Temptation

Year: 2010

Director: Catherine Taylor

Stars: Caroline Haines, Rachael Waters, Laura Evans

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Studio: Vicious Circle Films

Running Time: 85 Mins

Lately there really hasn’t been any vampire films out there. With “Twilight” setting the subgenre back years and the “Underworld” being the guilty pleasure that it is, there really hasn’t been that great vampire film that combines the elements of gothic imagery with a dark story.

Temptation” is the debut feature film, from director Catherine Taylor. Isabel (Caroline Haines) is a beautiful young and professional woman, who is out on the town with her friends and had one too many to drink. She gets a ride from a stranger after wild night. Unknown to her, that person is serial rapist. She tries to out run him, but he catches up to her. Then Aurelie (Rachael Waters), a mysterious woman, save her from this person. Unbeknownst to her, she bites her and turns her into a vampire. Now, Isabel has 48 hours to decide to give in to the ecstasy and lustful cravings or end it all before its too late.

I’ve seen many foreign film for this site and on my own time. There’s always that foreign independent film that’s able to grab your attention It’s even more special, especially if it’s a vampire film because that‘s my most favorite horror subgenre. In age where vampire films rarely any bite to them, it was very nice to see a film that has a bite to it and then some.

“Temptation” is most gothic vampire film that I’ve seen in a very long time. Catherine Taylor’s direction was dead on. One of the things that makes this very different and very good, there is very dark and gothic atmosphere to the story. I liked how she a good job keeping that tone throughout the whole film. She does that through gothic imagery and eroticism. Those elements are done in a way that it doesn’t feel exploitive and delivers its purpose to bring a gloom and doom feeling, which is the film‘s tone. It’s something that’s been lacking in recent vampire films, since “Interview with A Vampire” came out sixteen years ago. Another thing that Taylor does very well, she is able to get the acting to fit the film’s tone, especially with her leads. I liked, how she was to get her main actresses to make their characters very dark. It really adds to the film’s tone.

The screenplay written by Julianne White does a very good job in making the everything that goes on, so dark and gloomy. One of the things that she does very well is creating a story that’s very gothic. I like how she spends the majority of the story focusing on the drastic changes that are happening to Isabel and Aurelie’s obsession that she maybe her long lost lover. It brings the darkness that’s needed to make this very gothic and gets you drawn into the dark atmosphere. Another thing that I liked about this screenplay was the fact it’s different from the “Underworld” and “Twilight’s” of the world. Instead of having the atmosphere either be chaotic and dull, White makes the atmosphere have very dark. That’s something that has been lacking in vampire films recently. By having that feel, it draws you into the dark world of the film and gets you caught up in all of depravity that takes place. I wished more horror films would go the same route.

In an age where glittering vampires rule the big screen, it’s nice to actually see a vampire film that doesn’t cave into the mainstream film mentality that the subgrene has been putting out as of lately. This film should be considered as the gold standard when it come to vampire films. “Temptation” is a gothic vampire horror film that has a lot bite.

Review Rating: Five Stars.

Welcome to My Darkside: Women in Horror

Year: 2010

Director: Reyna Young

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Studio: Last Doorway Productions

Running Time: 70 Mins

There seems to be many horror documentaries out there for your viewing pleasure these days. They usually range from the horror business to a look back at some of the greatest films in the genre. But I haven’t come across one that focuses on the women of horror, until now.

“Welcome to My Darkside: Women in Horror” focuses on various women in the horror business, in which the business is a male dominated. The film goes into the various aspects of the business from the point of views of female actresses, directors, producers, hostesses, and various women in the horror press. It also goes into how the genre how evolved for women. From the struggle of the seventy and eighty, where they were treated differently in the industry to now where many women are involved in so many various ways. Among those interviewed for the documentary are Adrienne King (Friday the 13th), April Monique Burril (Chainsaw Sally), Christa Campbell, (2001 Maniacs (2005)), Lynn Lowry (The Crazies (1973)).

One of things that is often ignored in horror documentaries is the female perspective. When watching some of these documentaries, it’s usually about the subgenres, the monsters themselves or the struggles of making a film.

Director Reyna Young doesn’t do that here, instead this film focuses on the women who work in the genre. Whether it be an actress, a horror host, director or producer, she does a good job getting her subject to open about the business, opportunity, the term “Scream Queen” and where they see the horror genre as a whole. I liked how Young was able to catch both the good side and the bad side of the business, as there were some interesting stories from some of the people involved with this project. Another thing that Young does very well, she’s able to keep your interest on the subject. She makes her subjects focusing on the various aspects of the business whether the story is either positive or negative. By doing that, it provides a lot of information about the horror business. Another thing that was Young does very well was the way she handles the wrap around segments. I liked, how she uses her “Miss Misery persona to introduce each part of the film. It keeps your interest and gives that late-night up all night feel to it while not taking too much away for the documentary‘s main purpose.

The only problem that I had here was the fact there is much more to explore on this subject. Considering that this film only has a seventy minute running time, I thought the film could have gone into the auditioning process and focus more on the original screen queens. But still, I enjoyed this look into the women of horror as it’s an interesting film on a perspective that is often ignored in the horror industry.

I do recommend that you check this film out, if you’re a horror fan or someone that enjoys watching films about the horror genre. “Welcome to My Darkside: Women in Horror” is an interesting documentary that focuses and gives insight to the female perspective of the horror business.

For more information on this film, you visit the film’s official website at: http://www.lastdoorwayproductions.com/womeninhorror/index.html

Review Rating 4 Stars.

With "Saw 3D hitting theaters on Friday, we have more still from the film courtesy of Lionsgate.

This October, one of the biggest, most successful horror franchises in movie history arrives in theaters in vivid, chilling 3-D with the release of Lionsgate’s SAW 3D.

As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror...

The film stars Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell and Sean Patrick Flannery.

"Saw 3D" hits theaters on October 29th.

"Saw 3D" Official Trailer

Lionsgate recently send us over the first still and official trailer for John Cameron Mitchell's (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus) new film "Rabbit Hole".

RABBIT HOLE is a vivid, hopeful, honest and unexpectedly witty portrait of a family searching for what remains possible in the most impossible of all situations.

Becca and Howie Corbett (NICOLE KIDMAN and AARON ECKHART) are returning to their everyday existence in the wake of a shocking, sudden loss. Just eight months ago, they were a happy suburban family with everything they wanted. Now, they are caught in a maze of memory, longing, guilt, recrimination, sarcasm and tightly controlled rage from which they cannot escape. While Becca finds pain in the familiar, Howie finds comfort.

The shifts come in abrupt, unforeseen moments. Becca hesitantly opens up to her opinionated, loving mother (DIANNE WIEST) and secretly reaches out to the teenager involved in the accident that changed everything (MILES TELLER); while Howie lashes out and imagines solace with another woman (SANDRA OH). Yet, as off track as they are, the couple keeps trying to find their way back to a life that still holds the potential for beauty, laughter and happiness. The resulting journey is an intimate glimpse into two people learning to re-engage with each other and a world that has been tilted off its axis.

"Rabbit Hole" hits select theaters on December 17th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/rabbitholemovie

"Rabbit Hole": Official Trailer

We had every reason to expect the sequel to last year’s surprise hit “Paranormal Activity” to be horrid. Movies like that come out of nowhere and make more money than anyone could have expected, so a sequel has to follow, right? God forbid the money train stops there! Even in the new millennium, greed is still king. Most people were expecting this to be as terrible as “The Blair Witch Project 2: Book of Shadows” which itself was a giant insult to its predecessor, hence giving more fuel to the haters who felt they were tricked out of their money. Besides, how can you expect a story like this to remain fresh let alone terrifying? We weren’t expecting what got hurled at us last time, but now we feel more prepared to scan every scene of the movie so that we can predict when the scares come.

Well, it is to my astonishment that I report that “Paranormal Activity 2” is no “Blair Witch 2.” Heck, it’s not even an “Open Water 2” or a “Jaws 2” or an “Exorcist 2” for that matter. This sequel turns out to be just as scary and unnerving as the original, and it respects the Oren Peli’s film for what it was and does nothing to detract from it. In fact, this sequel adds additional layers to the original which enhances the experience all the more.

“Paranormal Activity 2” opens up in Carlsbad, California where we meet Dan and his second wife Kristin as they arrive home with their newborn son, Hunter. Once they are there, we also get to meet Alli, Dan’s daughter from another marriage, the family housekeeper and nanny Martine, and the loyal German Shepherd Abby. A couple of days later after going out of town, they come back to the house to find that it has been ransacked and burglarized, but surprisingly nothing has been stolen. As a result, Dan ends up getting security cameras installed in different areas of the house to make his family feel safe, and maybe catch whoever did this. After that, things start getting scary as loud as an ominous hum pervades the family dwellings as a sign that something nasty is about to happen. Just like the original, the men never take the women or their fears seriously, and that just makes the rest of us guys look like bad boyfriends and husbands.

Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat return from the first movie as Katie and Micah, but Katie is the one who is more prominently featured. It turns out that Katie is Kristin’s sister, and that they two shared a scary past when they thought they were being terrorized by a spirit. Both are loathe to explain what they went through as children because the terror of it somehow coming back is too great.

Now the really clever thing about “Paranormal Activity 2” is that it turns out to be as much a prequel as it is a sequel. The story actually takes place several weeks before the events portrayed in the original, and the ending more or less coincides to what Katie and Micah went through. This I thought was an inspired decision because it gives more weight to the story of not just this film, but the original as well. This is not just some dumb follow up with the same old story filled with characters making the same stupid mistakes. The fate of this family is very much interlocked with the fate of Katie and Micah, and their inevitable doom makes this sequel all the more haunting.

