouse Barker)
• Wayne Doba as Gunther Twibunt (The Monster)
• Sylvia Miles as Madame Zena
• William Finley as Marco the Magnificent (Night Terrors; Silent Rage; The Fury; Eaten Alive; Phantom of the Paradise)
• Shawn Carson as Joey Harper
• Rebuka Hoye as Strip Show Dancer
• Jack McDermott as Mr. Paul Harper
• Jeanne Austin as Mrs. Ellen Harper

Novelization:

A novelization of the screenplay was written by Dean Koontz, under the pseudonym Owen West. As the film production took longer than expected, the book was released before the film. The novel contains a great deal of backstory and characterization which was not used in the movie. It was later reissued credited to Dean Koontz.

Video Nasty:

In the UK, the film was unsuccessfully prosecuted as a ‘video nasty’ a few years after its cinema release. Some commentators have questioned its attempted banning, given that the film is fairly tame in comparison to other entries on the list, leading some to suggest it was mistaken for the infamous Last House on Dead End Street, which had also been released as The Fun House.

Filming locations:

Miami, Florida

Wikipedia | IMDb | AFI

‘When the dead break free, all hell breaks loose.’

Mortuary is a 2005 supernatural American horror film directed by Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist; Salem’s Lot; The Texas Chain Saw Massacre) from a screenplay by husband and wife Jace Anderson and Adam Gierasch (Mother of Tears; Toolbox Murders; Crocodile; et al). It stars Dan Byrd, Alexandra Adi and Denise Crosby.

After the loss of their father, the Doyle family – Leslie, Jonathan, and Jamie – move to an old mortuary in hope of starting a new life but find it in poor condition.

Jonathan goes to the local diner where he meets Cal and his two girlfriends, Tina and Sara. Cal tells Jonathan about the legend of Bobby Fowler, an abused and deformed boy who lived in the mortuary.

That night, Cal, Sara and Tina go to the graveyard outside the mortuary and vandalise it; they then go into one of the crypts, where they are attacked by Bobby Fowler…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“In the end, Mortuary is one part Night of the Living Dead, and one part Cabin Fever. It accomplishes what few productions do by capturing nearly all of the key elements to a great horror movie. They made something worth watching again and again. It isn’t the scariest movie you’ll ever see, but it is extremely entertaining and a lot of fun.” Scared Stiff Reviews

” …Mortuary seems to be unsure of what it wants to be. We’ve got black humor, zombies, killer CGI fungus, and a deformed killer all thrown into the mix at once, and this results in an ambitious yet muddled experience. On the positive side, Mortuary is filled with quite a few moments of gross out gags, cool looking zombies, disturbing imagery, and the acting is way above par.” Steve Barton, Dread Central

“Mortuary is not a good film. When it comes down to it, it is a bad DTV horror movie with a horrendous screenplay. But I do love it, meaning I thoroughly enjoy it, of course mainly due to Hooper’s idiosyncratic visual eye, resonant acquisitions of cinematography (by DP Jaron Presant; the film really is a good-looking picture, even a step up from the crude gothic of Toolbox Murders with its Halloween party colors), and directorial delicacy, which lends the film its amiable energy and gentle textures.” Tobe Hooper Appreciation Society

“Mortuary slips into an unmitigated mess from the outset […] This might have been okay if the film had held up in the shocks department. However, Tobe Hooper gives all indication that he has lost the ability to create worthwhile or even credible shocks. Everything that happens has an eminent predictability, while the red herrings make you groan at their lameness.” Richard Scheib, Moria

“But the CGI… oh the horror! The black gunky mold which grows (unconvincingly) everywhere is a colossal annoyance. But when it is spewed from the mouths of person-to-person it borders on comical. It’s kind of like a really bad version of the black oil from the X-Files. The make-up effects are equally unconvincing, and even the zombies, which I am usually sympathetic towards, are sub-par.” Bloody Disgusting

” …a welfare friendly, bland and un-scary location, tinker-toy CGI, a misfired attempt at humor that wouldn’t giggle up a sedated chimp (the weed/cop at the door bit was astoundingly idiotic), bad editing cuts galore and beyond flaccid directing by Mr. Hooper…” The Arrow, JoBlo.com

“The effects on the zombies are pretty decent, but the CGI is weak as all get out. Not only does the pipe cleaner look like a coked out Etch-A-Sketch, but there’s one hand through the heart effect that looks incredibly fake. The movie runs a little slow, but things pick up at about the three quarter mark when the kids get chased by not only the zombies, but also Bobby the psycho AND their schizoid mom as well.” Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum

“Mortuary isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever seen and Hooper’s directing probably elevates the film, but it’s still not great. Fortunately, this movie is just so absurd that it’s fun to watch. The characters are so bizarre and the plot just jumps all over the place. It starts and ends like a slasher film, but with a zombie movie jammed right into the middle.” Zak Greene, Wicked Horror

Choice dialogue:

Sheriff Howell: “This town takes violence seriously!’

