filmmaker Edgar Wright

The original THE NIGHT STALKER has a place in my heart right next to the original DARK SHADOWS series. Both were early influences on my developing love of the horror genre. I don’t think I need to talk about how Burton totally blew it with his recent DARK SHADOWS movie, but I’m staying optimistic about THE NIGHT STALKER … and now that the infrastructure is set in place, I’m very excited about this one.

Signed on to play the lead role of Carl Kolchak (originally played by Darren McGavin), is Johnny Depp. I know what you’re thinking; once bitten, twice shy. Let’s not forget that Depp always puts in great performances when Tim Burton isn’taround. So who’ll be directing? None other than Edgar Wright (who wrote and directed SHAUN OF THE DEAD). And to complete the trinity, the writer has been announced for this one. According to The Hollywood Reporter, D.V. DeVincentis has been signed on to write the script. DeVincentis is best known for writing HIGH FIDELITY and GROSS POINTE BLANK; not exactly genre flicks, but they are really well written films.

For those of you who may not be familiar with THE NIGHT STALKER, Carl Kolchak is a reporter for a Chicago-based news service who always seems to find himself on the trail of a hot story that inevitably has a supernatural edge to it.

This one’s off to a good, solid start and I’m looking forward to future developments.

Stay Bloody!!!

My last article spotlighted a new still of the titular clown, and now we have new artwork for the film.  Check it out below.  STITCHES is directed by Conor McMahon, written by McMahon and David O’Brien, and stars Tommy Knight, Ross Noble, and Gemma-Leah Devereux.

Stay Bloody!!!

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles May 29th, 2012

Contact:  Sean Elliot (Writer, Producer, Co-Star) 

Email: itsinthebloodthemovie@gmail.com

Website: www.itsinthebloodthemovie.com

IT’S IN THE BLOOD, Horror Film Starring Lance Henriksen 

Wins Four Best Pictures in One Week

Receives Numerous Favorable Critical Reviews, Awards

First time filmmakers and best friends since kindergarten, Scooter Downey and Sean Elliot proudly present It’s In The Blood, a psychological horror story starring veteran character actor Lance Henriksen. 

“It’s In The Blood is making the festival rounds at the moment. I’d be surprised if it didn’t collect several armloads of awards. The skill and maturity on display is impressive. Make certain you seek it out at the first available opportunity. Monster movies with this much heart and respect for its audience don’t come around often enough.”  

- All Things Horror, Chris Hallock

One year after a tragic incident tore their family apart, a grieving son (October) and his estranged father (Russell) embark on a journey into the wild to reconcile their past. When a horrifying accident leaves Russell badly injured, and strands them in the wild, it is up to October to save them both. However, this wilderness is not what it seems, and as they deteriorate, so to does their concept of reality. Horrifying creatures, ghostly apparitions, is it all in their heads, or could the truth be far more terrible? Lance Henriksen stars as Russell in this nightmarish descent into the very heart of darkness where more than your guilt can eat you alive.

In April, It’s In The Blood was awarded the prize for Best Horror Feature at the 2012 Phoenix Film Festival, as well as the Grand Prize at the Canada International Film Festival.  Since then, Its In The Blood has won 5 more Best Picture Awards, 4 of which were announced in one week.  

“It’s In The Blood is an indie horror film that transcends the genre and ends up being a lot more than what it starts out as.”

- Anything Horror, Scott Shoyer

Directed by Scooter Downey, It’s In The Blood is a wholly unique cinematic movement.  At its core, a father son story, the film is a deconstruction of the prototypical “creature feature”, incorporating elements of mystical realism and psychological thriller.  This new movement in film is called a Psyche-Saga.  

“The films official website promotes the story as a “psyche-saga”, and even provides a fancy definition of that term. Now, I read that definition, and I even went and got a degree in psychology from a relatively credible university one time, and I’m STILL relatively confused to what that term means. But I think I like it!”

- From Midnight With Love, Mike Frohwein

Downey Defines a Psyche-Saga as “a new movement within the film art, wherein the artist renders one story through three different domains of stylized imagery — poetic representations of the mind, body, and spirit on a singular path of transformation.”

“You can sort the film into three categories: the family drama, the psychological thriller, and the monster horror. Though it literally plunges into each of these in a fast pace, and there’s a strong contrast in style and atmosphere in each, you never once lose interest.” 