Now whereas “Paranormal Activity” had just the one camera which Micah had situated in his and Katie’s bedroom for the most part, this second film has us looking through a number of security cameras which record the house from different angles, each revealing small little things that haunt the house mercilessly. Then there are other scenes where one of more characters are holding the camera and making us see everything that they see as they search through the house late at night. The security cameras by themselves present freaky enough images to gives us goose pimples, but when we have the first person perspective, things get even more intense than they already are.

You know what really gets to me about these movies? The silence around the house and the lack of a film score. For me, being alone in a room or a house without any noise gets my anxiety running and has me on edge as I suspect something bad is about to occur, and I won’t be able to prevent it from happening. Both “Paranormal Activity” movies understand this anxiety perfectly and play on it to the max without a reliance on blood and gore. Plus, your home is where you and your family are supposed to feel the safest. Now what happens when the safety of your home is completely violated? Where can you feel safe after that?

The choice of director for “Paranormal Activity 2” is actual a surprise and not who you might expect. Tod Williams is best known for directing “The Door In The Floor,” a criminally under seen drama with powerfully stinging performances by Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. How the producers thought of Tod for this film is beyond me, but he gives this sequel a strong suspenseful tone that keeps the tension at a high pitch throughout. Tod also gives us a couple of excellent jump out of your seat moments that will make your hair stand on end, especially one in the kitchen (trust me, you’ll know it when you see it).

As for the acting, it’s all good, nothing spectacular which is perfect for a film like this. I also have to give special props to Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat who still act ever so naturally in front of the camera. After the first film, you’d think they would have a tougher time with that and be even more self-conscious than they were before. But they both act normal as if the first movie never happened which I found very impressive.

I’m not sure I can go on in description about “Paranormal Activity 2” for fear of giving away too much. I was pleasantly (in a manner of speaking) surprised at how effective this sequel was because This could have been nothing more than a scam to produce a bigger profit than what came before. The surprise of the original is gone, and there’s not much new brought to the material here. This one also has end credits which the original did not, although there is an elongated pause for those who want to escape the theater before they come up. But the premise is still very scary at least for those who were terrified by the first film. I left the theater with my nerves jangling, feeling very much like I did when I saw the original. This could have been a big joke, but a good deal of care was put into making this work because you know all eyes of the world were prepared to tear it apart on sight.

If you liked the first “Paranormal Activity,” I think you’ll like the sequel. For those of you who didn’t like it and can’t understand what the fuss was all about, don’t even bother.

I am proud to say that I didn’t make the same mistake of watching it before I went to bed like I did with the original (man that was dumb!). I saw it in the early afternoon when the sun was still out. It still freaked me out though. Going to sleep tonight will probably not be as easy as I think.

While we’re at it, STOP WITH THE DEMAND TO SEE IT CRAP!!! Paramount Pictures already booked the theaters in advance! Enough with trying to give us power we know we don’t have!

***½ out of ****

With the nominations for the 20^th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards announced today, many agree that the 2010 awards season is now officially underway. For those unfamiliar with the Gotham Awards, it is a ceremony hosted each year in New York City (which was nicknamed “Gotham” years ago by Washington Irving) to honor the makers of independent films. They are part of the Independent Feature Project (IFP) which is said to boast the largest membership organization in the United States dedicated to independent cinema.

Click here to see the nominations

Welcome to the 259th Edition of my series. This is the last week of the Horror Marathon. Next week is the FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of this blog. I know, I can't believe it either. I am intending to do something totally different to the norm which I think will be enjoyed so stay tuned.

The Cincinnati Kid (1965): I start the week out with this classic poker film which stars Steve McQueen as the title character. This movie takes place in '30s New Orleans where McQueen plays a young poker player who comes to New Orleans to take on poker legend Lancey Howard, played by Edward G. Robinson. There is a lot of really good footage of the two taking each other. Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld, and a rare acting appearance from Cab Calloway all co-star. It is a really realistic film of the times and a darker side of New Orleans. There is also a good, jazzy music score and the theme song by Ray Charles. Norman Jewison directed the film.

Casper (1995): Our favorite friendly ghost get the live-action treatment. It starts out with the usual part to the cartoons where Casper just wants friends but other just fear the unknown and get scared. Cathy Moriarty and Eric Idle play a couple who wants to burn the house down after being scared away by the ghosts. They then hire afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey, played by Bill Pullman, who moves in hopes to get rid of the ghosts. Christina Ricci stars as his daughter Kat who is tired of constant moving but then meets Casper who she sees is very friendly unlike his uncles who are pretty mean and want them out of the house. This would be more of a family-friendly film which I did not find bad and even gave Casper a bit of a back story. Look for many cameos.

Poetry of Nature (1939): This is my short film for the week which is one of the Pete Smith specialties and some of my favorite from that era. This takes a look at many wildlife situations and adds humorous contents voicing the animals that he shows. This is the common formula for many of his short films. I have seen better than this one but they are all pretty enjoyable to me so check out some Pete Smith shorts if you get a chance.

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991): I think this is the first time that Ernest P. Worrell has graced this blog. Jim Varney created this iconic character in the 80s who is very likable but very inept. In this film, he plays the trash man who accidentally helps some evil trolls escape from their graves who then begin wreaking havoc on the town but most notably on the children who the adults do not believe. Ernest must then team up with his youth friends to put a stop to these trolls. Eartha Kitt co-stars as a strange, older lady who knows a lot about these trolls. This is a pretty good one to watch with the kids starting about late elementary age. If looking for a great plot, this is not it but if you want to revisit the Ernest films I'm sure you have not seen in years, this is the time. I believe the last time I saw this was with my dad when it was in theaters.

King of the Zombies (1941): During WWII, a plane must land on an island mansion. Mantan Moreland plays Jeff Jackson who is the servant on the plane and begins to see zombies which the other guys do not believe. He continues to see strange things and finds Dr. Sangre doing experiments on how the zombies are made. Moreland was great in is part and this could be considered a bit racist by politically correct standards but he was an underrated black actor with some good comic timing. This is a fun classic horror to watch for the season which was found on Comcast On-Demand.

Shutter Island (2010): This is my psychological thriller of the week which was directed by Martin Scorsese. The title is an island which is a hospital for the criminally insane. Leonardo DiCaprio plays U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels who is investigating the disappearance of a patient who escaped. I went to see this with Lisa when it was in theaters and I thought it flowed quite well. In this kind of film we can almost always expect to see some "twist" and I thought Scorsese did pretty good with that in a no-win situation sometimes. Mark Ruffalo, DAWSON'S CREEK alum Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, and many others co-star. DiCaprio was pretty good in his part. I won't get too much into the plot so that you don't start predicting very early. Good entry for Scorsese.

The Mummy (1959): This is my Hammer Films entry for the week which is a remake of the 1932 classic starring Christopher Lee as the title character and Peter Cushing and the expert trying to put a stop to the Mummy. Hammer director Terrence Fisher directed this one and as I have said before I tend to favor classic horror from Hammer over the Universal classics. The Hammer films still remain a bit chilling unlike Universal and make no mistake, I still enjoy Universal. Lee did some pretty good work as the Mummy as well as Cushing. Christopher Lee became the first actor to play Dracula, the Creature of Frankenstein and the Mummy.

What Lies Beneath (2000): This is my other ghost feature for the week which stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Clare who is adjusting to a new life after sending her daughter to college. Things get even stranger when she witnesses eerie events thinking her home may be haunted. Harrison Ford plays Norman who is a successful research scientist who does not believe her wife is seeing reality. The more Clare investigates however, the more her life begins to change leading to a pretty violent climax. Robert Zemeckis directed this more creepy ghost story than the other ghost story that I featured. I want you all to see this for yourself rather than me go too much further into the plot.

The Last Man on Earth (1964): This is my Vincent Price film of the week which would eventually get remade into the 1971 film THE OMEGA MAN and the 2007 film I AM LEGEND which is actually the title of the novel this film is based upon. Vincent Price plays the only survivor of a plague. However, there are still more of the "undead" which are considered vampires. He then takes it upon himself to destroy these people but then they get more and more angry. My friend Doug and I once had a discussion which the 2007 remake came out and how he favored that remake just because of the technology that we have now and then myself explaining that better special effects does not always mean for a better film. This was a pretty good chiller with Price good in his title role. I admit I have not seen I AM LEGEND yet and I am not saying I won't but we must give credit where credit is due. I personally prefer to see Vincent Price in this kind of part than Will Smith but that's just me.

The Cell (2000): I end the week with this psychological thriller. Vincent D'Onofrio stars as serial killer Carl who has been rendered comatose but is the only one to know where his latest victim is being held. The FBI wants to find this person before she dies. Jennifer Lopez stars as psychotherapist Catherine Deane who agrees to a new, revolutionary technology where she enters the mind of the comatose serial killer in hopes of finding the victim. When in the mind, she then sees his childhood and tries to connect with him to find the information. Vince Vaughn co-stars as an FBI agent whose main objection is finding the victim. I actually quite liked him in this movie where he is more serious than usual. The fantasy sequences were also pretty good with a decent performance from J-Lo. This is a great sci-fi entry with the rare element of a serial killer.

Well that is it for this week. Please join me next week for the five year anniversary of this blog. Keep on reading for the last week of Horror Movie Madness.