Cast and characters:

• Denise Crosby as Leslie (Relative Fear; Dolly Dearest; Pet Sematary)
• Dan Byrd as Jonathan (Ghost Whisperer; The Hills Have Eyes; Salem’s Lot [2004])
• Stephanie Patton as Jamie
• Alexandra Adi as Liz
• Bug Hall as Cal
• Courtney Peldon as Tina
• Tarah Paige as Sara
• Rocky Marquette as Grady
• Michael Shamus Wiles as Sheriff Howell (The Lords of Salem; Hellraiser: Inferno; Puppet Master 4; Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III; Terror at Tenkiller)

Filming locations:

Pomona, California, USA

Wikipedia | IMDb

The latest horror and sci-fi related news from around the world is here, to peruse at a glance, plus details of all the posts that have recently been updated daily on Horrorpedia, in one handy place.

Madballs Horror Movie Icons

Madballs are a line of new toys horror movie icons designed by Kidrobot and available exclusively at Best Buy stores.

The four inch foam balls feature Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the Predator from Predator, the Facehugger from Alien, and a Xenomorph from Aliens. The Madballs are $9.99 each and currently only available in stores, not online. Source: Broke Horror Fan

Night Angel aka Deliver Us from Evil coming as a Special Edition Blu-ray 

Kino Classics is releasing Dominique Othenin-Girard’s 1989 movie Night Angel aka Deliver Us from Evil as a Special Edition Blu-ray on October 24, 2017.

A terrifying centuries-old evil has awakened in the form of the wicked, voluptuous Lilith (Isa Anderson). Lilith uses her beauty and her insatiable lust as a potent lifeforce that spreads death and destruction to all who dare to succumb to her charms. Posing as a cover girl for a fashion magazine, Lilith becomes the object of insane desire for all who brave her seductive gaze.

Only true love can withstand her awesome powers and only one man (Linden Ashby) is strong enough to test them in a frightening test of will and death tango with Night Angel, the mistress of Hell.

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com

The supporting cast includes Debra Feuer, Helen Martin, Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Karen Black (House of 1000 Corpses; Burnt Offerings; Trilogy of Terror and sequel). Night Angel was directed Dominique Othenin-Girard (Halloween 5, Omen IV: The Awakening) with a screenplay by Joe Augustyn (Night of the Demons and sequel) and Walter Josten.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary with director Dominique Othenin-Girard, moderated by filmmaker Heather Buckley
• Audio Commentary by Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and Film Historian Jason Pichonsky
• Interview with Star Isa Jank
• Interview with Screenwriter Joe Augustyn
• Interview with Steve Johnson (Special Makeup Effects Designer & Creator)
• Night Angel Tests
• Head Erosion Tests
• Chest Grab Tests
• Animated Behind-the-Scenes Image Gallery
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Death House receives a release date

The much-anticipated Death House will finally be released on January 26, 2018, in Regal Cinemas across the United States.

Scripted by Harrison Smith and the late Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre), the film stars an impressive line-up of horror legends including Adrienne Barbeau, Michael Berryman, Barbara Crampton, Sid Haig, Kane Hodder, Lloyd Kaufman, Camille Keaton, R.A. Mihailoff, Bill Moseley, Bill Oberst Jr., Debbie Rochon, Felissa Rose, Tiffany Shepis, Brinke Stevens, Tony Todd, Dee Wallace, and Vernon Wells.

Victor Crowley will stalk Canadian movie screens

Raven Banner Entertainment have picked up the Canadian distribution rights for Adam Green’s Victor Crowley, the secretly-filmed fourth film in the Hatchet series, and will soak Canadian cinemas with blood and gore in October…

Grimmfest 2017 

This year’s Grimmfest is being held from 5th to 8th October at the Vue Printworks in Manchester, England, UK.

