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Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. I have some news regarding this column. Next week, there will not be a new edition of Reviews From the Horror Chamber. The reason for this is that next week I have a lot of films that are waiting to be reviewed for this site. So I’m going to catch up on that. But I can tell you that I will have an interview with one or two actresses regarding “Crimson,” which is released this week from Passion River. The first one should be up on the site either after this posting or sometime late tomorrow. Also, I sent out another interview, which I won’t jinx but it’s a director from one of the best horror films of this year. I’ll also be back sometime next weekend with a review of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. So you horror fans will still have your fix horror here on FilmArcade.net this week. Now on to the reviews.
Funny Games
Year: 2008
Director: Michael Haneke
Stars: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Warner Independent Pictures
Running Time: 111 Mins
Review Rating: Zero Stars
Funny Game is yet another remake to come out this annoying foreign horror remake craze. The film was first done by Michael Haneke (who directs this one also) in 1997. The film is about a family (Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Devon Gearhart) who goes to their vacation home for nice, relaxed vacation. Soon a couple of rich kids decide to insert themselves into the family’s vacation by taking them hostage in their own home. The family is then forced to play the rich kids' sadistic games. Soon, they must try to find a away to stay alive and defeat those rich kids before they decide that games are over for good.
I never thought that I would find a film with so much hatred after seeing One Missed Call, but Funny Games is on that same level. This film was horrible, I thought about shutting it off midway through the film, but the film critic in me made me continue to watch this horrible mess. Director Michael Haneke’s direction was unenergetic. I say that because the pacing of the film was slow and the story was predictable mostly because he breaks the forth dimension. I’ll go more into this when I’m whining about the screenplay. The acting in this felt like I was watching paint dry, as they either shows no signs of life or the fact that the performances were annoying. Maybe, it was the screenplay, but still I didn’t buy any of the performances here.
The screenplay, which Haneke wrote, made no sense and wasn’t a least bit scary. This film falls flat on it’s face because nothing was believable or could plausibly happen. First, the villains were the type that you could easily punch in the face because they weren’t intimidating. The reason I say that is because they were a bunch of preppy rich kids that you could easily beat up if you saw them on the street. Second, why didn’t the hostages fight back? Hello, these villains were preppies, the kind of people that you kick their ass in gym class. And finally, the breaking of the forth dimension. Sorry, that doesn’t work in this genre. He allows the villains in the screenplay to talk to the audience, smile at the camera and changing a pivotal scene that makes the movie even more unrealistic and plausible. It’s fucking ridiculous. Also, Haneke spends little time developing any of the film’s characters, as the screenplay focuses on spending way too much time torturing the family and making these villains as heroes because it comes out that way in the final product.
Funny Games is not a horror film but a piece of glorified violence that is so senseless, it goes way too far.
Drainiac
Year: 2000
Director: Brett Piper
Stars: Georgia Hatzis, Alexandra Boylan, Ethan Krasnoo
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Shock-O-Rama Cinema
Running Time: 76 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Drainiac is a film that was previously released back in 2000, but the folks at Shock-O-Rama have just released this remastered version of one of Brett Piper’s earlier films. The director has directed “Bacterium,” “Shock-O-Rama,” “Bite Me,” and “Screaming Dead” for the company before this remastered version. The film is about a young woman and her friends who go to the countryside to clean up an old house for a planned restoration. Instead of cleaning up the place, they begin to discover that a strange and gruesome presence haunts the house, as the water turns into ooze. As the strange presence begins to take shape, the teenagers are to come face to face with this hideous monster, who wants to tear their souls and flush it down the drain.
Drainiac is very creepy and entertaining demonic sprits film. This film is a good starting point for people to view some of Brett Piper’s works. He does a very job with the overall presentation of the film. It’s amazing how little money Piper always has to work with but he manages to get the job done. The effects in this film were very good. Granted, I haven’t seen the film in it’s original version. The dream sequences were creepy and frightening. Another thing that Piper always seems to get down is the actors’ performances, as they were good here, like the previous films of his that I’ve seen. He does a great job getting a solid lead performance from Georgia Hatzis. She does a very good job making her character troubled, but does a good job selling her character, in which you know about her.
Piper’s screenplay for the most was good, as this was light years better that movie I just talked about and will go nameless, so we don’t have another rant. One of the things that his screenplay does well was the development of the characters. I liked how Piper spends time in the beginning to develop the main character’s troubled home life and the relationship with her and her friends. I like to see that when I see female characters in these types of horror films, because it helps bring an added interest to the story of the film and builds tension to the film when these female characters are in trouble and you care about them. If there was one thing that the screenplay could has used more off, was scares. There were a few scares during the dream sequence, but the film could have used more, even though it didn’t affect my interest that much, as I was sold with the story and it’s development.
Draniac is very good start, if you want to track the progress of underground director Brett Piper, as I would mention this film with the likes of Screaming Dead and Shock-O-Rama. Drainiac gives new meaning to a haunted house.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
In two weeks, I will be back with an all-new edition of Reviews From the Horror Chamber, where I’ll be reviewing The Ruins and going to school with Women’s Studies. Until then, have a frightening day.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. Well I've found out some great news today as I was working on the Film Arcade myspace page when I came across a blog posting from Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman that you and especially Troma fans that have been waiting for. Yes I'm talking about the DVD release of Kaufman's latest film Polutrygeist. The film will street on October 28th. Now this is where you come in. Also in that blog post, he is looking for your help. He wants you to run to your video store and demand that Poultrygeist be stocked at your store. Please, if you are a true fan of horror, help Lloyd Kaufman get his film picked up by contacting your video store and demanding that you want Polutrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.
Also today , I received news from a myspace bulletin that Skinned Alive (aka. Eat Your Heart Out) will be having it's final theatrical run before hitting DVD on August 26th. The screenings will take place at the 941 Theater in Philadelphia. The film starts playing there, this Saturday and will run until July 11th for more information on times, you can visit the 941 theater website at http://941theater.blogspot.com/. So check the film out, of you are in the Philadelphia area
Also, yours truly is starting a new interview column on Film Arcade called 10 Questions. Also note that I have the right to add more questions, if I feel like it. This will be my interview column, which I will be interviewing filmmakers and actor mostly on their projects and themselves too. So keep a watch out for it. Now on to the reviews.