HORROR MOVIE MADNESS: ODIOUS OOZES: WEEK 4

This is the last week of the greatest contest ever. Whatever happens here, I'm still the unofficial winner in variety and the King of the Loophole and look forward next year.

ALIENS

1. War of the Worlds (1953): I think this should be counted for sci-fi horror on account of the murderous aliens. 666 1/2

BRUCE CAMPBELL

1. The Ant Bully (2006): Ah, my Bruce Campbell loophole and one where I request bonus points for the potion that Zoc makes to make Lucas smaller. 666 (3 points)

2. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009): I admit I had a bit of a hard time at first but hearing Bruce Campbell and Mr. T made the movie worth it. 66 1/2 (2 points)

PETER CUSHING

1. The Mummy (1959): This is my Hammer selection for the week which included a mummy and Peter Cushing. 666 (2 points)

GHOSTS

1. Casper (1995): This is the ghost loophole for the full-length version of the friendliest ghost we know. 66 1/2 (2 points)

STEVE MCQUEEN

1. The Cincinnati Kid (1965): This would be a loophole because of Mr. McQueen where is is a hot-shot poker player. Sometimes when doing this contest while Elizabeth calls me the "King of the Hoophole", I just wonder what other contestants are thinking like how I disgrace this Horror contest with the things I include on these contests but oh well. I am who I am and I still must provide diversity on my own blog. 666 (2 points)


VINCENT PRICE

1. The Last Man on Earth (1964): This is the vampire selection and it had Vincent Price so when I saw it On-Demand I had to have it. 666 (2 points)

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

1. Shutter Island (2010): I actually had to ask the host if this would count and it got approved. 666 (2 points)

SAM RAIMI

1. The Gift (2000): This is another psychological thriller and directed by Sam Raimi. 666 (2 points)

SERIAL KILLERS AND SLASHERS

1. The Cell (2000): I feel this should count for the serial killer element. 666 (2 points)

2. The People Under the Stairs (1991): My only Wes Craven entry for this contest for this Urban horror film where we have a boy named fool who along with a couple adults decide to rob the wrong house which is inhibited by some pretty crazy people and children who have been abducted and cannot escape. I want bonus points for the cannibalism element. 66 (3 points)

SUPERNATURAL

1. Push (2009): I admit I'm really doing what the title implies and pushing it. I'm passing it off as teen supernatural horror but if it does not get counted I will understand. We have a man with telekinetic powers and a psychic girl. 66 1/2 (2 points)


TROLLS

1. Ernest Scared Stupid (1991): I did not know how to classify this Halloween comedy and Ernest's place in the contest but they did contend with some trolls. I am asking for bonus points on this one for the way the trolls just melt. 66 1/2 (3 points)

VIRUSES

1. The Crazies (2010): This is the virus film for the week which is a remake of the Romero classic. I have not seen that version but I did really like this movie though. 666 (2 points)

WEREWOLVES

1. The Wolf Man (2010): The remake of a classic which is a pretty big risk. Benicio Del Toro plays Laurence Talbot which is a part that is just so hard to imagine anybody else besides Lon Chaney Jr. and he just could not pull it off for me. Also, I really didn't like the way they portrayed in as a bit of a prick and even his father, played by Anthony Hopkins, was rather villainous. There were some things that worked like the scenery and Hugo Weaving and the officer investigating it. 66 1/2 (2 points)

ZOMBIES

1. King of the Zombies (1941): This is the zombie film of the week which could be considered racist by today's standards but still entertaining. 66 1/2 (2 points)

Welcome to the 258th Edition of my long-running series. I am now 3-3 in Fantasy football so hopefully I can continue this today. On Halloween, I will be ring announcing for a wrestling show at the Muncie, Indiana Fair Grounds which is a benifit show so if you are in the area. Doors open at 5:30 and the show is at 6 pm. Don't worry, you can still get some candy. Also, congrats to my cousin Cory who just got married and I'm sure has a great life ahead of him now. Now onto the recommendations for the week.

The Majestic (2001): As many would describe this, it is a throwback to the Capra films of the 40s and as a fan of Capra I came to agree. Jim Carrey stars as movie writer Peter Appleton who becomes blacklisted in Hollywood in the '50s as many people were affected by the Joe McCarthy era. He then gets into a car accident where he loses his memory and ends up in a small-town where he is believed to be a long-lost son named Luke. With these lost identity memories and being placed with this one he begins to learn about life and other human qualities he did not have before. This is a more dramatic part for Jim Carrey and I believe he pulled this off quite well. This movie got some pretty mixed opinions but for me it brought back memories of other Capra films. Martin Landau, Bob Balaban, Hal Holbrook, Laurie Holden, and many others co-star as well as a few surprise cameos.

District 9 (2009): This is the extraterrestrial film for the week where aliens must live in slum-like conditions in Johannesburg, South Africa. They have been here for years since the ship landed in this country and cannot seem to really get along. Neill Blomkamp wrote and directed this film apparently as a statement towards his own childhood in Johannesburg dealing with apartheid. I really like the way this was shot and even looked like a documentary. The aliens I thought looked very real and did not have any overdone CGI effects. The cast also did a good job even though they were unknown. Sharlto Copley is pretty much the star as he is dealing with quite a change after an encounter with one of the aliens. This is actually his debut and got the lead when Blomkamp placed him in front of the camera. He did not intend on having a career but would go onto play Murdock in the recent film adaptation to THE A-TEAM. This was a rather realistic sci-fi film and should rank pretty high in the genre for the years to come.

She-Wolf of London (1946): This is my universal film for the week. June Lockhart plays Phyllis who believes she is part of a bad family curse becoming convinced she turns into a werewolf and committed some murders in the park. This is a much lesser-known Universal film and not one of their best but it was still pretty enjoyable to watch for the season. It is available with THE WOLF MAN dvd set that Universal released.

Alice Rattled by Rats (1925): This is actually an early Disney short. No, this is not the same Alice who we know in Wonderland. This really revolves more around her cat trying to keep the house together when Alice is away but is given lots of trouble by rats. There was a series of these shorts which we could see parts of the magic that would become of Mickey Mouse, the character that skyrocketed Disney. This is findable on Youtube.

The Day the World Ended (1955): This is my Roger Corman film for the week. This takes place after a post-nuclear war where many people must band together to survive the harsh conditions. They must also take on a mutant that was the result from the radiation. The movie sparked my interest but not my favorite out of Corman but short enough for me to get through it with some enjoyment. Probably best to watch with other people to get the enjoyment out of it.

The Brother from Another Planet (1984): John Sayles wrote and directed this interesting sci-fi film which stars Joe Morton as the title character who is a mute alien in the form of a black man and is on the run by outer-space bounty hunters played by Sayles and David Straithairn. He is in Harlem and forms relationships with many people who accept him after witnessing his gift towards fixing things. I guess this has a similar statement as my other feature of the week DISTRICT 9. This is more towards the experience of an immigrant trying to make it here. The title indicates possibly some kind of spoof or parody but that is not what this is as this is a good drama that has become quite the cult classic. This is available instantly on Netflix and would be a good selection even if looking for something with a social commentary.

Brigham Young (1940): Dean Jagger plays the real-life title character who becomes the leader of the mormons and leads a group of people to settle in what would become Salt Lake City. It becomes a very difficult journey but one he is very determined to make for his religious freedom. The bigger focus however is on his follower Jonathan Kent, played by Tyrone Power, and his fiance Zina Webb, played by Linda Darnell, who face the biggest hardships of them all. Vincent Price plays the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith in the beginning. I thought the film had pretty good messages. I am not sure of the accuracies of the film. There was a lot of persecution towards them which has been clearly documented as well as all kinds of religious persecution though all ages of existance. I have some family that is Mormon so I am not sure what their response is so if seeing this, please give your thoughts. This is available on instant Netflix.

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977): The first part of what would become a pop culture phenomenon. George Lucas wrote and directed this Sci-fi tale where we meet many of our friends like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, C-3P0, R2-D2, Chewbacca, and many others. Mark Hamill plays Luke who is a farmhand but really wants to join the Jedi and become a fighter. He finally gets his chance when he joins the elderly Obi-Wan, played by Alec Guinness, and teams up with outlaw Han Solo, a star-making performance from Harrison Ford, and Chewbacca as well as the droids. Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher, is captured by Darth Vader, who is the leader at the Death Star. Not much else really needs to be said here since I'm really just reminding people of this film. Not as good as Empire or Jedi but it is what gets the series in its start. James Earl Jones provides the voice for Darth Vader. Peter Cushing also co-stars as Vader's ally Tarkin. Apparently the character of Han Solo was based on Francis Ford Coppola.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005): I found this to be an interesting take to the exorcism genre. Tom Wilkinson plays Father Moore who is put on trial after unsuccessfully performing an exorcism on the title character. He is accused of negligence as prosecution tried to prove that is was more natural. Laura Linney plays his agnostic attorney Erin Bruner who is really just doing it to get promoted at her job begins to like Father Moore and becomes a believer the hard way. The movie really took us through the trial using flashbacks of Emily Rose to see what lead to the exorcism. This is actually based loosely on Anneliese Michel who died after an exorcism was performed.

30 Days of Night (2007): This is my vampire film for the week which takes place in an Alaskan town being overrun by vampires in a time where it stays night one time a year. Josh Hartnett plays the sheriff Eben Oleson who with his estranged wife Stella, played by Melissa George, must lead the town in an attack at these vampires. These were some very ugly and mean vampires, not like the ones in TWILIGHT. This is actually based on a comic book of the same title by Steve Niles. The language spoke by the vampires was an original language written. This is a very violent film but if you're stomach is good enough, I think you'll enjoy it.