- Film Bizarro, Ronny Carlsson

Best known for his roles as Karl Bishop Weyland in the Aliens franchise and Frank Black in the TV series Millennium, Lance Henriksen has amassed a resume that would put most actors to shame in a career spanning more than 50 years. Lance has worked with some of the greatest directors of all time, including James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Sidney Lumet, and his characters have been killed by some of Hollywood’s greatest monsters, including the Terminator, the Predator and the Alien. With 15 projects in 2011, this versatile actor shows no signs of slowing down.

A Feature Selection in over 30 film festivals thus far, It’s In The Blood has screened at 23  festivals, and has already won 2 Grand Prize Awards, 7 Best Picture Awards, 2 Best Actor Award, 1 Best Music Composition Award, and 2 Runner Up Awards.

Its In The Blood will be screening at two very prestigious film festivals in the months to come:  The Little Rock Film Festival and The Waterfront Film Festival.  

The Little Rock Film Festival has been named as one of the “25 film festivals worth the entry fee”.  Both of the LRFF winners of the Golden Rock Award in 2010 went on to be nominated for Oscars.  In 2011, 3 of the 5 Oscar nominated documentaries held some of their first screenings at the LRFF.

The Waterfront Film Festival was ranked as a “Top 5 Film Festivals” by SAG Indie, Screen Actors Guild Magazine.  Other winners include Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, South By South-West Film Festival, and Cinevegas Film Festival.

“If you don’t get it by now, it can’t be spelled out any more clearly:  It’s In The Blood truly is the “perfect genre storm.”  It’s written, directed, acted, and structured with reverence and a palpable seriousness.  It’s downright moving in its emotional weight and it’s also frightening as Hell.”

- The Conduit Speaks

“It’s In The Blood reaffirms why I love horror so much and it’s the type of film that makes enduring so many bad ones all worthwhile.”

- Planet of Terror, James Cortez

*   *   *

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

For links to the full reviews quoted herein as well as more information about the film, visit the official website at:

http://www.itsinthebloodthemovie.com

To follow on Twitter and Facebook, go to:

https://twitter.com/inthebloodmovie 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-In-The-Blood/209339455801774

Monomyth Films:  

www.monomyth-films.com

Hell yeah I’m quoted in the press release, but don’t worry; there’s no conflict of interest here.  I already wrote and posted my review not knowing a damn thing about the director, the writers, or anything.  I simply loved this film and I will now throw my support behind it to make sure everyone gets to enjoy it!!  If you get a chance to see this one at a festival near you, don’t hesitate … this film alone will be worth the price of admissions!!

Have any of you seen this one yet?  What’d ya think?

Stay Bloody!!!

The Orphan Killer, also known as Marcus Miller (David Backus) wears a really creepy mask and hangs out around a church that was also the orphanage where he grew up. He and his sister, Audrey (Diane Foster) were sent to the orphanage after their parents were killed in a home invasion. Audrey adapted well to the orphanage and because she was young, cute, and white got adopted fairly quickly. Marcus, it seems, didn’t process the events of that fateful night very well and has seemingly turned into a sociopathic killer, overnight, who feels no pain or remorse as he beats and kills other kids in the orphanage. Marcus was also pissed that his sister left him alone in the orphanage to suffer at the very random and ridiculous punishments the nuns doled out on a daily basis. I think the nuns were making their own documentary on how to create a serial killer out of a small boy who’s already demonstrating signs of sociopathy!! The nuns make little Marcus walk around in that creepy-ass mask all day and night; whip him mercilessly; and hold his head under water right until he’s about to pass out. I though getting smacked with a yard stick across the knuckles was bad!!

This is a perfectly acceptable punishment for a young kid!!

Now Marcus is all grown up and looking for Audrey to torment and teach her what “family” is all about. Does any of this sound familiar? It should. THE ORPHAN KILLER is basically a remake of HALLOWEEN. No; seriously. We have an unstoppable killer looking for his sister, killing anyone who gets in his way. Marcus has apparently built up his threshold for pain after suffering for years at the hands of the nuns, and it’s also mentioned that the priest of the church molested him. That should just about cover the killer’s background!!

It’s great to see a family reunited!!

First the positives: The beginning of the film is fast-paced and gory as we meet Marcus and Audrey. The dialogue was minimal, which we’ll see was a good thing, and the kills were explicit, bloody, and nicely done. Okay wait … I’m trying to think of another positive thing here. Beyond the gore, THE ORPHAN KILLER really doesn’t have that much going for it. When Marcus’ motives and back story were kept vague, he was actually scary, threatening, and intimidating. But as the plot unfolds and we learn more and more about him, Marcus begins to lose his edge. Usually watching nuns dishing out punishments on little kids is a creepy and disturbing experience, but here it’s laughable. There was no need for that mask, and the brutality of the punishments the nuns gave out made anything that happened at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp look like the antics at a pre-school.