Films being shown include:

Ruin Me – Alex is no fan of horror movies, but reluctantly agrees to accompany her boyfriend to Slasher Sleepout, an extreme horror-themed event, combining camping trip, survival game, and spook house. But then the fun turns deadly, and Alex must confront her worst fears and personal demons if she wants to escape with her life and sanity intact…

Still/Born – After Mary loses one of her twins in childbirth, she starts to believe that her other child is in danger from an evil spirit. Is she simply suffering from post-natal depression, or is it something far worse?

Trench 11 – In the final days of WWI a shell-shocked soldier must lead a mission deep beneath the trenches of No Man’s Land to stop a German experiment that could turn the tide of the war. But it soon becomes apparent that the Germans have already lost control of the situation, and now neither side is safe…

Freehold – Cocky wideboy estate agent Hussein seems to have it all. Well-paid job, beautiful girlfriend, fancy suits, a large flat in a desirable part of London. But unknown to him, he also has a hidden houseguest. One who means him harm…

Better Watch Out – Christmas in small town suburban America, and Ashley agrees to babysit twelve-year-old Luke while his parents are at a dinner party. Far from resenting being left with a sitter, Luke has high expectations for the evening – Ashley is the girl of his dreams, and tonight he intends to declare his feelings. Things get very awkward very quickly – and then take a shocking turn for the worse…

Replace – Young and beautiful Kira is afflicted with a strange disease: her skin starts to age rapidly, dry out and crumble away. When she discovers that she can replace her own skin with somebody else’s, she has to choose: watch her own body wither and die – or give in to temptation… whatever the price

Game of Death – Seven drunken, partying teens discover a slightly sinister board game, and decide it might be quite fun to play it. But they don’t really read the rules, and what they do read they don’t take seriously. Once that clock starts ticking, there’s only one choice: Kill or be killed. Ridiculous, right? And then one of them loses his head, and they realise that the Game is ON…

Double Date – Meet innocent Jim, terrified of girls, and on a reluctant quest to prove his manhood the night before he turns 30. He and his cocky friend Alex think they’ve hit the jackpot when they meet the beautiful siblings Kitty and Lulu, who seem up for anything on a wild party-fuelled night. But little do they know that the femmes fatales want to make Jim lose much more than just his virginity…

Leatherface – A teenage Leatherface escapes from a mental hospital with three other inmates, kidnapping a young nurse and taking her on a road trip from hell while being pursued by an equally deranged lawman out for revenge.

The Bride – In late 19th Century rural Russia, it was common practice to photograph dead relatives, posed as if they were alive. It was also believed in some quarters that the camera was a means to capture the human soul. Travelling with her fiancé to his ancestral home, to prepare for a traditional wedding ceremony, Nastya is about to discover that such beliefs and practices are still very much alive…

Plus, world premiere showings of Manchester-set Habit and the animated haunted house film Borley Rectory.

Full details of the line-up, showing schedule and tickets can be found on the Grimmfest website

The Kindred is finally set to be unleashed on Blu-ray

Entertainment Weekly has reported that, having purchased the rights over ten years ago and then running into long-running legal issues, Synapse Films will finally be unleashing Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter’s The Kindred (1986), which stars Rod Steiger (The Amityville Horror) and Amanda Pays (Leviathan), on Blu-ray and DVD in 2018. Plus, Synapse Films’ version will apparently contain more gore than the original release.

President Donald May Jr. commented:

“Almost ten years later, I can now say that, yes, we are doing The Kindred, finally, for 2018. While we didn’t spend four years restoring it, it took us ten years to get out of all the legal mess to finally announce it again, ten years later. I could probably write a book as to what happened with The Kindred. [Laughs] We’ll do The Kindred on Blu-ray and DVD, because honestly it’s never been legally available on Blu-ray or DVD in the U.S. So, we’ll be the first company to actually release it.

Read more about The Kindred here

Black Rose Anthology coming soon

Drew Barrymore’s production company, Flower Films, has begun work on a new hour-long horror anthology series titled Black Rose Anthology, which will air on the CW reports Deadline.

Each episode will be written and directed by women and will explore such themes as “guilt, jealousy, repression, paranoia, insanity, sexual obsession and survival through a modern and distinctly feminine lens.” The pilot episode of Black Rose Anthology is being written by former Scream showrunner Jill Blotevogel.

Hellraiser 30th Anniversary Vinyl Soundtrack Release

On October 6, 2017, Lakeshore Records is reissuing the Hellraiser soundtrack by Christopher Young as a 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition vinyl release, remastered from the original 24 track, 2 inch analog master session tapes.