Well, that is it for this week. Keep reading for week three of the Horror Marathon.

ODIOUS OOZES: WEEK 3

So far I am still in the lead but we'll see how long it lasts. I have been able to get a lot out of the Netflix queue though. Even if I don't win the contest, I will still declare myself the unofficial winner of variety.

BRUCE CAMPBELL: 2.5 points

1. The Majestic (2001): Bruce has a little part as Roland who is the hero character in the movie within the movie making this a loophole. 666 (2.5 points 152 minutes)

CREATURE FEATURES: 9 points

1. Monsters, Inc (2001): These are monsters and nice as most of them are, they are monsters which should make this count in the contest. 666 (2 points)

2. Cloverfield (2008): This reminded me of DISTRICT 9 in some ways in terms of the filming. J.J. Abrams produced this one where there is a big monster attack and takes the viewpoint of the people. I really liked this one and feel it should count because of the mean monster. 666 (2 points.

3. Monsters vs. Aliens (2009): This was an interesting premise of secretly hiding monsters from the government but when there was an alien invasion these monsters were needed. I would like bonus points for the B.O.B. character which was in the form of slime and kind of like the Blob. 666 (3 points)

4. King Kong (1976): This is the guilty pleasure version of the big ape who finds love in a beautiful woman. the 1933 and 2005 versions are better but this can still get its enjoyment. 66 (2 points)

ROGER CORMAN: 2 points

1. The Day the World Ended (1955): This is a loophole in a sense which I'm sure it would be considered pure sci-fi if not for Roger Corman. 66 (2 points)

PETER CUSHING: 2 points

1. Star Wars: Episode IV (1977): Probably the only STAR WARS film that counts here because of Peter Cushing playing Tarkin and is not in the other ones and Christopher Lee is not a Wild Card so the later ones cannot be used for that with this being pure sci-fi. 666 1/2 (2 points)

EXORCISMS: 2 points

1. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005): Not much needs to be backed up here, I don't see any bonus points happening here since it is more of a demonic possession but I know Elizabeth is very honest and will give me points if I'm deemed wrong. I'll take the two for now. 666 (2 points).

FANTASY: 5 points

1. Alice in Wonderland (2010): This is Burton's version which was received to some very mixed opinions. I felt there were some flaws but it did not quite cross the dislike line. However, I would like to see Tim Burton take a break from Mr. Depp and do what I know he is capable of and not have to do some extreme remake. I feel it should be counted due to the fantasy elements. I feel this should get a bonus point for the things Alice has to eat and drink in order to get bigger or smaller though we all know the story is just a young girl's acid trip. 66 1/2 (3 points)

2. Tinker Bell (2008): This was a pretty decent Disney film which shows how the famed Tinker Bell comes to be. She is born in the land of the fairies and was told she was only going to "tinker" with things and never go to the mainland but she is determined to prove the other fairies wrong. It is a fantasy film so I hope to get this counted. 666 (2 points.

PETER JACKSON: 5 points

1. District 9 (2009): At first this was just going to be ruled pure sci-fi but Elizabeth made the last minute decision to have Peter Jackson as one of the wild cards and he produced this film. I had a little part in getting this movie to be counted and I'm glad I did, a great sci-fi film. This gets bonus points for the transformation. 6666 (3 points)

2. Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005): I really enjoyed this documentary talking about the history of the novels, the adaptations including Peter Jackson's. I feel this should be a loophole because of Jackson's interview footage and it is a documentary on a film that counts. It also takes a look at many of the "Ringers" which are dedicated LOTR fans and these kinds of films always fascinate me. 666 (2 points)

LLOYD KAUFMAN: 2 points

1. Rocky (1976): Yes, this is that career-making boxing film from Sylvester Stallone which features Lloyd Kaufman as a drunk in a small part. One of my favorite movies of all time. No matter what you my think of Sly, he did write this when he was in a make-or-break situation and would not sell his script unless he could star in it and United Artists accepted though cut the budget. UA wanted people like Robert Redford, James Caan, Burt Reynolds but not an unknown at the time like Stallone but they obviously liked the script to provide a budget. As most know Sly stars as a small-time boxer named Rocky Balboa working on the side as a loan shark. Carl Weathers is the publicity-hungry champion Apollo Creed whose opponent pulls out. Being in Philadelphia he comes up with a very good publicity stunt to give a local boxer a chance at the title and when going through people he likes the Rocky's nickname "Italian Stallion" and chooses him as well as underestimates Rocky. With this film, Sly created a pop-culture icon and an underdog anyone can relate to. This is the one of the greatest underdog films of all time as well as well as the great music score from Bill Conti and the great line of "Yo Adrian". 6666 (2 points)

VINCENT PRICE: 2 points

1. Brigham Young (1940): Vincent Price plays Joseph Smith giving me my Mormon loophole for this week making a movie based on the rise of the Mormon religion to count in a horror contest thanks to Mr. Price who can be used for anything he acts in. 66 1/2 (2 points)

SAM RAIMI: 2 points

1. 30 Days of Night (2007): Not that I have to reason with this one but this was produced by Sam Raimi so counts no matter what. 66 1/2 (2 points)

JOHN SAYLES: 2 points

1. The Brother From Another Planet (1984): John Sayles wrote and directed this one making this cult classic count and giving me another loophole. 666 (2 points)

VIRUSES: 2 points

1. Carriers (2009): This is all about a virus taking effect and four survivors who must survive. It is quite the horror film, not sure if it gets bonus points, I will let our wonderful host decide that but it does get a least two. 66 1/2 (2 points)

WEREWOLVES: 2 points

1. She-Wolf of London (1946): Not much needs to be explained for this Universal film. 66 (2 points)

TOTAL POINTS: 39.5 and hopefully it goes up and not down.

Gor-e-ography: The Making of Death Harmony

Year: 2010

Director: Anthony Kilburn

Stars: Bill Welch, Matt Shuman, Courtney Gardner

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Studio: KillaCozzy Productions

Running Time: 93 Mins

Mockumentaries tend to be hit or miss films. Those films can either be filled with laughter like “Best in Show” or “Brutal Massacre: A Comedy” or it might be just be boring like “For Your Consideration”, for example. This leads me to “Gor-e-ography: The Making of Death Harmony”.

The film is about chorographer Blake Nelson, who is directing his first horror film which includes vampires, zombies, ninjas, and musical numbers. But Nelson soon realizes that making a movie is far more difficult from just choreographing a musical number. From drama in his failing marriage to onset romances to butting heads with staff over his creative vision, things always seem to go wrong for Blake. But it gets worse, when the money starts to dry up. As the drama intensifies on set and money dries up, can Blake finish the film the way he wants to or will all his problems prevent the film from being completed.

If “Death Harmony” was an actual horror film that I was reviewing, then it would have very painful to watch. Thankfully this film is a mockumentary that hits it mark.

One of the reasons that I liked how this film, the way the film was able to generate laughs and entertain me for the ninety plus minutes. Director Anthony Kilburn does a very good keep your interest through his story. One of the things that he does in his direction, he makes the film feel like an actually behind the scenes featurette that would normally would find on a Blu-ray or DVD. I liked how, some of the interview scenes are mostly interviews being conducted in one room to create that atmosphere that your watching a behind the scenes film, especially how he and his production staff created fake photos for some of the character’s back-story. It does a good job explaining the story of the some of the characters and not just relying on the dialogue alone to make it effective. It really makes the interview portion of the film seem realistic and makes the characters interesting. Another thing that I liked about the direction, the way that Kilburn is able to get his cast to have fun with their roles. It really helps make the film fun to watch and it shows in the final product.

The screenplay, what screenplay. One of the unique things about this film was the fact that this film was completely improvised with the cast following the guidelines of their characters. One of the things that Kilburn does very well with the story, he’s able set up scenes through some of the interviews and create some funny moments that are funny. He also does good job keeping the central focus of the film intact. By that I mean, he stays with the film’s main logline without going off into various directions just to make it funnier with outrageous gags at the expense of what the film central focus is suppose to be.

“Gor-e-ography: The Making of Death Harmony” is a funny mockumentary that will make you scream with laughter.

“Gor-e-ography: The Making of Death Harmony” will be having its world premiere this Thursday at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville, Florida. For Ticket and Movie information, you can visit the film’s official website at: http://www.gore-e-ography.com

Review Rating: Four Stars

Welcome to the 257th Edition of my long-running series. I actually won a game of fantasy football last week taking me to 2-3 which keeps me in the season so hopefully I will post another win in a game where I have Eli Manning and take on Peyton Manning in my Manning vs. Manning 2 game. Last week I actually attended my high school reunion which was very strange but it was good to see everyone. I was not sure how it would go but in ten years we all matured so we all just got along no matter how much I may not have liked some of them in my younger days. I know I was not an angel myself. I will tag whoever was at the reunion who were my friends.

The Perfect Witness (2007): We first meet amateur filmmaker Mickey, played by Wes Bentley, who is looking to move up in the industry. He then witnesses a serial killing and films it. Mark Borkowski plays this serial killer named James. Mickey tells James that if he does not cooperate to do a documentary that he will turn him the footage into the police. He wants to paint a human portrait on a serial killer. However, he soon realizes that it might not have been a great idea to not turn him into the police when he had a chance. I watched this on instant Netflix and while not great, I did find it to be a rather clever premise with decent acting. This is not for everyone but if you have a good enough stomach, it is something to watch on Netflix.