The Curse of the Weeping Woman: J-ok’el
Year: 2008
Director: Benjamin Williams
Stars: Tom Parker, Ana Patricia Rojo, Dee Wallace
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Maverick Home Entertainment
Running Time: 88 Mins
Review Rating: Zero Stars
The Curse of the Weeping Woman: J-ok’el is about a young American (Tom Parker) who comes back to Mexico to see his estranged mother (Dee Wallace) when his half-sister is mysteriously abducted. He soon finds out from one of the locals that a local legend known, as J-ok’el might be responsible for the abduction. This makes him more eager to find her before the legend claims another victim.
The Curse of the Weeping Woman: J-ok’el is a very dull film that gives a new meaning to the word “boring”. This film felt like a film that should have been played on the Lifetime channel. Director Benjamin Williams’s direction felt lifeless, as it felt like the air was coming out of my room when watching the film. Instead of putting any life into the film, he probably just sat back and just directed the most tedious scenes that you will ever see in a film. Williams’ direction of the actors weren’t much better. The acting in the film was horrible also. The cast. including Dee Wallace. was probably wondering why they even signed up for this film. They looked like that they were uninterested in the material. It also didn’t help that the actors didn’t put any effort to their characters, as they were lifeless throughout the film. The score for the film didn’t help it either, as it was so unenergetic to the point that I wanted to fall asleep.
The story, which was created by Williams and the screenplay written by Jeremy Svenson, Peter Theis, Andy Whitaker, and Alondra Salinas, was just as horrible as the direction and the acting. The screenplay was dull and it felt like there was no action happening, as I thought that I was supposed to be seeing ghost movie not a Lifetime film. The dialogue the writers wrote felt dull and tedious. But the main reason why the screenplay was a complete and utter failure was the fact that it had no scares whatsoever and the action was predictable. It was to the point where I was thinking to myself: when is this film going to be over. Thankfully, this review is just about over.
The Curse of the Weeping Woman: J-ok’el is nothing but a film that will drain your will to live, while your crying for your money back.
The Eye Of Menw
Year: 2008
Director: Charles A Christian III
Stars: Daniela Galdi, Giovanna Galdi, Anthony McFadden
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Back 2 Ninety 9 Productions
Running Time: 27 Mins
Review Rating: 3.5 Stars
The Eye of Menw is a short horror film about a young woman, who is currently in a successful relationship with her boyfriend. She comes home one day to find a mysterious box sitting on her kitchen table. She opens it up to find a skull. It’s not an ordinary skull, but one that holds the power to see the future. She decides to look into the eyes of the skull to see her future. During this, something terrifying is released. Now that mysterious entity is out to play games with her, as she begins to lose her mind, is this really happening or is it something in her head?
The Eye of Menw is very dark and gothic horror film. Director Charles A Christi
an III direction was very good. I liked how he used the digital video format in which he shot the film and then took the color out and made this a black and white film. It was perfect for this type of film because the black and white picture does a good job in making the atmosphere of the film dark. He relies on using old school horror methods to drum up the darkness that is needed for the film. Christian also did a great job directing his lead actress Daniela Galdi. I thought, her performance, in this film was the key to the film’s success. She did a great job playing this frightening character that’s being tormented by this violent spirit. She also did a great job in keeping my interest in the film, as she was on screen by herself for most of the film. It is a very hard to keep the viewer’s interest by just having one character on screen, but you need charisma from the actor or actress, to keep the viewer interested in these types of films and she kept my interest throughout.
The screenplay written by Christian III and Andrew R. Berchick was good. The development of the story was good. They did a very good job creating the lead character, as they made her strong, while being frightened for her life. The writers focused more on atmosphere, like they used back in the old days of horror films. It was very effective for the film’s story. They also did a great job making the atmosphere, very dark and creepy. It allowed the writers to build some suspense to the story, as the mysterious presence haunts the main character.
The Eye of Menw will make you think twice before you look into the eyes of a skeleton.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Next week, You’ll finally get hear my thought on Funny Games and I’ll review one of Brett Piper's early films Drainiac, which was released in a remastered edition, last week from Shock-O-Rama Cinema. Until then, have a frightening day.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. I would love to rant about something but yours truly is currently nursing an ankle sprain, so here are my reviews for this week’s edition.
Crimson
Year: 2008
Director: Richard Poche'
Stars: Erika Smith, Stuart Brazell, Elizabeth Di Prinzio
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Poche Pictures
Running Time: 67 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.crimsonthemovie.com/
after she destroyed Rachel’s coven of vampires. She is bruised and left for dead when a group of young female nursing students find her. The group decides to take her back to their sorority house to get medical attention. Soon they discover that their good deed turns into trouble when they find out that Sammi is on the run from Rachel. Rachel is willing to kill everyone in her path to exact her revenge on Sammi.Crimson is a very dark and well-acted vampire film. I have to give credit to director Richard Poche’ for not this turning this film into a campy T & A fest, which could have easily been. He does that by focusing on directing the action, which was all right and also had a decent amount of gore that wou
ld satisfy vampire fans. But what makes this film good was his direction of the actresses, since this is pretty much an all female cast here. I thought the actresses did a fine job with their performances. Erika Smith is an actress that I’ve pretty much followed back to her first films, Bite Me and The Sexy Adventures of Van Helsing (Both film available from Alternative Cinema) back in 2004. It's amazing that she continues to have these good performances (Sinful being her best film to date). She was very good this time playing the main villain, as she was seductive and sinister here. The film also had some good supporting performances from Stuart Brazell and Elizabeth Di Prinzio, which helped made this film entertaining.The screenplay from Daniel Chant and Mark Grant was very good,
along with acting. I liked how the writers decided to make the female characters strong, instead of treating them like other female characters that are often seen in low budget horror films. The writers do that by having some of the characters in some sought of personal conflict throughout the film, like being on the run or drug addiction or alcoholism. It helps make the characters strong and makes them conflicted instead of being used for some sort of exploitation. They also do a good job developing the story and the characters that are in it, as it contributed to the film’s success.Crimson puts the vamp back in vampire with its story and very good acting.
To purchase this film, you can go to: http://www.crimsonthemovie.com/purchase.html. Please also note that the film has been picked up by Passion River for distribution. The film will be out on July 8th.