The single LP gatefold release includes digitally restored original artwork and photography from the film’s archives. Furthermore, the disc sleeve features the long lost original theatrical sales sheet.

The record itself is 140g multi-coloured translucent red with black smoke vinyl.

Buy vinyl soundtrack: Amazon.com

Night of the Living Dead – Horrors of Copyright

Kaptain Kristian has produced a YouTube video for blinkist.com explaining why George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead accidentally became a public domain title in 1968 and how this impacted positively on the explosion of the zombie pop culture in years to come.

This month’s theatrical releases

The most hotly anticipated theatrical release this month is undoubtedly the remake of Stephen King’s IT, due out in five days time on the 8th. Meanwhile, other movie house releases include:

Jackals – Our coverage of this movie has just been updated with more review quotes/links. Reviews so far are largely negative, unfortunately, but make up your own mind by taking a look at the trailer here

The Vault – Dan Bush’s heist/horror hybrid with James Franco is out via a limited US release  and we’ve updated our again coverage which now features six of the first reviews

Temple (2017) – Our movie overview has just been updated again with the trailer, UK DVD release and more reviews, which are all negative, so far. Read more

The Limehouse Golem – expect lots of fogbound London streets and Bill Nighy grimacing throughout…

Friend Request – ‘Evil is trending’ in this German movie filmed in South Africa.

Welcome to Willits – It’s amusing and icky so worth a look, but is also a tad heavy on the druggy culture references, which become slightly tiresome.

Flatliners – Remake of the 1990 hit.

Buy Blu-ray + DVD combo: Amazon.com

Prime Evil and Lurkers – Vinegar Syndrome is bringing two 1980s Roberta Findlay (Snuff) horror movies to Blu-ray + DVD on October 24.

Prime Evil: Nestled in a Manhattan monastery, evil is lurking. A group of devil worshipping monks are stalking the city, looking for victims to sacrifice to the dark lord in the hope of bringing satanic rule to the world! A stylishly photographed neo-gothic horror, Prime Evil packs in gore, nudity, and loads of 80s NYC locales.

Lurkers: When Cathy was a girl, she saw her deranged mother murder her father and only narrowly escaped with her life. Haunted by memories of her macabre childhood, her nightmares turn into a terrifying reality when she’s lured back to her childhood home, only to be transformed into a ‘lurker;’ members of the vengeful dead who seek to terrorize those who wronged them. Findlay’s suspenseful ghost story explores trauma and grief between moments of shocking violence.

Both films are making their Blu-ray debuts from Vinegar Syndrome, newly restored in 2k from their 35mm original camera negatives!

Directed by: Roberta Findlay
1987-1988 / 173 minutes / Color / 1.85:1
Starring: William Beckwith, Christine Moore, Gary Warner

Features Include:
• Region free Blu-ray/DVD combo pack
• Newly scanned and restored in 2k from the 35mm original camera negative
• Commentary track for Prime Evil with Roberta Findlay (director)
• Original theatrical trailers for both films
• TV spots for both films
• Isolated soundtrack for both films
• Reversible cover artwork
• English SDH subtitles

The Fright-Rags Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth collection obviously features Pinhead, plus poster artwork reworked as a shirt design. The new apparel is available at Fright-Rags.com

Horrorpedia site updates:

Leatherface (2017) – Updated with a behind-the-scenes promo featurette plus a FrightFest video interview with Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo. Our latest update also includes the new poster (above) and more reviews, of course. Check it all out here

Ghost Stories (UK, 2017) – The first image (above) from the new comedy film adaptation of the successful stage play has arrived online. The movie is directed by Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen) and Andy Nyman (ABCs of Death 2: segment ‘A’; Black Death; Severance). The latter stars alongside Martin Freeman (Cargo; Hot Fuzz; Shaun of the Dead) and Alex Lawther. Read more

The Crucifixion (2017) is currently the most top trending post on Horrorpedia although, as with our perennially popular Mythical Demons of Hell: Who’s Who in Satan’s Underworld article, we suspect that it may not just be fans of horror cinema clicking on it.