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943): This is my Universal Horror for the week which is a sequel to both THE WOLF MAN and GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN. Lon Chaney Jr. Reprises his role as Larry Talbot who on the full moon becomes a werewolf. Bela Lugosi finally breaks down and plays the creature of Frankenstein after originally turning down the part that made Boris Karloff famous. Larry then sets off to find Dr. Frankenstein to help cure him of being a werewolf. He finds that he is dead but then gains access to some documents but also gets into a climatic fight with the Frankenstein's monster. With Universal I always know I'll be entertained, just not scared but these movies deserve credit where credit is do in the creature genre.

Black Cats and Broomsticks (1955): This is my short film for the week which I found on TCM On-Demand. This short points many of the superstitions in America like haunted houses, walking under ladders, stepping on cracks, and many others. It is rather humorous the way it looks at these superstitions.

Felicia's Journey (1999): This is another serial killer feature though this one is far less violent. Atom Egoyan directed what is more of a portrait of a killer. Elaine Cassidy plays the title character who is in England looking for her boyfriend but not having much luck. Bob Hoskins plays a lonely catering manager named Joe who befriends Felicia with her slowly realizing he is not who he seems. It is something that must be followed from the beginning and if you're looking for a lot of violence, this is not the one but it is still pretty compelling in a look at the life of a serial killer.

Suspiria (1977): My Facebook friend Daniel recommended me this Dario Argento classic so I figured this would be the perfect time to feature it. Jessica Harper plays Suzy who is a new dancer to a fancy ballet school. The more she is there, the more she realizes that the staff is a group of witches after seeing many brutal murders. She then works to not get killed herself. This is a genuinely creepy film that a horror fan can enjoy. There is also a great music score from Argento. It is really hard to describe this one but I do believe I have said enough so now if you're looking for something on instant Netflix, this is a good choice for the season.

The Fly (1986): I watched this one On-Demand when I was at my Dad's house. David Cronenberg directs this great remake which stars Jeff Goldblum as the eccentric scientist Seth Brundle who has a transporting machine and has gotten it to work with objects but takes a lot of effort transporting live things like a monkey. When finally doing it, he decides to transport himself but when doing it, you might guess what ends up in the machine which slowly turns him into the title character. Geena Davis plays a reporter hoping to get a great story but sees this change in Seth to not be a good thing. This movie shows that remakes are okay as long as they are done right. Not a movie for everyone as there are some gross-out moments but a good creature feature.

The Lovely Bones (2009): Peter Jackson directed this fantasy film which I know I'll receive heat from Elizabeth and possibly others. Saoirse Ronan plays Susie Salmon who is a 14 year old and murdered by her neighbor George Harvey, played well by Stanley Tucci. She is then watching from the depths of the afterlife where she observes and narrates what goes on with her family since the death and her desire for vengeance. I do not consider this Peter's best whatsoever but I did like my own introduction to Ronan who I thought played the part very well. In many ways this goes down as an effort from Peter Jackson that missed. If you have to bash me for this selection, please still look at my other nine selections.

The Phantom of the Opera (1925): Yes, this story existed before the great musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber. This is a silent film based on the book by the author Gaston Leroux. Lon Chaney Sr. plays the title character who is a disfigured composer residing in an opera house. He takes a big liking to Christine Daae and forces the star Carlotta to give up her spot for Christine. However, his liking of Christine is also quite an obsession which even puts her under his spell a bit. This is a great silent horror effort where this one must also be given for that great musical we enjoy today. This is probably the first time I have ever featured both Lon Chaneys on one edition.

The Magnificent Seven (1960): This is my western of the week and another remake and this remake is of the samarai classic SEVEN SAMARAI. Obviously with a western, these seven must be gunslingers. We start with a Mexican village being terrorized by Calvera, played by Eli Wallach, and his men. Some of the mexicans go to the states looking for help and end up with seven gunfighters making the title including Yul Bryner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, and Brad Dexter. This movie had a lot of good action and really matched its samarai counterpart becoming another featured remake that is okay to do if done right and this was done right. I heard that Bryner and McQueen did not get along well but they still worked well together here.

A Simple Plan (1998): I end with this Sam Raimi film which stars Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton who play Hank and Jacob and are brothers. Hank is the more sensible one, has a decent job and is about to become a father. Jacob is the more irresponsible one. They decide to go out on a cold winter day with their friend Lou, played by Brent Briscoe, where they stumble upon a plane which has a lot of cash. Jacob and Lou are quick to take the money but Hank, the more sensible one, wants to turn it in but finally agrees to keep it and if no one comes looking for it they will split it. Once this happens, a lot of tension arises leading to some regrettable decisions. Bridget Fonda co-stars as Hank's pregnant wife. This was a great, suspenseful tale of tension that money can cause. Performances were great and I felt the movie flowed very well.

Well, that is it for this week. Stay tuned for next week and continue to read on for the Horror Marathon contest.

HORROR MARATHON: ODIOUS OOZES WEEK 2

Last week I ran away with the first week but this week did not quite match it so we'll see if I still have the lead after this week. I did come up with some good loopholes though so keep on reading and good luck to the other contestants and my thoughts go out to Fred, someone who was in the contest who made the decision to drop out because of the loss he recently experienced. He's been a loyal reader to me and while we have never met in person seems like a pretty good guy.

DARIO ARGENTO: 2 points

1. Suspiria (1977): This is the Wiccan film for the week directed by Argento who anything he directs can be counted not that it would not otherwise. I didn't find anything that would get me bonus points. 666 (2 points)

LON CHANEY JR. AND SR.: 4 points

1. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943): This is a fun Universal creature feature which stars Lon Jr. who would become just as good as his father and not have to live in some big shadow all his career. 66 1/2 (2 points)

2. The Phantom of the Opera (1925): This is the one which features Lon Sr. and this is a portrait of a disfigured man who descends into madness so I feel this one should be counted for the contest. 666 (2 points)

DON COSCARELLI: 2 points

1. Bubba Ho-Tep (2002): This is an annual viewing of mine and ranks up as one of my absolute favorites and my favorite Bruce Campbell film as I regard this as his best performance. It qualifies because of him and director Coscarelli. Bruce plays Elvis who is still alive but took the name of an impersonator who died. Ossie Davis plays JFK who survived the assassination but was secretly turned black by the government. They are both in their older ages and living in nursing homes. They team up against a mummy who is feeding off of souls in the nursing home. They also see their chance at redemption. This is actually a true story except the mummy part. 6666 (2 points)

DAVID CRONENBERG: 4 points

1. The Fly (1986): This is my Cronenberg selection who can be used for anything he directs so be afraid, be very afraid. I'm looking to win this contest. I also get bonus points for the hideous transformation into a fly. 666 (4 points)

HALLOWEEN THEMED CHILDREN'S CARTOONS: .5

Bobby's World: Halloween episode (Date and episode unknown): I found this on the free movie section on On-Demand. Many of us remember this which is one of the better cartoons of the era. Bobby was too young to go trick or treating so Uncle Ted came over and they did their own little haunted house. 666 (.5 point)

PETER JACKSON: 2 points

1. The Lovely Bones (2009): This is more of a ghost story and Jackson has been added to the wild cards. 66 1/2 (2 points)

STEVE MCQUEEN: 2 points

1. The Magnificent Seven (1960): Here is my western loophole of the week starring Mr. McQueen who I can use any movie for and a great western to be included in a horror contest. 666 1/2 (2 points)

VINCENT PRICE: 1.5 point

1. Biography (1997): This is the great show from A & E and the focus was on Vincent Price and was actually very interesting to watch. 666 1/2 (1 point)

2. Holiday Classics: A Christmas Carol (1957): I now bring the ultimate loophole . This appears to have been some half-hour tv special which was narrated and hosted by Vincent Prince with this condensed version of the holiday classic. 66 (.5 point

SAM RAIMI: 9 points

1. A Simple Plan (1998): This is quite a thriller but a loophole in terms of Horror but Sam Raimi directed so it is usable. One of my favorites. 6666 (2 points)

2. Xena: Warrior Princess (1998): This is an episode and Sam Raimi was the executive producer for the show making this series qualify. This is the musical episode of Xena where Xena and Gabrielle are having a lot of problems and are sent to a strange world being lead by the likes of Ares, Callisto, and Joxer to try to resolve them. 66 1/2 (1 point)

3. Spider-Man (2002): This was a very important film in the resurgence of the super-hero genre which counts here because of Sam but now I am going to look into bonus points for this one. This is where Peter is bitten by a radioactive spider which is in a form a transformation for the strength he gained in order to become Spider-Man. Also, Norman Osbourne also went through a Jekyll and Hyde transformation in a sense in his experiments that he was greedy but had good intentions which turned him psycho thus becoming the Green Goblin. There's my argument so take it for what it is worth. 666 (4 points)

4. Xena: Warrior Princess: The Ides of March (1999): This is pretty much the season four finale as far as I'm concerned where Xena sets off once and for all to kill Julius Caesar but things get complicated when Callisto is sent back from hell to help Caesar become emperor. Has a very powerful ending. Raimi executive produced. 666 (2 points)

SERIAL KILLERS AND SLASHERS: 4 points

1. The Perfect Witness (2007): This shows a filmmaker documenting a serial killer hoping to make a compelling documentary. 66 1/2 (2 points)