DVD Extras:
Behind the Scenes
Blood OathYear: 2008
Director: David Buchert
Stars: Natalie Hart, Roger Horn, Katie Vaughn
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Albatross Films
Running Time: 78Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.albatrossfilm.com/
eir attempts to have one of their own failed. All hopes to have a child failed, until they meet a mysterious woman who offers them an offspring, but for a price. Now, the child is all grown up and roams around the woods, killing anyone who enter it’s home. Soon a group of friends, deicide to spend the weekend to seek out this urban myth by visiting that house. But their weekend of fun goes south, when the offspring starts to terrorize them, as they soon will by preying for their death unless they find a way to kill her. Tina Krause (Witchouse 3: Demon Fire, The Recovered) and Tiffany Shepis (Nightmare Man, Nymph)There are many slasher films that tend to follow the same formula, with hot scantly- clad babes and over the top gore, but there are a few that try to separate themselves from the typical boring formula film by adding things to it. This is one of them. Blood Oath is a bloody scary slasher film. Director David Buchert direction was good. He does a good job making sure that the shots are down pat, especially with the killing scenes, as they were scary
and the gore was, in your face. It was one of those films that the over the top gore really helped the film, as the scenes were directed very well. It made the film fun and scary. The acting in this film was pretty good. Buchert does a good job directing the actor’s performances, as they came off as characters that are terrified, instead of stupid people that you would find in movies like One Missed Call (aka One and ½ Missed Hours of My Life) and Cruel World (with the world’s most annoying horror villain).The screenplay written by David M. Smith was very good. His script d
oes a good job in developing this mysterious killer and the people that are in her path. I liked, how the main characters weren’t those cookie-cutter characters that you find in some of the stupidest slasher films. The kill sequences in the film were written very well, as the buildup was good and came out of nowhere at times, which helps the film bring out some tense moments. Smith also does a good job bringing some psychological elements to the film, which helped with the film’s twist, which made the film more enjoyable.Blood Oath is a very gory horror film that brings out the scares and blood.
Lights, Camera, DeadYear: 2008
Director: Tim Reaper
Stars: Wes Reid, Amy Lollo, J.C. Lira
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: White Lightning Productions
Running Time: 77 Mins
Review Rating: 3.5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.lightscameradead.com/
er the cast and crew for world premiere of their film at an isolated farmhouse in order to try to finish the rest of their film, by killing the cast and crew that didn’t appreciate their film, in the first place.Lights, Camera, Dead is the horror genre’s version of “Living In Oblivion”. First time feature director, Tim Reaper does a good job taking a look at what is like to make one of these ultra low budget films in a dark and humorous way. He also does a very good job with the direction of the actors, as there was chemistry with each of the actors, especially with Reid and Lira characters. Their chemistry with each other, is one of the film’s highlights, as everytime they were on screen together, the film was entertaining.
The screenplay written by Tim and Monica Reaper was all right for the most part. One of the main reasons this is a good film was the fact that the dark humor was dead on. One example of this was the first ten minutes of the film when the story was focusing the horrible auditions. They did that because that’s one of the pitfalls of low budget filmmaking. I liked how they also how they told the story in chronological order, which helped the story of the film be interesting. The humor was funny. If there was one major problem with this, it was the fact that none of the deaths felt scary. Maybe, they weren’t trying to achieve as they let the dark humor be the focus, so I won’t speculate any further.If your looking for scares, then this is not the film for you, but if you are looking for a film with dark humor and a good amount of blood, then you’ll like this film, just like me.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Until next week, have a frightening day.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. I have some news on a couple of films that I’ve reviewed in the past, so it’s time for another edition of News (N) and Thoughts (T).
(N) Eat Your Heart Out was recently review in the horror chamber back in April, now the film has been picked up by Lionsgate and they re-titled the film “Skinned Alive” The movie will be out on DVD August 26th.
(T) I enjoyed this film, as this was a different type of zombie film. You can check my review of the film including the updated info at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/04/reviews-from-horror-chamber-kinky.html
(T) If you closely at the poster, which you can find on the film's myspace page, your truly is quoted in the poster. This is one of those films where, you will hear me talk about it more near its release date. But for now, you can read my review of the film at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/03/13-hours-in-warehouse-review-by-anthony.html
And that’s it for news and thoughts. Now on to the reviews.
OtisYear: 2008
Director: Tony Karntz
Stars: Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Pollak
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Warner Brothers / Raw Feed
Running Time: 100 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.otisdvd.com/
Otis is the fourth entry in the Raw Feed series. The film is about a part-time pizza delivery guy who is shy and thinks that he’s wicked cool and oh by the way he’s a complete psycho who calls the women that he abducts Kim. This time around he abducts a woman from a happy suburban family. Unlike the previous abductions where the families of his previous victims did nothing, this family decides to fight back. They do that by using array of weapons that you would thing of using. The film also co-stars Jere Burns, Ashley Johnson and Bostin Christopher, as Otis.
Otis is easily a more accessible film than Karntz’s last film Sublime (which I recommend). Director Tony Kartz does a good job directing this dark comedy. He nails the dark humor and the subject matter very well, as the humor didn’t feel stupid. Karntz also goes a very good job with the film’s tone. It was one of those films, where there a lot of sub-genres are being used. To his credit, Kartntz goes a good job balancing it, so that the tone isn’t off base. His direction of the actors was very good especially Bostin Christopher, who makes his character’s state of mind, very disturbing with his presence. It was very nice to see Daniel Stern (City Slickers, Home Alone), Illena Douglas (To Die For, Ghost World) and Kevin Pollak (The Usual Suspects, The Whole Nine Yards) headline a film, as I’m a fan of each of the actor’s works. Each of their performances was very good, as they played a vital part of the film.
The screenplay was written by Thomas Schnauz and Erik Jendresen was very good. They developed the title character very well. They focused on his state of mind, as it wasn’t too comical or light. They made him out as a sick individual that nobody loves. They save the comic tone for the development of the family. The screenwriters do that so the film doesn’t get too dark or to the point where the film is just another of those abduction / torture porn films. They also use the humor in proper places, as it didn’t feel disturbing. Most of the dark humor, in the film is satirical. The writers would use in scenes, in which the family or the FBI were in the scene. It was done to spoof procedural cop shows and the media’s obsession with these missing person cases.
Otis a dark and twisted comedy – horror film that will make you laugh and make you feel disturbed.
Pink EyeYear: 2008
Director: James Tucker
Stars: Melissa Bacelar, Joshua Nelson, Joshua James
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Los Angles Films
Running Time: 78 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/pinkeyemovie
Pink Eye is a frightening and suspenseful horror film. Director James Tucker creates this gory/suspenseful horror film to perfection. He does that by creating a dark atmosphere in the way he has the scenes shot. It gives off that dark and creepy vibe that haunts you through out the film. His direction with the actors was very good. I thought Melissa Bacelar and Joshua Nelson’s performances were very good. They are both maturing into good solid actors, as the performances were one of the main factors that contributed to the success of this film.