A Lionsgate trailer for The Crucifixion has arrived online, view here

The Old Dark House (1932) – James Whale’ Universal comedy horror classic featuring Boris Karloff has been given a 4K restoration. Read more

Gerald’s Game (2017) is the Mike Flanagan directed, Jeff Howard scripted adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name about kinky sex gone wrong. The film will debut on Netflix on September 29. Read more here

The Evil Within (2017) The late Andrew Getty’s horror “masterpiece” has caused a flood of positive reviews that, whilst noting the film’s flaws, also praise its uniqueness and nightmare qualities. We watched it yesterday and can confirm that The Evil Within is a MUST SEE and a genuine cult item, for sure. More images and reviews have been added to the film’s Horrorpedia overview

Pyewacket (2016) is a Canadian indie horror thriller in which a frustrated, angst-ridden teenage girl awakens something in the woods when she naively performs an occult ritual to evoke a witch to kill her mother. Our overview of the movie has just been updated with the poster and news that the film is being shown at this year’s TIFF. Read more and watch trailer

Hitchhiker Massacre (2017) has been updated on Horrorpedia with new artwork (above) and a second trailer, in glorious Vimeo HD. Watch here

Jeepers Creepers 3 is receiving a one day only theatrical showing on September 26 via Fathom Events.

Lyst (2017)has been labelled the most grotesque film in Norwegian history. Our coverage has just been updated with some brief behind-the-scenes footage of the crew setting up special effects shots. Watch and read more about Lyst here

The School (2017) is an Australian supernatural thriller. Our coverage of the movie has been updated today to include a new poster (above). Read more about The School and watch the trailer here

78/52 (2017) is a documentary film written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (Doc of the Dead). It looks at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, the “man behind the curtain”, and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. The overview on Horrorpedia has been updated today with the trailer for 78/52 Read more/watch trailer

Cavity Colors has issued some eye-catching Maniac Cop 2 t-shirts and enamel pins. Visit their site for ordering details and our post to read about the movie itself. Remember, ‘You have the right to remain silent… forever!

The latest new Blu-ray and DVD releases includes:

C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud – Vestron Blu-ray (UK)

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Crow – 4Digital Media DVD (UK)

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Darkness Wakes – Left Films DVD (UK)

Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk

Granny of the Dead – Matchbox Films DVD (UK)

Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk

Mansion of Blood – Three Wolves DVD (UK)

Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk

Pieces – Arrow Video Limited Deluxe Edition Blu-ray (UK)

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

• Brand new 4K transfer from the original camera negative
• Two versions of the feature: Pieces, the US theatrical version, and Mil Gritos Tiene La Noche, the original uncensored director s cut, presented in Spanish with original score by Librado Pastor [Blu-ray exclusive]
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original English and Spanish Mono Audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• 5.1 Vine Theater Experience
• Alternate Re-score by composer Umberto
• Brand new audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues
• It s Exactly What You Think It Is! brand new featurette offering up an appreciation of Pieces by various filmmaker fans
• Brand new interview with art director Gonzalo Gonzalo
• The Reddest Herring extensive interview with actor Paul Smith, including a discussion of Pieces
• • Audio Interview with producer Steve Minasian
  • Image Galleries
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach
  • Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Michael Gingold
  • Soundtrack CD featuring the entire original score
  • 100-piece jigsaw puzzle replicaPieces of Juan a career-spanning interview with director Juan Piquer Simon

• Voice from the Stone – Precision Pictures DVD (UK)

Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk

Zombie Creeping Flesh (aka Hell of the Living Dead, Bruno Mattei) – 88 Films Blu-ray (UK)

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Snapshot aka The Day After Halloween (Australia, 1979) – Vinegar Syndrome Region Free Blu-ray + DVD

Buy Blu-ray + DVD combo: Amazon.com

The Houses That October Built 2 – has been updated on Horrorpedia with new artwork. There is also a trailer for this hotly anticipated sequel. Read more

The Domicile (2017) – has been updated on Horrorpedia with several reviews which can be read here

The Corpse Grinders (1971) – Ted V. Mikels’ exploitation trash, erm, ‘classic’ gets a major Blu-ray upgrade courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome. Check out the specs here

BloodBeat (1982). Or is it Bloodbeat or Blood Beat? The online title is one word so we’re going with that. Its bonkers by any title and recommended for those who appreciate somewhat incoherent yet amusingly head-scratching surreal (in the genuine sense of the word, not just weird) 80’s low budget fodder. Vinegar Syndrome is releasing a very welcome Blu-ray with a slew of extras. Details here

Nightworld (2017) – updated on Horrorpedia with first reviews and more images. The reviews aren’t very positive but the imagery shows promise. Take a look here

Trench 11 (2017) – The Canadian movie set during the horrors of war now has a new Raven Banner trailer that can be watched here