2. Felicia's Body (1999): Another showcasing of a serial killer played by Bob Hoskins. 66 1/2 (2 points)

ZOMBIES: 4 points

1. Diary of the Dead (2007): I doubt there are bonus points for this one since there is no special way they become zombies. This is Romero's return to the zombie genre but did not really match his other classics. 66 (2 points)

2. Zombie Prom (2010): This is my live theater selection which is going on at the Muncie Civic Studio Theater. I suppose you could call this the zombie version of Grease. We first meet Jonny who is the Fonzie/Danny Zuko type and is quite misunderstood. He forms a relationship with Toffee but it is forbidden because her parents do not think he is right for her. He then dies in a nuclear accident and is a zombie who continues to win over Toffee. I saw it last night and it was a very fun show with a very good cast and crew. Katie O'Keefe, who has made quite a mark at the civic, plays Toffee very well and has a great voice. Ethan Litt plays the rebel turned zombie Jonny who works very well with Katie. Meghan Ollivant plays the principal Miss Strict who may have been a bit young but I really believe she made it work and was into her part a lot. Edward Conley plays a reporter out for a good story where Ed once again made the part absolutely his. The rest of the ensemble cast rounded the show out very well. You can still check this show out October 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th-31st. Tickets are $10 and in return you get laughs and good songs. Reserve tickets at 288-PLAY. 666 1/2 (2 points)

Miss Strict - Meghan Ollivant
Toffee - Katie O Keefe
Candy - Liz Bancroft
Coco - Olivia Sweets
Ginger - Caitie Noller
Johnny Warner - Ethan Litt
Joey - Aaron Keen
Josh - Nick Rogers
Jake - Bradley Wilkinson
Eddie Flagrante - Edward Conley

Director - Craig Underwood
Assistant Director - Lisa Wade
Costume Designer - Susan Lankford
Choreographer - Arttacgo Luckett
Music Director- Cody Ricks


TOTAL POINTS: 34 points provided my Spider-Man argument works.

Horror Society Film Festival. 2 days of mind blowing, blood curdling classic and independent horror on the big screen starting October 23rd, 2010

Since its debut in October of 2008, Horror Society Film Festival has quickly become one of the best events of its kind in the City of Chicago to see top-notch independent horror movies.

They have screened over 60 indie horror films from all over the world and some classic horror films including: Return of the Living Dead, The Fog, Night of the Demons, Silent Night Deadly Night, and more. Every 3 months in the city of Chicago, horror fans and filmmakers look forward to the next themed film festival. This year, we are giving you something special… a 2 day horror extravaganza featuring the best indie and classic horror movies in the country! We are taking the summer off to give you the best film festival Chicago will see in the best month for Horror… October!

Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
October 23rd (1:30pm) October 24th (1:30pm)
Tickets: $15 Saturday - $10 Sunday - $20 2 day pass

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Lineup includes:

A Serbian Film (35mm - RARE SCREENING!!)
-A Serbian Film is a movie that pushes everyone to the limit and tests people to see what they can handle.
-Banned in Serbia and Germany (so far)
-Yanked from London's Frightfest Film Festival
-Prompted numerous walk-outs at SXSW
-More transgressive film than Lars Von Trier's Antichrist

Demons (35mm)
-25th anniversary of this film

Slices of Life (World Premiere)
-Cast and Crew Present!

Terrorvision
Chopping Mall
A Blind Date with Coffin Joe
TXT: The Movie
Cabine of the Dead
Lonely
Get off my Porch
The Guest
Forklift Driver Klaus
Worm
Popatopolis
Ugly
Slime City
Slime City Massacre
Satan Hates You

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Guests this year:

Anthony G. Sumner (Director: Slices of Life)
Clay Westervelt (Director: Popatopolis)
Deneen Melody (Slices of Life)
Derek Dziak (Director: TXT)
Erik Johnson (Director: UGLY and Reality TV star!!)
Robert Nolan (WORM)
Zach Green (Porducer: WORM)
Marv Blauvelt (Slices of Life)

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With over 20 vendors in the lobby selling top of the line horror merchandise for your boils and ghouls this halloween season and plenty of giveaways and other random horror goodness thrown in there, this festival is going to be one of the best Chicago will see this year!!

http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals

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About Horror Society:
Your Voice for Independent Horror!!
With events like Women of Horror, Zombie Outbreak and Summer Slaughter we screen themed horror movies for each event guaranteed to give you nightmares, but this time we are throwing out the rules and themes to give you the best all-around horror films. Horror Society Film Festival will showcase the very best independent horror films from across the world. We are going to celebrate both the horror classics we grew up with and the original ideas of indie horror.

Website: http://www.horrorsociety.com

Gaspar Noe’s “Enter The Void,” his first feature length film since the highly controversial “Irreversible,” is one of the craziest head trip cinematic experiences I have ever sat through. A hallucinogenic kaleidoscope of colors, some of which looked like they were taken from Dario Argento’s “Suspiria,” it’s a surreal out of body experience and the kind you would not see today in American cinema today. In a time of soulless remakes and films that shamelessly manipulate our emotions, “Enter The Void” is a one of kind motion picture that breaks boundaries to create something unlike anything we have seen before. Like Gaspar’s previous films, it is destined to have sharply polarized reactions. Some will admire it if not love it, and others will find it excruciating to sit through. For myself, I was mesmerized from beginning to end, thankful that I got to take in something not bound by your typical Hollywood formulaic screenplay.

Click here to read the full review

The Power of the Spiral

Once in a while, as a writer, I come across a concept that makes me hate the field I’ve entered. Not because it’s offensively ridiculous. Quite the contrary; these are pieces that I aspire to produce, words and images that I would give an obsolete body part just to have the courage to conjure. Junji Ito’s Uzumaki is one of those works of art. The story, set in the fictional village of Kurôzo-Cho, is as twisted as its namesake suggests. A mind as fantastical as Ito-san’s deserves the kind of film adaptation worthy of a mad scientist. However, the task is enough to drive any director and screenwriter through a wall conceptually.

As seems pretty normal in the realm of Japanese filmography, the adaptation stays almost verbatim in tone with the manga; however, the flaws seem to etch themselves early in the film. That’s not to suggest that the film doesn’t accomplish the freakish beauty that haunts most Japanese films. But atmosphere and scenery alone does not a successful film make. The impending darkness of the film is there, the claustrophobic camera angles are in step with the restraint of the white space found in the manga. But the key element that seems to be missing from the film is the feeling that one’s body is being constricted; indeed, the very mind is becoming closed into a tightly wound set of concentric circles that tighten and constrict even the air you breathe.

However, one can’t go about bemoaning the bad if she doesn’t have the decency to highlight the good. And there is certainly a great deal of good to take away from the film. Director Higuchinsky doesn’t shy away from the disturbing and the dangerous --a sure sign that his soul’s intent was to give Ito-san’s work a reimagining that was as honourable to the man as to the work. His capacity for the dark is what actually makes the film a grimy and uncomfortable pleasure to experience. He’s not afraid to tackle the sensational assertions that Ito-san put forth --such as the hypnotism of a town’s buried history, the transmogrification of the human physique to match the filth within, and, more urgently, the deadly desire to be popular and noticed by any and everyone (leading to the accidental death of a student). I have to applaud Higuchinsky-san’s unwavering bravery. He goes for the gruesome and doesn’t shy away from the controversial --let’s be real, even intimating a tragedy in a high school is something universally cringe-worthy. His dedication to the manga denotes that he had an obligation to portray not only the death, but the grisly understanding that he died happily because he knew that he would be noticed --your life means nothing unless you’re noticed.

Higuchinsky-san’s bravery and bravado are clearly seen throughout this film. What makes it fall drastically short of the manga is that there’s a lack of urgency, a lack of a need to take one’s self away from the dire situation. The casting of Eriko Hatsume as our shy leading lady, Kirie, was a stroke of luck. She plays the coquettish Kirie-senpai with relative ease. Her male counterpart, Shichi --portrayed by Fhi Fan-- is equally impressive as a dedicated, albeit aloof, son and boyfriend. The relationship between the two is vey real, very visceral. But their ending scene is both rushed and unexpectedly cold. The resolution falls terribly short of the original manga and is the one misstep that Higuchinsky-san takes on his way to creating a gorgeous replica of the graphic (in both senses of the word) novel. There are also a few drastic deletions that make the film seem hurried, make the intent seem overambitious. Transition sequences are watery at best and the most potent aspects of the manga go untouched --the transformation of the sluggish Katayma and his tormentor into snails (who eventually mate and lay eggs, a sequence portrayed in great detail in the manga), the reasoning behind the sudden Medusa-like tendrils that grow from the head of the popularity hungry Sekino, the extent of the spiral obsession as it turns the town into complete ruin. All aspects of the manga that succeeded in forcing the reader to bend mentally as the people bend and twist as the curse takes over have been essentially glozed over or completely disregarded in an attempt to tie everything together while making a succinct film. Unfortunately, the film just comes off as hurried and, sadly, random. Despite the twisted preface, the manga is incredibly chronological, methodical, and follows a conventional code of storytelling --problem, peak, resolution.

Despite Higuchinsky-san’s incredible eye for the macabre, his execution of this film falls disappointingly short. Hopefully, that won’t take away from the story’s brilliance in and of itself for those who wish to actually see the film. But for those who are dedicated fans of Ito-san’s work, this film will leave a bit of a bad taste in the mouth.