Marcus has a few ‘family issues’ he needs to work out.

Writer-director Matt Farnsworth also makes another fatal error. When Marcus finally captures and starts torturing Audrey, Farnsworth gives the killer dialogue. This made the entire film go south really fast. Marcus’ voice behind the mask was laughable. He sounded like a cross between Christian Bale in his “Batman mode” and someone constipated trying to blast one out. But even worse than the voice was Marcus’ dialogue:

[To Audrey]: “I am your apocalypse”

And …

“When you need him most, god is out back smoking a cigarette.”

Poor Marcus … he never gets nun!!

And … oh that’s enough examples!! Do you think Jason would’ve been as scary if he had dialogue? Do you think ChromeSkull from the LAID TO REST films would’ve been half as menacing if he talked? And to make it worse, Marcus’ speeches were so silly talking about how he’s sent by god to do this and that, and that he’s punishment, etc … The point, I’m guessing, was to be teaching Audrey about family loyalty through the use of torture and intense pain. But it all comes across as just another torture-porn flick. Foster, who plays Audrey, is also the producer and at times does an okay job in the role, but other times comes across as over acting. The role of Audrey was a very physical and demanding role, and in this respect Foster does a nice job. But for some of the scenes that required deeper acting chops, she seems to have been in over her head.

Getting head from your sister never looked so painful!!

The gore is the one element that delivered. Farnsworth isn’t shy about showing the red stuff and not turning the camera away once the killings start. But this film makes a pretty bold claim: “[THE ORPHAN KILLER] goes far beyond current trends in gore and breaks open a new suffering genre of horror.” I’m not getting that. The f/x were well executed, but the LAID TO REST and HATCHET films had better gore f/x. As far as creating a new “suffering genre,” this wasn’t accomplish. What we have here is a slasher flick with solid gore f/x and a pretty crappy story.

Here’s another quote from Marcus. Geez that’s horrible!!

It’s a shame THE ORPHAN KILLER couldn’t keep up the pace of the first act throughout the entire film. The opening is fast, gory, and fun. As soon as Marcus focuses on Audrey, the pace and plot both lose their foothold and the entire film stumbles. This simply becomes a HALLOWEEN knock-off about a brother wanting to reunite with his sister. But some really silly plot turns and the decision to give the killer a voice and dialogue really kneecap this film. I’m only recommending THE ORPHAN KILLER for the gore hound who doesn’t care at all about a coherent plot and character development. Don’t believe all the hype on this one; beyond the gore THE ORPHAN KILLER is a pretty crappy and laughable film. I really wanted to like this one but was ultimately disappointed. Really disappointed.

My Summary:

Director: Matt Farnsworth

Plot: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Gore: 8 out of 10 skulls

Zombie Mayhem: 0 out of 5 brains

Reviewed by Scott Shoyer

The Saint-Martin subway station has been closed since 1939, but the marketing team behind PROMETHEUS transformed it into the surface of Ridley Scott’s alien world. By the looks of it, passengers won’t be able to get off at this stop but will be able to snatch glimpses of it as their train passes by, which could be way scarier!! Just imagine you’re coming home after a long day in the cheese and croissant factory. You’re tired and smell like brie. You may even be nodding off when suddenly a giant blue alien face flashes is staring at you and successfully manages to ruin your pantaloons!! Check out these pics; nice job 20th Century Fox!!

Stay Bloody!!!

—–

What could be worse than a theatrical remake of one of the scariest and best horror films ever made, THE EXORCIST? How about it being adapted into a TV series? Now if that don’t make your head spin, nothing will!! According to Vulture.com, Sean Durkin, the writer-director of last year’s MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, is adapting THE EXORCIST into a ten-episode television series, backed by Morgan Creek and produced by Roy Lee (the executive producer of films like THE DEPARTED and THE RING).

Durkin’s version of THE EXORCIST follows the events leading up to the demonic possession and especially the after-effects of how the family copes with it. When medical and psychiatric explanations fail, the desperate family turns to the church, with Father Damien Karras finally being brought in to attempt the exorcism. Also according to Vulture.com:

The Exorcist TV series won’t be formally shopped to networks for another two weeks, but executives are already calling seeking meetings to inquire about landing the Durkin update.