Psychos in Love (1986) – Gorman Bechard’s idiosyncratic indie black comedy cost a mere $75K in the mid-eighties and yet has an indie vitality and wit far exceeding that of many bigger budget efforts from the era (such as House). Vinegar Syndrome have gone to town with an incredible extras-packed Blu-ray release that shows their love for this oddball movie. Read more

What the Waters Left Behind (2017) – Updated on Horrorpdia with the first poster and news of the world premiere at the Sitges film festival in Spain. This Argentinian horror movie apparently has the same vibe as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. The trailer and a sneak peek of footage at last year’s Cannes festival caused a big buzz. Click here to read about the intriguing plot and watch the trailer horror fans are talking about

Demon Wind (1990) – Slapdash, silly, yet undoubtedly surreal in a good way, Charles Philip Moore’s low budgeter is a must for Evil Dead fans and those who appreciate rabid regional horror made with genuine enthusiasm. Vinegar Syndrome have done the film proud with their upcoming Blu-ray + DVD combo. Details here

Cut Shoot Kill (2017) – Our coverage has been updated with ten reviews to peruse before you view Cut Shoot Kill

Our Evil is Brazilian director Samuel Cunha Galli’s uncompromising brutal combination of a serial killer and a possession pic. However, despite the strong material, initial reviews have been positive. The Horrorpedia overview of this controversial movie is being updated daily with more critical opinions. Read the latest round-up here

Mindhunter (2017, TV series) – There’s not been much buzz about this upcoming serial killer thriller series but it’s David Fincher (!) and looks great. Check out the trailer and a new teaser clip here

The Terror of Hallow’s Eve (2017) – Todd Tucker’s loving homage to 80s horror (another one!) had its world premiere at FrightFest and here are the initial – largely positive – reactions from reviewers

Voice from the Stone (2017) – This Italian set mystery movie looks lovely, but is somewhat sedate in style. A ‘slow burner’ as is oft said. Our Horrorpedia overview has been updated with more reviews, images and the film’s British DVD release. And we love John Llewellyn Probert’s comment that this is “the kind of film you can safely recommend to elderly relatives who enjoy non-threatening gothic dramas where you don’t have to be awake throughout the entire thing to understand it.” Read what the other reviewers say here

Eat Locals – This Brit comedy horror directed by actor Jason Flemyng has garnered both praise and derision from reviewers. There’s a review round-up here

Beeline Creative presents Geeki Tikis 18 oz ceramic mugs based on six classic Universal monsters are due out in September. Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon can be pre-order via Entertainment Earth for $16.99 each. News source: Broke Horror Fan

Halloween Headtrip!

Featuring wonderfully lurid and brightly coloured limited edition packaging designs by Orlando Arocena, nineteen Twentieth Century Fox and MGM Home Entertainment horror releases are being issued to celebrate Halloween with gorgeous new collectible Blu-ray and DVD packaging.

The titles below and more will be available at major US retailers for a limited time and while supplies last beginning on September 12, 2017…

• 28 Days Later
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
• Black Swan
• Carrie (1976)
• Child’s Play
• Devil’s Due
• The Fly (1986)
• From Hell
• The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
• Jeepers Creepers
• Jennifer’s Body
• Joy Ride
• Killer Klowns from Outer Space
• The Other Side of the Door
• Poltergeist (2015)
• The Return of the Living Dead
• Victor Frankenstein
• Wrong Turn
• Young Frankenstein

News source: Bloody Disgusting

Safe Inside is a 2017 horror film written and directed by Jason Paul Collum. It stars Christopher D. Harder, Brinke Stevens and Judith O’Dea.

JJ (Chris Harder) is a young man spending his first night alone in the home of his deceased mother (Judith O’Dea).

When odd occurrences begin, he thinks they may be figments of his imagination, or the lasting effects of a recent nervous breakdown. However, as the occurrences intensify, it’s up to his best friend (Brinke Stevens) to help determine if he’s cracking mentally or if some “thing” indeed is inside with them…

Main cast:

Christopher D. Harder, Brinke Stevens (Stirring; Death House; Teenage Exorcist; et al)  Judith O’Dea (Night of the Living Dead: Genesis; Abandoned Dead; Night of the Living Dead), Darcey Vanderhoef, Tina Ona Paukstelis, Karen Dilloo, Keith McLeod, Jerod Howard, Frank Anderson, Josh Greytak, Kyle McLeod, Doug Despin, Brian Vanderhoef, Sy Stevens, Alicia Smith.

Judith O’Dea

Filming locations:

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

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