Joshua Nelson’s Screenplay was very good. He goes a very good job developing the characters, as you cared for them. Another thing that was done right was that he balances his focus on the struggles of the family and the chaos that ensures. Nelson’s creation of characters were very good, especially the main villain, as he made the character creepy and frightening. It also helped, the tone of the film become dark. He also adds a lot of suspense and gory moments to the story. Nelson does that so the viewer is terrified and shocked with the events.
Pink Eye is a frightening and suspenseful with an ending that will leave you in shock.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review. Send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Reviews From the Horror Chamber -- Botched, Timber Falls, The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl & Incest Boy
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. Well this week, I’m devoting my opening to The Signal, which is coming out on dvd this Tuesday via Magnolia Pictures. This is definitely one of the year’s best films. One of the things that I appreciate in a film is that the director is going all out in trying to tell his vision. This film has three directors. One of the strong suits of The Signal is that the fact that each of the three directors brought their own vision to their story. It was one of the things that made the film great. Also, the film has a very creepy performance for A.J. Bowen, which helped the film become terrorizing. But take that for my word, I highly suggest you purchase or rent The Signal this Tuesday, as you hardcore horror fans won’t be disappointed. Check out mine and Tony D’s review of the film at
http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/02/reviews-from-horror-chamber-signal.html and http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/02/signal-review-written-by-tonyd-hardcore.html
Also, I know I forgot it last week, but if you have any intentions of seeing The Eye (2008) with Jessica Alba, please read my review of the film first at http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/02/reviews-from-horror-chamber-eye-2008.html and hopefully I’ll spare you from that horrible mess. Now on to the reviews.
Botched
Year: 2008
Director: Kit Ryan
Stars: Stephen Doff, Jamie Murray, Sean Pertwee
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Studio: Warner Brothers
Running Time: 94 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.botchedmovie.com/
Botched is a bloody fun film. Director Kit Ryan balances the horror and comedy elements very well. One of the reasons he does that is by not letting one of those two genres become so heavy to the point that it’s either stupid or senseless. The acting was pretty good. Ryan’s direction of the actors was good as they helped make the dark humor in the film funny and entertaining. Stephen Doff’s performance here was good. He does a good job making his character dim-witted and entertaining that makes you enjoy a movie like this.
The screenplay written by Raymond Friel, Eamon Friel, and Derek Boyle hit all the funny and gory moments well here. The humor of this film was good, as it didn’t get too silly or very stupid. It helped this film be entertaining. Another thing that helped the humor was the fact that Stephen Doff’s character was dim-witted for most of the film. I liked how they added this mafia subplot in the beginning. They do that; so it makes sense that he’s a thief and helps develop those facts things can never go right in the character’s heists. The screenwriter also added a lot of bloody moments that were done in a fun way, as there they decided to not add any suspense in the killings. I don’t mind the fact that there are no suspense to the killings, as this is suppose to be a fun horror film here not a serious film at all.
Botched isn’t a botched film at all, as this was funny and very gory.
Timber FallsYear: 2008
Director: Tony Gillio
Stars: Josh Randall, Brianna Brown, Nick Searcy
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Vivendi Entertainment
Running Time: 100 Mins
Review Rating: 2.5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.timberfallsmovie.com/
Timber Falls is one of those torture porn films that has many up and downs to it. Director Tony Gillio does a good job with his direction of the film, as it really almost saved it for me. He directs the scenes very well. They were dark and frightening at times. His direction of the actors was very good, as the acting was one of the film’s strong points especially from the two leads in the film. They had very good chemistry with each other, which helped sell the fact that the two were in a relationship.
However, the major problem with film was the screenplay, which was written by Dan Kay. The major problem was the fact that didn’t follow up with a very good first half hour of the film. I thought the first half hour was very good, as Kay goes a good job setting up the characters but after that first half hour, it went downhill. The movie then became it predictable and boring at time. That’s a problem when you try to make one of these films. I would have liked to have seen some twists or more action in the film but it was like you know what’s going to happen two minutes before it happens because the scenes weren’t set up well. The dialogue felt kind of repetitive, which was annoying at times, as it felt like the actors were repeating their lines. Also, I thought the end was very predicable, as it seemed to follow the same way that most of these films end. But, at least the film has some decent scares that kept me awake from all the boring action.
Timber Falls is a film that has a good setup but a bad follow through, as it falls in the end.
The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl & Incest BoyYear: 2007
Director: Richard Taylor
Stars: Janine Laurent, Paul Lucero, Lloyd Kaufman
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Studio: Bizjack Flemco Productions
Running Time: 13 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/incestcannibal
The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl & Incest Boy is one of those fun gore fests
that I enjoyed a lot. Director Richard Taylor direction was good, as it was nice to see some originality here, as this film is not trying to be serious here, as this is a throwback to the Lloyd Kaufman (who makes a cameo here) and campy horror films from the eighties. Taylor did a good job filming this film on super 8 film on a very low budget. It’s very rare to see this type of filming, but is welcomed here. His gore effects were very good, as it was bloody and disgusting. His directions of the two main actors were very good. The film completely no dialogue but he makes up for that in the actors performances and expressions, as it helped make their character’s interesting.
The screenplay, which was written, by Taylor and Zack Biens was funny and weird. I like it, when filmmakers try and do something different with the story of the film, like in this film where there is no dialogue. They do it so the film feels weird and different from other short films that you might see. The humor in the film was good, as it was one of those things that help make for having no dialogue. They also do a good job developing the relationship between the two main characters, as it helps the relationship to be interesting and entertaining even though the film has a short running time.The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl and Incest Boy is good gory fun. You can purchase the film at the film's official myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/incestcannibal
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review. Send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
I’ll be back next Sunday with a new edition, in which I hopefully will have a review of the latest entry in the Raw Feed series with Otis. Until then, have a frightening day.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. Love to rant, but I have three big movies this week to review, so on to the reviews.