If you’re like me, you threw up more than a little bit in your mouth reading this article. So to make up for it, I’ll post this video of the “Spider Walk” scene from THE EXORCIST that wasn’t in the original cut.

Stay Bloody!!!

This sounds great and from the looks of the trailer below, it looks great too!!  Check out the TORTURE CHAMBER official website and Facebook page.

Stay Bloody!!!

actor Whit Spurgeon

A little more movement on the upcoming sci-fi noir thriller, WAY DOWN IN CHINATOWN.  The film is written and directed by Eric Michael Kochmer and stars Lisa Loring, Tara Samuel, and Maria Olsen.  Well there’s one more cast member you can now officially add.  Here’s the press release:

WAY DOWN IN CHINATOWN

EXCLUSIVE CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

WHIT SPURGEON joins the cast of WAY DOWN IN CHINATOWN

The Way Down in Chinatown production team – being independent filmmaker Eric Michael Kochmer, Angel Corbin and Maria Olsen of MOnsterworks66 and Jonathan Haloossim of 22MM Productions – recently welcomed the talented Whit Spurgeon to the cast.  Spurgeon has been picked to play Leonard in this creepy and atmospheric noir horror epic, a Hollywood talent agent who will get his comeuppance as the word slowly ends around him.

Spurgeon has appeared in dozens of award-winning plays, including two Rebecca Gilman world premieres, The Glory of Living and The Crime of the Century and the long-running hit, Hizzoner.  He has also starred in over two dozen TV commercials for clients ranging from Verizon to Citgo, and will soon be seen in two feature films apart from Way Down in Chinatown.  Television viewers might know him from his roles Cougar Town and Call 911.

Spurgeon wears many hats in the industry and has also worked as director, producer, writer and even as script superviser. He is thrilled to have been cast in Way Down in Chinatown where he will have the opportunity to work alongside established performers such as Lisa Loring (The Addams Family) and Nancy Wolfe (Helter Skelter) as well as up and coming Tinseltown talent Justin Dray (CSI), Stephanie Sanditz (Kate & Leopold), Eric Michael Kochmer (The Writer), Angel Corbin (DisOrientation) and Maria Olsen (Paranormal Activity 3 and The Haunting of Whaley House).

Way Down in Chinatown, which is to be shot entirely in black and white, can be classified as a noir horror film the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Murnau’s Nosferatu.  It can also be classified as noir science-fiction, as, visually, it draws heavily from Lang’s Metropolis.  It is also a Lynchian romp that explores the end of the world thru the fish-eye lens of a single disintegrating relationship. It is, when you come right down to it, unclassifiable as regards genre, but, given that it features sudden, inexplicable death, a strange race of monstrous beings that live underground, obsession, compulsion, infidelity and horrifying infection, there’s no doubt that horror fans will enjoy it.

Principal photography on Way Down in Chinatown is set to start in Los Angeles in early June.  More information on the project, and how to become a part of it, can, along with the promotional video, be found here:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/78765

1313: BILLY THE KID (2011):

Scares meet sagebrush as the legendary young outlaw holes up in the deserted town of Hell’s Heart in order to bind his wounds. Billy won’t have a lot of recovery time, though, when he learns that the locals have been victimized by vengeful Native American demons. Brandon Thornton, Jason Zahodnik, Chelsea Rae Bernier, Lance Leonhardt star. 72 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; audio commentary.

Being released on DVD on 6/01/2012

REQUIEM FOR A VAMPIRE (1971):

Cult classic finds two innocent girls seeking sanctuary in a mysterious mansion, only to become the unwilling concubines of a crazed vampire who wishes to use them to produce offspring in an attempt to strengthen his bloodline. Marie Pierre Castel, Mireille D’Argent, and Philippe Gaste star in Jean Rollin’s stylishly surreal tale. AKA: “Caged Virgins.” 88 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: French, English; Subtitles: English; interview; theatrical trailers. In French with English subtitles/Dubbed in English.

Being released on DVD & Blu-ray Widescreen on 5/29/2012

PUNISHMENT

Now check out the trailer (YouTube still has it labeled as “DOWN THE ROAD”):

Now check out a couple of sales art for the film … these are pretty damn cool (again; be sure to click on the images for a larger view)!! You can get more images and info on PUNISHMENT on their Facebook page.

Stay Bloody!!!