Overall rating: 2/4

As unexpected as her path was to loving all things weird, more unexpected is her ability to get attention for writing about the stuff. From Japanese horror and Korean melodrama, to the acid soaked animation of the 70s, Camiele White loves to talk about, debate, and watch film that teases, pleases, and fucks with the senses. Right now, she gets her jabberjaw jollies writing about Halloween costumes. If you want to give her a buzz, she can be reached at cmlewhite at gmail [dot] com.

Camiele White is a guest writer. She writes over at http://www.starcostumes.com

They are also giving away a horror scholarship for new filmmakers in the horror genre. For Rules and Information on that, you can goto: http://www.starcostumes.com/horror-scholarship/.

It’s back and its better than ever. Welcome to Reviews From the Horror Chamber. This column used to be a regular here on this site back when the site began up until June of last year. Then I personally got back up with site business and also became site administrator too during the gap between editions. But now it’s back, as this column will continue to review some of the latest indie horror films, but now where also adding exploitation and grindhouse type films to the column. I hope every one enjoys this column and support independent horror. Now on to the reviews.


Hard Revenge Milly
Year: 2010
Director: Takanori Tsujimoto
Stars: Miki Mizuno
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Well-Go USA
Running Time: 44 Mins




“Hard Revenge Milly” takes place in a post apocalyptic world, Yokohama City has become the epicenter of violence. The city is ruled by a vicious gang known as “The Jack Brothers”. They leave Milly there to die after they murdered her husband and daughter. Now, she’s out to gain revenge on those who left her there for dead. She begins to learn the art of sword combat to confront these people and get retribution on those who destroyed her life.

“Hard Revenge Milly” is one very gory and bad ass sci-fi flick. Writer/director Takanori Tsujimoto does a very good job making this one of those sci-fi action flicks that’s packed with a lot of action. The reason the action works, the sequences were directed and choreographed very well. The scenes were intense and very bloody, as any of fans of Asian cinema will enjoy. He directs them in a way, so that you canbe invested in the main character and allows time between sequences to get into the story of film.

The screenplay written also by Tsujimoto does a good job providing a story that gives an adrenaline rush that is needed for a film of this caliber to succeed. One of the reasons why this story works for me, he gives the main character a backstory that would make her very dark and morbid. By doing that, it makes the tone of the film dark and not cheesy. It really gets you invested in the character, because without that this would just bea basic shoot em up film. Tsujimoto also blends the sci-fi elements into the story, very well, especially towards the end of the film. It gives an added surprise, as I was going into this film thinking that this would be your typical Asian action film more in the lines of “Mad Max“.

“Hard Revenge Milly” is a bad ass short that packed a lot of action that would make some action sci/fi films look like a Disney film.

Review Rating: Four Stars

Next on the docket, is the film’s sequel, “Hard Revenge Milly“: Bloody Battles.

Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle
Year: 2010
Director: Takanori Tsujimoto
Stars: Miki Mizuno, Nao Nagazawa
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Well-Go USA
Running Time: 71 Mins

“Hard Revenge Milly“: Bloody Battles picks up after the first film, when Haru, a beautiful girl asks her for helpwhen her boyfriend is brutally murdered. Milly ignores her at first, but begins to her thirst for vengeance. She then begins to train her but an admirer of Jack’s are looking for revenge and in the process injures her severe . Can Milly survive this latest onslaught and Haru exact revenge before it’s too late.

“Hard Revenge Milly“: Bloody Battles does a good job picking off where the predecessor left off. Takanori Tsujimoto does a good job keeping the elements that made the short work, while adding new things to the story. I liked how Tsujimoto does a good job keeps this balls out mentality that makes this character worth watching. The blood and the choreographed action is directed in a way that make that gets you into the flow of the film.

The screenplay is what makes the film slightly better from the short. I liked how Tsujimoto does a good job exploring the character through her emotions. In the first film, the character was for one dimensional. Here, there is more emotion which keeps the character interesting. He also does that by keeping this from being a copy of the original, by exploring the character’s emotions and adding more tension to the story by keeping the viewer off guard through the twist and the character development. By doing that, it adds some surprise to the story.

Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battles is an action packed film that packs power. The film can be found on the “Hard Revenge Milly” DVD.

Review Rating: Four Stars

Spirit
Year: 2010
Director: Mark Wagner
Stars: Ashley Bryant, Megan Braithwaite, Kimberley Zagoren
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Tempe Video / St Lindsey Pictures
Running Time: 75 Mins





"Spirit” is about a family have embraced their negativity after years of bad luck. Only their youngest daughter is trying to keep the family together. Soon she begins to question her own faith, when an evil spirit attacks the family. Now, she is forced to stop all the negativity that lies within the family, before there negaitive energy manifests and drags the whole family into the darkness.

I didn’t expect a lot going into “Spirit, but for the most part I thought this was an entertaining chamber drama. Director Mark Wagner does a good job keeping this film from becoming a snooze fest, which it could have become easily. He does that, by moving the action along and getting the most out of his budget by creating basic ghostly images and effects to give the sense that your watching a paranormal horror film. It also makes you forget some of the mistakes with the lighting and everything. The acting here was also good, as it didn’t deter from the story and got me interested in the characters. Wagner takes the time and makes sure that performances are good enough to keep your interest.

The screenplay for the most part wasn’t bad. Screenwriter and Producer David Gwin did an descent job with the screenplay. One of the things that I liked about the screenplay was the fact that it had character development. He does a good job giving the whole family a backstory, as you get to know them which its important as the film goes on as it sets it up some of the situations . The other thing that I liked about it once it got near the end, there is actually some tension which was lacking in the middle part. If the action didn’t pick up near the end, then this would probably be a different review and I would have leaned more negatively towards this screenplay.

“Spirit” is a film that survives on its strong beginning and good acting.

Review Rating: Three Stars

Welcome to the 256th Edition of my series. This also includes the first week results of the Horror Marathon where I look to keep my title "king of the loopholes and possibly even win. Much of my October selections will be Halloween related. This is due on Sunday but I need to do it today because I don't know if I'll get to a computer tomorrow.

Wilderness (1996): This is my werewolf film for this week. This is a bbc tv movie which stars Amanda Ooms who is a disturbed girl who also becomes a wolf when the full moon comes out. She is seeing a psychiatrist who is having a hard time believe her and believes they are more sexual repressions. Her boyfriend also has a hard time believing she is a werewolf but they do learn. I was not sure what to think of this film but I found it enjoyable with a pretty nice ending. This is not really a horror film, just a character study analyzing who she really is but Ooms was very good in the movie. It is available on Netflix.

The Cry of the Owl (2009): My stepmom had this from Netflix and I recalled it being on my own list so I went ahead and checked it out to get it out of my queue and to even see if it fit into the contest but I cannot argue this one to be included. Paddy Considine plays Robert Forrester who is going through a bad divorce and is having a lot of problems at work. He then begins to stalk a young woman named Jenny, played well by Julia Stiles, who is having her own boyfriend problems. When she catches Robert, instead of panicking and calling the police she becomes very curious of him and invites him into her home becoming friends. Her boyfriend becomes quite jealous and after disappearing Robert becomes the main suspect leading into lots of betrayal from everyone. Like the last one featured, I really did not know what to expect but was quite surprised. It was not the greatest thing I ever saw but I felt it moved pretty well.

Gas-s-s-s (1970): This is my Roger Corman film for the week and his counter-culture film. We start where a gas has been let loose that kills people under 25. A group of hippie friends then set out to find a hippie utopia. This was not what I expected as reading the description I thought we would have more a sci-fi film but it's really just the premise that is sci-fi but still has its moments. I'm sure people from the 60s can relate to it. I liked the use of Edgar Allen Poe on a motorcycle with Lenore and the raven. Actors like Ben Vereen, Cindy Williams, Bud Cort and Tally Coppola co-star. Tally Coppola is best known today as Talia Shire who plays Adrian in the ROCKY series and Connie Corleone in THE GODFATHER series. There were some moments and hit and many that missed but provided some fun.

Crossing Arizona (2006): This is my 1st documentary for this week. This was presented by the multicultural center at Ball State and was shown at the Pruis Hall building. This documentary takes a look at the illegal immigration problems that we have in this country where the Arizona border is used for them to come in. This really takes a good look on all sides where it in no way favors anyone. It does take a look at the harsh realities of Mexicans trying to get into our great country for a better life and their efforts of crossing the harsh desert with no water and many dying. It focuses on a couple men leaving water for the immigrants to keep them alive. We also go into the great Tombstone, Arizona where many ranchers become frustrated because their fences get broken and become more difficult to repair. We also see the rise of the Minuteman group. There were lots of gray areas in this film where I can see the points of view on both sides and it is unfortunate we have this kind of problem. I know our ancestors immigrated here for a better life which is really what the Mexicans want. It does not look like it has gotten much distribution but hopefully it will become available sometime. In October on the last Wednesday, the multicultural center will show THE LARAMIE PROJECT, a film based on the aftermath of the Matthew Shepherd murder.

Laura (1944): This is my film noir for the week where Gene Tierney plays the title character who we first meet on the floor and dead. Dana Andrews plays Lt. McPherson who is investigating Laura's murder and the more he sees her picture and reads through her diary and other writings, he begins to fall in love while trying to find who did the murder. Vincent Price co-stars as her fiance Shelby Carpenter and Clifton Webb plays Waldo, who helped Laura in her journalism career. This was a very good mystery with lots of twists.

Molly Moo-Cow and the Butterflies (1935): I decided to delve into my animated shorts for this week which features the character Molly Moo-Cow. This is actually a cow which was a character in a few shorts in 1935 and 1936 through the Van Beuren Studio. In this short we see the dancing cow and also the cow saving some butterflies with their gratitude. This is something good for classic animation buffs. These can be found through public domain.