Diary of the Dead
Director: George A. Romero
Stars: Joshua Close, Michelle Morgan, Scott Wentworth
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Dimension Extreme
Running Time: 95 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/diaryofthedead
orge Romero. The film is about a group of filmmakers who are shooting a student film in the middle of the woods. Everything is going fine until they hear the news that there are zombies are terrorizing people everywhere to the point that nowhere is safe. The director of the student film starts to become obsessed with documenting all the events that are taking place. Along with his crew, they try find a place of safety, as the zombies have returned to walk the earth and it’s all there to be documented.After watching this film, I can clearly say that one of the true masters of horror is back and better than ever. This film also serves proof that if you let your director that can direct without any interference, the product of the film will be great, like this film.
Diary of the Dead is truly one of the year’s best films both horror wise and in general this year. Writer/Director
George A. Romero truly directed a cult classic here. One of the things that I personally liked about this was the fact he focused on a lot of things with the current events going on today and integrating it into the story. His direction was great. I liked how Romero uses different types of filming methods like the hand held cams, surveillance footage, and fake news footage to describe and to capture the action on film. It helps the plot of a story that you’ve seen before become original, all of a sudden. His direction of the actors was very good. Romero makes sure that his actors come off as frighten and scared in front of the camera. It helps add to the hysteria that is taking place around them. Also, Romero was also good in the tone in which the narration dialogue was delivered. It helps add to the gloom and doom atmosphere that this movie is projecting. The lead performance from Michelle Morgan was very good. Her performance comes off like Sara Connor like, especially in the narration of the film. 
Romero’s screenplay focuses on the various issues that help bring the darkness to this film. He does a great job integrating the issues that haunt this country today. Romero covers everything from Katrina, the media and everyone’s obsession of documenting everything on camera and then posting themselves on the Internet like on youtube and myspace. Also, he takes shots on George Bush and Texas alike, as one of the characters in the film is from that state. While amidst on trying to focus these issues, he also does a good job developing the filmmaker’s obsession with trying to get everything on film. Romero’s shows how his obsession is losing touch with his girlfriend and his friends through out the film, as the project has taken over his life to the point he’s just a passer by who stops and observers the chaos. Also, I liked how the story is told through the character’ filmmaker’s girlfriend instead of the filmmaker. It brings another person’s view to the events that were occurring in the film and it makes the view of the film compelling.
Diary of the Dead is truly a cult classic that can be added into the legacy of one of the greatest horror filmmakers ever, George A. Romero.
One Missed CallYear: 2008
Director: Eric Valette
Stars: Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, Megan Good
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Studio: Warner Brothers
Running Time: 87 Mins
Review Rating: Zero Stars
(Please take this Review as a Public Service Announcement)
Well, I gave you’ people a list of films to choose from, in which I would review the winning film. Here are the results, in last place with no votes is the remake to April Fools Day (thankfully I’m glad, because that was probably going to suck anyway). In fourth was Teeth with one vote. There was a tie for second as both Botched (which I’ll review next week and Zombie Strippers (which is in this edition as I couldn’t turn down a film with that title) received two votes. So that means you guys have chosen and decided to torture me with One Missed Call as the film that received the most votes with three.
One Missed Call is a remake of 2003 Japanese film called Chakushin Ari
. The film is about several teens that are starting to receive mysterious phone calls from a mysterious source. In these phone calls, the calls themselves include some mysterious details that include the date, time, and the details in the way they die. A psychology student (Shannyn Sossamon) and a detective (Edward Burns (yes that Edward Burns that burst on to the scene with the Brother’s McMullen)) must find out the causes of these strange deaths as one of them has received that mysterious phone call that might put both of their lives in jeopardy.First off, I would like to know the three people who asked for me to review the film, so that I could ask them if they wanted me to review it so I could rip it up to shreds. Because if that's what you wanted me to do, then you got it. One Missed Call should be One and a Half Missed Hours of My Life because this film has no logic and is un-releasable. This film is one of the WORST FILMS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN CINEMA and it’s also the first to receive the dreaded Zero Stars. Director Eric Valette should have his fucking head examined because according to the film’s trivia on IMDB.com he has never seen the original and had instructed the film’s cast not to see it either. Hello, this is a remake; the origi
nal is supposed to be used as a tool so it can help the actors in their preparation. His direction of the actors was horrible as the actors made their character uninteresting and very boring and yes that’s on the director. So fuck you Eric Valette for directing a piece of shit. Also why the fuck is Edward Burns doing in this film. Isn’t there any other independent projects that he could act or direct instead of doing this piece of shit. For fuck sakes, you were in such high profile movies like 15 Minutes and recently in 27 Dresses. Why are you associated with this film?The screenplay is even worse. I have five words for the writer Andrew Kalan’s screenplay for this piece of crap. Dreadfully Awful and Worst Screenplay EVER. This is the guy that wrote the screenplay to A Shock to the System back in 1990 and wrote the books Don’t Say A Word and True Crime? Hello, did you forget to write a coherent story because there is
none here, without an attempt to write one. Kalan also doesn’t spend time getting to know any of the characters, as once you get to meet them they end up getting killed off five minutes later. He also neglects spending any time trying to develop a backstory, as he only spends and I quote “one minute on the backstory before he has kill off his first character two minutes later that’s just there to get killed off." And Mr. Kalan your film had no suspense what so ever, as all the character deaths were unsuspenseful and very predictable. Before I end this fucking review, I just want to say that the last ten minutes of the film is the worst ending to a horror film ever. It was very anti-climactic and very boring. So fuck you Andrew Kalan for writing this piece of crap. Before I end this review Eric Valette and Andrew Kalan, you guys both owe me $3.99, the price of the on-demand rental, because I should be refunded for watching this trash. You can contact me at anthonythurber@filmarcade.net. Please pay me and I hope to never see you two near a film again because One Missed Call is one of the worst films of all time. It’s simply just fucking piece of un-releasable crap. [Editor's note: Which explains why it was the first film released in 2008, eh?]
Zombie StrippersYear: 2008
pers! It’s the follow-up film from director Jay Lee, who directed The Slaughter (which I recommend, you check from Lionsgate) back in 2006. The film takes place in the not so distant future where a virus gets released into an ultra-conservative state, where the town’s underground strip club is run by a slimy owner (Robert Engund). Soon the virus starts spreading into his strip club where it turns the beautiful women into super zombie stripers. Soon the women and the employees, who work at the strip-club must try and fend off these zombies b
efore they end up getting infected and joining these super zombie strippers (sorry about that, had to say one time). Hopefully this film will be better than I tried to make it, in the plot synopsis. Oh, by the way Adult Film superstar Jenna Jamerson co-headlines this film with Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Behind the Mask).Check your brain at the door because Zombie Strippers is great grindhouse fun. This is one of those films that I had very little interest going, but enjoyed this film for what it was worth Writer/ Director Jay Lee does it again, as this was very fun to watch. He does a great job with the direction and the screenplay, as they were both were very good. Lee does a good job keeping the action moving with good special effects and good camera movement. The acting is this was good considering the material here, as this felt like one of those exploitation horror films with humor added in.
