[REC]4

So, it looks like [REC]4 might be dropping us back into the storyline of the apartment complex again. I've yet to see [REC]3 - it looks great, but people don't seem to be too thrilled with it. At least I have not heard the same kind of buzz about it that the first two had.

[REC] 1 and 2 had a flow and a tight story that - if you could stand 3.5 hours or so of hand held camerawork - could be watched together to form a long form horror epic that would knock your socks off. It would be cool to do some sort of follow up story to seal the deal.

Or, maybe the first two should have been it and everything after should be forgotten? PARANORMAL ACTIVITY sort of drove itself into the ground as did the FINAL DESTINATION franchise, though I heard the last one filled the series with more life...so to speak. :)

What are your thoughts? Let us know!

INTERNATIONAL TRAILER (Contains scenes from [REC]1&2 with spoilers)

The Sleepover

Well, THE SLEEPOVER is a fantastic short. It's well shot, the acting isn't bad and the story is a lot of fun. My one gripe is that it might have benefited from a little tightening up around the edges, but this is in NO WAY a dig at the overall production. It's fantastic and really dark.

From the VIMEO site:
2012 Official Selection of Fantastic Fest, Shriekfest, Knoxville Horror Fest, Vassar FilmFest, and winner of "The Cabin In the Woods"/Lionsgate/Vimeo contest! THE SLEEPOVER is a proof-of-concept for a feature film about a town living "between the sequels" of its infamous masked killer. Please support us and stay in touch by liking us on Facebook 
( facebook.com/thesleepoverfilm ) or following along on Twitter @DerryMASK

Check it out! 

Demon Knight

I just revisited Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight and I'm so glad that I did!

Heather Wixson (@thehorrorchick) was talking about how good it was via Twitter and I had a vague memory of the film, but couldn't really remember it. I looked it up on my best friend NETFLIX and saw that they had it streaming, so I dug into it and had a LOT of fun with it.

Demon Knight is one of those strange films that looks slightly wonky on paper. The battle of Good and Evil as they fight over the last key - filled with the blood of Jesus - that demons can use to focus the power of the Cosmos.

What?! Never mind that - it really doesn't matter. What DOES matter is that Billy Zane, William Sadler, Jada Pinkett (Smith), Thomas Haden Church, CCH Pounder and THE DICK MILLER all star in this film and that it delivers up some great, 1995 comedic horror. Zane is fun and over the top as The Collector. It's some of the more fun Zane stuff. That cool, suave asshole character that he's so good at.

The film is packed with demon possession, "state of the art" effects and some great "trapped in a house" action. The practical effects work was pretty good, too. the Tales from the Crypt wrapper story is fun, too. The Crypt Keeper is allowed a little more screen time and presence and it works to "seal the deal" and make it very Tales feeling.

The history of the film was interesting as well. In a nutshell, the original script was written in 1987 and was going to be directed by Tom (Child's Play) Holland, but he got called off to direct the Fatal Beauty flop. Another draft was written by Mark (Pumpkinhead) Carducci and that was going to be directed by Mary (Pet Semetary) Lambert, however when Pet Semetary II came and failed, people didn't want to back the film and it submerged again. Finally, Joel Silver and Silver Pictures snagged it and opted for a three movie TALES spin - Demon Knight, Bordello of Blood and Ritual (released without the TALES tag with it).

Demon Knight even had two options for plot based on budgets - one with and one without monster demons. Version one would have a bible salesman "Collector" character who would have minions in black suits and sunglasses (See: The 90s) and those minions would later be revealed to be the demons in question. Yes, I thought that sounded horrid as well. I'm glad they went with option two with real monster demons stomping around and demon possessions popping!

This is cult goodness, really. It has a horrid rating and critics tend to bash it, but I found it did everything it set out to do. It had some giggles, some blood and a lot of good, demon fun. Check it!

Jordu Schell

http://schellstudio.com/

Artist Jordu Schell creates some amazing sculptures and his work comes alive in some truly creepy ways. The Schell Studio has been kicking out creatures and visions for over ten years for everything from AVATAR to RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD to STAR TREK. The dynamic range of the work is fantastic.

Mark Powell

http://www.markpowellart.com/

Artist Mark Powell creates some truly creepy and wild miniatures. These mini nightmares are fantastic, creepy and cool. They seem like H. R. Giger meets Silent Hill - the stuff that tends to haunt you after you see it. And, the stuff you would never really want to be a part of if it were real.

You can find more images in his Gallery - http://www.markpowellart.com/gallery

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The Ugly (1997)

THE UGLY is a interesting little nugget. A female psychologist is allowed to interview a convicted serial killer. Her study looks into the killers mind as she tries to sort out who he really is and what's going on in the dark space that is his mind. I'm not sure she likes what she finds.

This is a New Zealand production with some fantastic acting and truly creepy subject matter that may appeal to the SILENCE OF THE LAMBS set. No, it's not SILENCE, but it's similar in many ways. Learning about the killer through the interview process was interesting and seeing what is going on in his head is scary and jarring. 

Take a look - I think you'll dig it.

Mullberry Street

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473514/

I REALLY liked this low budget little nugget! Story comes first. Acting second. Then everything else you want in a good scare picture – effects and monsters and creeps. To me, that is a success. Tossing blood around the screen for 70 to 90 minutes takes no skill. Jump-scares are a bore. But, if you tell a good story and have some acting talent behind you, you can tell a good, creepy tale and have it really get to people.
Not quiet a “zombie” movie, but it does have some zombie movie aspects to it. A fun little rat disease picture, MULBERRY STREET delivers some good old movie fun and some people you actually want to see live through the movie. Check it out, keep the lights low and make sure your feet are up off the floor......