On Any Sunday (1971): This is my second documentary for the week and this one focuses on the dangerous sport of Motocross and looks at a few successful riders and the danger of the sport. This documentary also features Steve McQueen who had quite a racing background and took part in some of these races while apparently using a fake name. This is a very informative documentary and can be found instant on Netflix.

Eight Men Out (1988): This film is based on the 1919 team of the Chicago White Sox. Nowadays when we look at the big problems in baseball we think of the steroid issue but in this era, way long before Pete Rose did what he did, there was a lot of problems with gambling in baseball, a lot of which possibly because the pay was not as good as it is now. There has been some evidence that Ty Cobb did a lot of gambling on baseball that was not proven then. On this team, there were some players who were angry with their owner Charles Comiskey, played by Clifton James, who made a lot of promises that were not kept. In turn some gamblers see this and decide to take advantage and they get mobster Arnold Rothstein to put together a big fix on the 1919 World Series when the White Sox played the Cincinnati Reds. Some reporters observe some play and analyze if it is actual bad play or if it is what was intended. John Cusack plays Buck Weaver who in this movie never gets involved with the scam but is still implicated in their trial years later. Other actors the title indicates are David Strathairn, D.B. Sweeney, Michael Rooker, James Read, Don Harvey, Gordon Clapp, and Perry Lang. Correct me if I am wrong there. John Sayles directed this true story of a scandal that then rocked the world of baseball.

Horror of Dracula (1958): This is the Hammer Films version of the Bram Stoker classic. This one is done a bit differently than the classic and even the Universal version. Christopher Lee plays the title character in this one. John Van Eyssen plays Jonathan Harker who in this one takes employ with Dracula as his librarian whose real motive was to destroy Dracula. In most stories, Harker is a real-estate agent who goes to Transylvania to sell him land. Peter Cushing plays Van Helsing in this one who was a friend of Harker in this one. I really favor this one of the Univeral classic starring Bela Lugosi where I feel there is still a pretty good chill factor to the Hammer version though my favorite is the 1994 version. Also there is a more climatic fight scene between Dracula and Van Helsing which lacks in the 1931 version and maybe that is for the story of DRACULA in general. This is available on Instant Netflix so if you're looking for a good vampire feature I don't think you'll be disappointed here.

Jennifer's Body (2009): I take this horror film for what it was and for what it appeared to be intended for which was a cheesy horror film. Karyn Kusama directed this and Diablo Cody wrote the screenplay. Megan Fox plays the title character who has everything going for her and is the high school cheerleader. BIG LOVE alum Amanda Seyfried plays her unlikely friend Needy, who is more reserved and nerdy. One big night, they decide to go see a band perform in a nightclub where Jennifer is never the same again. She appears to be possessed and brutally murdering classmates where Needy then does what she can to stop her. One person I liked in the film was OZ alum J.K. Simmons whose character was totally different than he usually plays. In this he is the teacher and is more nerdy than usual where I always see him as more of a take charge type person. If you are not looking for real life scares, this is a pretty fun one to watch especially if you have a lot of friends with you.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you love and what you hate and stay tuned for next week. Also, keep reading to see the Horror Movie Madness selections that I have come up with.

HORROR MARATHON: ODIOUS OOZES WEEK 1

This is my third time in the greatest movie watching contest of all time. Every year Elizabeth and Duckboy come up with this contest where all the movie watching peers participate. It is very liberal and I take quite advantage of that which has made me the "King of the Loophole" through the years. This year I will separate by categories so read on and see what else is being featured. When the names are present that means that anything they acted, wrote, directed, and/or produced qualifies. Otherwise I will just put the category I feel they belong into. I know they want ratings so I will give these movies up to four 6's but remember, I hate rating films.

BRUCE CAMPBELL (2 points)

1. Sky High (2005): This is what would be considered a loophole as it is a Disney film about a superhero family. My idol Bruce plays Coach Boomer where he qualifies this into a Horror contest. 666 1/2 (2 points)

ROGER CORMAN (4 points)

1. Little Shop of Horrors (1960): Roger Corman films count no matter what and this is what would later become the great musical we love today but it had to start somewhere and this is where it starts. The nerdy, harmless, bumbling Seymour finds a strange plant which helps save the flower shop he works for but at what price? This plant proves to be very ruthless and turns Seymour into a killer with his demands for blood. This was a good b-movie dark comedy. Jack Nicholson has a cameo in this in a very early film for him. Also look for the customer who loves to eat flowers who becomes kind of an adviser to the plant shop. 66 1/2 (2 points)

2. Gas-s-s-s (1970): This is more of a Corman loophole here where I used his movie he did ten years later from the first one. Most of what I have to say is in the recommendations 66 (2 points)

JEKYLL AND HYDE (2 points)

1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920): I bring you the silent version of the horror literary classic from Robert Louis Stevenson classic of good and evil. Jekyll is a good doctor but with an experiment gone wrong, he becomes the murderous Hyde so no doubt this qualifies. John Barrymore stars in this one. 666 (2 points)

LLOYD KAUFMAN (4 points)

1. The Toxic Avenger (1984): This one qualifies for double points in this contest for a man being turned into a monster hero from radioactive waste. A very amusing watch. This is very violent, politically incorrect, overacting at its best, really dumb dialogue and characters and every other flawed category but so much fun to watch and let's not forget that beautiful love story between the Avenger and his blind girl. What a chick flick. 66 (4 points)

KEVIN MCCARTHY (3 points)

1. The A-Team: Member's Only (1986): This is part of season four of the A-Team where McCarthy guest stars as Bob McKeever. I will venture to say I am the only person who will include this one. This in my opinion is when the show started going downhill some, only going all the way down the hill by season five. 66 1/2. (1 point)

2. Columbo: Requiem for a Falling Star (1973): This is another loophole I found through this actor. This is the show with the great detective who is out to solve murders. In this episode, McCarthy plays Dr. Frank Simmons. It is a little over an hour so you can get two points with this. 66 1/2 (2 points)

STEVE MCQUEEN (2 points)

1. On Any Sunday (1971): This should further cement myself as the "King of the Loophole" in this Motocross documentary which features Steve McQueen. 666 (2 points)

PARANORMAL (2 points)

1. Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988): This is the best category I could find for this Looney Tunes loophole. This is a compilation of their short cartoons with the story of Daffy Duck opening a paranormal detective agency alongside Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig. There are all kinds of elements here to fit into this contest. We have Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, The Blob, the Mummy, excorcisms, ghosts, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you name it. 666 (2 points)

VINCENT PRICE (2 points)

1. The Baron of Arizona (1950): This is my western loophole which starred Vincent Price where any of his films count on this so I jumped right at this one when I found it at the library as I know I have to keep including these "loopholes". In here Vincent is out to take over Arizona at any cost. 666 (2 points)

2. Laura (1944): Another loophole with Mr. Price where he is a bit creepy however. This one is more of a film-noir and very compelling. 666 (2 points)

PSYCHO FEMALE (4 points)

1. Single White Female (1992): This was a pretty decent low-budget film where Jennifer Jason Leigh becomes the very psychotic and jealous female to Bridget Fonda. With Jennifer being absolutely crazy, I feel this thriller should qualify into this contest. 66 1/2 (2 points)

2. Jennifer's Body (2009): I decided to include this one in this category and while in the first one she became psycho maybe more from her own situation, Jennifer, while she was arrogant, she became psycho out of possession. As I stated above, I took this one for what it's worth and pretty much enjoyed it. 66 (2 points)

SAM RAIMI (2 points)

1. Drag Me to Hell (2009): This is by no means a loophole but having Raimi's name does not hurt. Allison Lohman gets cursed when not extending a home loan to an old gypsy woman and has all kinds of horrible things happen to her and must stop this curse in three days before she becomes the title. 666 (2 points)

JOHN SAYLES (2 points)

1. Eight Men Out (1988): This would be the baseball loophole directed by Sayles who I can use anything he directs so here is his loophole into a horror contest. 666 1/2 (2 points)

SERIAL KILLERS AND SLASHERS (4 points)

1. His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009): This was a tv special and a documentary on the slasher Jason Voorhies. It gives details about each FRIDAY THE 13TH film and even interviews actors involved including actors who have played Jason like the most known Kane Hodder. While I am not a huge fan of the series, this was a very good documentary and can be enjoyed by fans and non-fans. 666 (2 points)

2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006): This is the prequel to the start of Leatherface and his big, happy family. Not a bad entry in the series if this is what you like. There is a little bit of gore and violence though. 66 (2 points)

VAMPIRE (4 points)

1. Near Dark (1987): Kathryn Bigelow directed this vampire film which had to go up against the over 1987 hit of THE LOST BOYS which I felt this one holds its own and I actually like this one a little better as we get to see a country boy get sucked into a whole new world. 666 1/2 (2 points)

2. Horror of Dracula (1958): A classic in my opinion and one of my favorite of the vampire genre I get into quite a bit though I have not brought myself into the whole TWILIGHT craze and I'm not a big BLADE fan but this is a film brought to us by the great Hammer Films of Britain which had their big rise from the 50s to the 70s and many starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. They also had some good work towards the FRANKENSTEIN franchise. 666 1/2 (2 points)

WEREWOLF (2 points)

1. Wilderness (1996): This is a feature for this week where we have a disturbed female who turns into a werewolf. 66 1/2 (2 points)

TOTAL: 39 points