The screenplay was very good here. Lee does a great job spoofing the c
urrent political climate here, as it takes shots at a lot of thing including the current president, corporate greed and the stupidity of our government. He added some very surprising good humor, as they were funny and helped make this film fun. Also, the thing that surprised me most was film. I was actually a little surprised that happened because it the fact; Lee spends developing the story before the fun and cheesiness kicks into this showed me that amidst the fun that goes with grindhouse films like these, you still can develop an effective story because it was at least a good fifteen minutes or more before we actually get into the strip club.Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
I’ll be back next Sunday with a new edition containing my reviews of Botched and Timber Falls. Until then, have a frightening day.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. Here’s a couple of quick news (N) and thoughts (T)
(N) According to bloody-disgusting.com, Gutterballs will be released by TLA releasing via its Danger After Dark label.
(T) This is definitely great news, as this film was a fun throw back to the 80’s
(N) Reunion of Terror is set to have its world premiere June 8th at the Milwaukee County Massacre Film Festival.
(T) Again, I’ll tell you that you have to see this movie and don’t worry this film will find distribution but for now, check this film out when it hits your local film festival.
That’s it for news and thoughts. Before I get to this weeks reviews I’m letting you choose which film, I should review in the June 1st edition of Reviews From the Horror Chamber. All the titles here are titles that I haven’t seen or haven’t had time to review. The choices are:
April Fool’s Day (2008)
Botched
One Missed Call (2008)
Teeth
Zombie Strippers (yes that’s the title of the movie)
Well at 9:15 PM Eastern time, I have a three way with Botched, One Missed Call and Zombie Strippers with two votes a piece and Teeth with one vote. If it’s still tied after this Wednesday at 5pm, well then I will break the tiebreak and I really don’t want to do that so please vote.
You can vote at the official page of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber, the official Myspace home of Film Arcade at http://www.myspace.com/filmarcade and my personal Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/anthonythurber
Paper Dolls
Year: 2008
Director: David Blair, Adam Pitman
Stars: Adam Pitman, Gill Gayle, Kent Harper
Studio: Badfritter Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/paperdolls06
Paper Dolls is about two friends who embark on a road trip to Canada. They recently graduated from high school where they plan to have fun. Their trip is going is to plan until they take a detour to the wilderness. They are then attacked by a group of unknown group of creatures that lurk in the wilderness that take one of them. Soon the survivor of the attack begins an all out war with these creatures in order find his friend.
Paper Dolls is a thinking man’s horror film. It has the feel of such great psychological horror films l
ike The Blair Witch Project and The Last Broadcast. Directors, David Blair and Adam Pitman does a good job focusing on the characters and supernatural occurrences during the film. This could have easily been boring for the first half of the film but the directors go a great job directing their actors and making the story interesting. The performances in the film were very good. The film has a very solid lead performance by Pitman. He really played his character very well, as this was a complex role to play. The film also has a couple of very good supporting performances from both Gill Gayle and Kent Harper, as they both brought something to their characters that made their characters interesting. Even though this film had a couple of action scenes, they were directed very well, as it helped bring in the suspense for those scenesThe screenplay, which was written by Blair, Pitman and Adam Stillwell was excellent. They did a great job building and developing the characters in the film. It really helped this become very good, as this was more of thinking horror film than a blood and guts film. T
he story, they conceived was great, as it was suspenseful in the way that you wouldn’t think. It’s that way because there is a point in the film, which I won’t describe here, since not most people haven’t seen it yet. But it makes you wonder about a certain character in the film and his state of mind. To me that was very good, as it’s one of those things makes a twist in the story very mind-blowing and entertaining at the same time. Another thing that was good about the screenplay was the investigation part of the film. That part really felt like something you see on one those cop procedural shows which made it interesting.Paper Dolls is a very chilling psychological horror film that will keep you guessing after you’ve seen the film.
Upcoming Screenings:
June 10th: Seattle True Independent Film Festival 8PM at the Jewel Box Theater
Johnny Sunshine: Maximum ViolenceYear: 2008
Director: Matt Yeager
Stars: Shey Bland, John Patrick Mccauley, Eric Halsel
Studio: Dissolve Pictures
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Review Rating: 3 Stars
Official Website: Http://www.myspace.com/johnnysunshinemovie
Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence is one of those films that was good to watch but at the same I thought it could have been better. Director Matt Yeager does a good job, as the direction was not bad for that type of budget or script that he had for his disposal. The direction of the actors was surprising good, as the performances kept my interest with this film. One of the main reasons this film was enjoyable was the performance of Shey Bland. She really makes this Johnny Sunshine character come to light, by making the tone of her voice dark, especially in the narration. It really reminded me of those dark characters that you see in comic books.
The screenplay written by Sean Michel Argo was average at best. The main problem I had with it was it really didn’t have much story to it. It felt like a film that focus on how violence that it can cram in. Also I thought the inserts featuring one of the character talking like it was a confessional tape, which kind of disrupted the flow of the film, but still it least it had a purpose for the film. There are also a couple of positives with this film. I liked how the film takes shots at how society neglected these people who didn’t have any money or and how people are just so arrogant with it’s citizenship subplot. Also, I liked how the main character was nothing but a badass chick, as that right there will keep your attention.
Johnny Sunshine Maximum Violence is a guilty pleasure flick that filled with hot babes and a badass heroine that will kick your ass all over the place.
Johnny Sunshine Maximum Violence will be released on DVD on August 5th from Brain Damage Pictures.
Also, you can check out my review for Frontier(s) here on the site at
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. Before I continue my look at the films you should keep on eye for in 2008, I need to get something off my chest.
It’s amazing how censorship is going strong in 2008. Yes I’m talking about Uwe Boll and his latest film Postal. First of all, I admit that I’m one of those Uwe Boll haters but what has been happening to him is really ridiculous and sad. If you haven’t heard by now, Postal was scheduled to open on 1,500 screens next weekend, but owners of these big and major theatrical chains are censoring him because his film is too stereotypical and offensive. I think that they are afraid that terrorists will attack the country if the movie is released. So now, Postal will only be shown on, get this, five screens. He is also having problems trying to rent theaters to have his film shown. Wow, where were you guys when the Harold and Kumar sequel came out? From the looks of that trailer that did look stereotypical and offensive. I am starting to really get sick of these fucking major theatrical chains acting as big brother and cramming four or five screens of Speed Racer and Jumper while shutting out the independents every week. This is why I truly believe Lloyd Kaufman is right when he goes on how independent films studios are truly getting blackballed when trying to release a film in a major theater. I never thought that I would see the day that I would ever feel sorry for Uwe Boll but those fucking major theatrical chains that only put out films from the major f’n studios are censoring this vision and that very sad.
That’s it for thoughts. Before I get to this week's reviews I’m letting you choose which film I should review in the June 1st edition of Reviews From the Horror Chamber. All the titles here are titles that I haven’t seen or haven’t had time to review. The choices are:
April Fool’s Day (2008)
Botched
One Missed Call (2008)
Teeth
Zombie Strippers (yes that’s the title of the movie)
Please note you can vote at the official page of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber, the official Myspace home of Film Arcade at http://www.myspace.com/filmarcade and my personal Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/anthonythurber
Please note you have until May 28th at 8am eastern to choose your film and the winning film will be reviewed in the June 1st edition. Now on to the reviews.
Reunion of Terror
Year: 2008
Director: Michael A. Hoffman
Stars: Monique Barajas, John Shumski, Nori Jill Phillips
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Disruptive Media Productions
Running Time: 80 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.reunionofterror.com/
Reunion of Terror focuses on a group of six friends who grew up togethe
r and went to high school together. They reunite ten years after their graduation to throw a reunion party. They decide to rent a hunting cabin in the middle of the woods, away from civilization. Their party was going well, until a couple of the friends suddenly go missing without any notice. Soon the night of fun the six people were suppose to have, turns into a night of screams, as they uncover a secret that might kill them all.
Reuni
on of Terror is a suspenseful and shocking slasher film. Co-Writer / Editor/Director Michael A Hoffman direction was very good. He goes a good job keeping the story’s action while focusing on the characters at hand. Hoffman makes this film dark and creepy by through his editing, which was very good and I also thought the scenery also contributed to its creepiness. The acting was good in this film. The actors didn’t make their characters annoying, which made the film interesting. They also had that good chemistry, which is needed to have your interest in these types of horror films.
Hoffman also co-wrote the screenplay with Meghan Jones, who is also the
co-producer for this film. The screenplay was very good. They did a very good job building the characters and the relationships that they had with each other. It makes the characters interesting and not dull and stupid. The screenwriters also provide a lot of suspense in the film, as it’s scary and the killings weren’t senseless or boring. But, what made this film good was it’s ending. I would love to go into this in a little more detail, but I’m sworn to secrecy about it. The only thing that I can tell you about it was the fact that the ending to Reunion of Terror is very original and very shocking. That’s all I’m going to tell you about, as I really want you to see this film.
Reunion of Terror is very frightening and shocking slasher film that will leave you with shock and awe.
The first screening for Reunion of Terror will be at the 3rd annual Rebel Film Festival in Tennessee. Date, Time, and Venue is to be announced.
Perfect Red
Year: 2007
Director: David Corarrubias
Stars: Andrea E. Harrison, Jeff Scott, Corey J. Marshall
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Cammotion films/ Russem Productions
Running Time: 13 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://perfectred.russem.com/
Perfect Red recently had it North American Premiere last year at the L.A. international Short Film Festival back in September of last year. But it’s a film to look out for, as it already played at various festivals this year like, the Park City Film Music Festival, where it won the Bronze medal for Excellence, th
e Hollywood DV Festival, where it won Best Horror Short and Best Score and most recently at the Horror Dance International Film Festival, this year alone.
The film is about a young female artist who is coping with the fact that her life is changing after having to go through a tragic event. Soon three men are stalking from the streets as she lives by herself in her apartment not doing the thing that she was accustomed to before that event happened. The men will soon learn that preying on the weak comes with a deadly price, as the lonelier you are, the deadlier you are.
Perfect Red is a very dark and entertaining short. Director David Covattubias does a very job making this film darkly lit and entertaining. He does that by making the look and the lightning of the film dark. It added a mysterious presence to each of the characters. Covarrubias’s direction of the actors was very good. I thought his director of Harrision was very good, as she comes off innocent and so hauntingly dark. The film also has a very good score from Neil Agro. His score of the film blends with this dark morbid tale.
The film’s screenplay was written by Emile Haris, was very good. I liked ho
w the screenplay focuses on the lead female character. He does that so that your supposed to be focused on her instead of the three supporting characters. Your focus on the main character pays off, later in the short, as there is a very interesting twist. The screenplay handles the twist very well as it turns the film upside down. I liked it because from the synopsis it looked like it was going to be predictable, but thankfully it caught me off guard. It helps make the film entertaining and makes you come out of the film very entertained.
Perfect Red is a short leave frightened and surprised with the end result.
Also, catch up on my review of Nobody Loves Alice, which I posted last week and see why I think, it one of the best horror films of the year. To read my review of the film, just click on the title.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official MySpace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
I’ll be back later in the week where I’ll review Frontier(s), the film that was banned from the 2007 After Dark Horrorfest. Next week will be the Memorial Day holiday but your truly will have at least a couple of reviews, as I finish my look at films you should on the lookout for in 2008. Until then, have a frightening day
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber.
Before I continue with my look into the films that you should be on the lookout for, I need to get this off my chest. Will somebody tell me why we need sequels to the The Descent and Donnie Darko? I know those films are good movies but is it necessary to make another one? First the sequel to The Descent, I reserve my judgment on the film until I see it, as it being independently produced again but Donnie Darko? That movie was weird enough but to make a sequel and have the movie focus on another character in the first film? I have a question: did the producers of the film one day wake up and say, "How can we make money?" and another producer says, "Why don’t we do a sequel to Donnie Darko and rhis time make the main character of the film his little sister and call it S. Darko?" It just amazing me how many stupid ideas come out of Hollywood. Earth to Hollywood, we don’t need needless sequel to popular cult films as it devalues its status.
That’s it for news and thoughts. Now on to the reviews.
Gutterballs
Year: 2008
Director: Ryan Nicholson
Stars: Alistair Gamble, Mihola Terzic, Jeremy Beland
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Plotdigger Films
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/ballonthechin
a Film Festival back a couple of months ago. There, the film won a couple of awards for Best Special Effects and the Audience Choice Award. The film is also the follow-up Ryan Nicholson’s shocking 2006 film, Live Feed.The film is about a brutal rape that takes place in the bowling alley late at night. The next night, during a midnight event at the bowling ally that pits two teams, who are having fun. Everything is fine, until the game ends abruptly when a mysterious killer dressed in bowling attire decides to destroy the fun and do a little bowling of his own. Soon, blood starts to spill everywhere, as the people try to stay alive before the killer uses their heads for bowling balls of his own.
Gutterballs is both fun and shocking at the same time. This film is definitely not for the weak at heart. Writer/ Director Ryan Nicholson makes this a very good throwback film. He does that by using elements from various grindhouse films of the past along with adding elements found in the slasher films fr
om the eighties, as there were a lot of nudity and over the top blood quenching gore in this film. Nicholson make some of the film’s most shocking scenes very shocking to the point where I had cover my eyes for one of them. His direction of the death scenes in the film was very good and original. There’s one scene that I liked the best, Death by Blowjob. He also does not hold back on the sex and nudity, as there is plenty of it in the film. The music selection for this film was also good, as the director was going for a totally 70’s vibe in the bowling ally.The screenplay was also good. Nicholson make his characters likeable and fun to
watch. He does build the story very well by spending the first half-hour developing it, so that ending of the film was made sense. Also I liked the screenplay allowed him to create some of the most original deaths that I’ve seen this year. Nicholson also builds the suspense of the identity of the killers. He does that by not making both of them predictable which helped made the film fun. Nicholson also provides some good twists to the story, especially the ending.Ryan Nicholson bowls a strike with this film, as this film was fun and shocking good old fashion horror film.
The film company has released this film in a limited edition version which is available now on the production company’s official website at http://www.plotdigger.com/store.html
CreepersYear: 2008
Director: Nick Thiel
Stars: CJ Johnson, Sarah Ashley, Dallas Price
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Image Placebo Films
Running Time: 17 Mins
Review Rating: 2 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/beparanoid
Creepers felt like an uneven film for me to watch. Director Nick Thiel direction was so-so. He does a good job directing the action sequences of the film, as the sequences were intense and his direction of the actors was good. But with that, Thiel should have had some discipline with the camerawork that was used in the film because I thought the camerawork was a distraction, as it was all over the place. I know that he was going for a 28 Days Later style here, but it felt that way through the whole film without any break from that method.
The main problem with this film the screenplay written by the film’s star C.J Johnson. One of the problems with the screenplay was the concept. Don’t get me wrong, the concept is good but it’s more effective in a feature length film than in a short film, like this one. The reason for that is, it give you much room for character development, which is needed for a film for this, so you care for the characters and slow down the intense action, but that’s doesn’t work here because of this length. It really also doesn’t go into the ordeal that the two characters spent in the house but hopefully, if the filmmakers decide to a feature (which I wouldn’t mind seeing) out of this that it would go into more detail and address the mistakes that I have with this film.
Creepers is a good effort from director Nick Thiel and writer/ star C.J Johnson, but falls short in the end.
Also my review of Nobody Loves Alice that I promised in this edition will be up on the site later today, as I have a little more work to do on it.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the Horror Chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Be back next week reviewing more films that you should be on the look our for. Until then, have a frightening day.
Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber.
I’m getting ready to kick for my guide to the latest horror films that you should be on the look out for on festival circuit and DVD self-distribution , which I’ll be focusing in my column for the next month. Before that, here’s a couple of News(N) and Thoughts(T)
(N) According to Fangoria.com, the cast has been set for The Descent 2 which will be produced by Celador Films and Pathe. The cast includes Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, both stared in the first film. This time, they are joined by veteran Irish actor Gavin O’Herlihy, Joshua Dallas and Krysten Cummings.
(T) So, the filmmakers are going with the American version. I’ll reserve my judgment until the film comes out since it’s again going to be independently produced again.
(N) According to DreadCentral.com, a horror movie wins at the Tribeca Film Festival. Let the Right One In, won the feature prize at the film festival. The film is about a young boy who falls for a young girl. Only problem is that he realizes that she is a vampire. The film is being released by Magnolia.
(T) Hopefully, this film will get a theatrical release, as it deserves it, since it won best feature at a major film festival. Put this one on my list of films to see.
That’s it for news and thoughts. Now on to the reviews.
Red Victoria
Year: 2008
Directors: Anthony Brownrigg
Stars: Arianne Martin, Anthony Brownrigg, Edward Landers
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Cashel Entertainment / Kurv Entertainment
Running Time: 90 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.redvictoriathemovie.com/
Red Victoria played recently at the 2008 Texas Frightmare Weekend, where it won the audience award. The film is about a writer named Jim(Anthony Brownrigg
), who is having a tough time trying to get one of his emotional dramas made into a feature film. His agent tries to convince him that nobody will pay him for his scripts and suggests that he write a script for a horror film. Not happy with the idea, Jim not happy with the idea decides to follows his advice. Soon, he meets a mysterious and sexy muse named Victoria (Arianne Martin), while writing his script. Only problem is that she is a member of the undead. She then teaches Jim, the essences of horror by killing Jim’s family and friends. Now Jim really has to hurry, on his horror script before everyone he knows ends up dead.
Red Victoria was an entertaining and funny horror film. This is the most enjoyable dark comedy that I’ve seen this year. Writer/Director/Producer/Actor, Anthony Brownrigg does a very job balancing both the aspects of the horror and comedy genres. He does that by timing the humor and making it frightening. Brownrigg’s direction was also very good. Brownrigg’s performance was very good. He plays his character perfectly, as the character has to be stressful and anxious for the character to work. 
Both Brownrigg and actress Arianne Martin both had very good performances here. Their on-screen chemistry gelled very well everytime, when both of them were on-screen together.
Brownrigg’s screenplay does provide the humor and the horror aspects, which is needed for this type of film. The characters were written very well. He does that by allowing his characters to be fully developed, as they have a purpose in this film. Brownrigg also does a 
very good job balancing the horror and comedy genres. It helped the film because the humor was good and frightening aspects were frightening. The film caters to both fans of either genre. Another thing that was so good about this film was that the characters were all likeable. Brownrigg makes his characters that way because by making them interesting and enjoyable by giving them interesting quirks, so that the viewer can be entertained with the story that he’s trying to tell.
Red Victoria is funny dark comedy/horror film that will make you not want any unwelcome houseguests.
Dust and Death