Tag Archives: Slasher

LA Horror Review: “The Los Angeles Ripper”

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Los Angeles has been home to some of the most prolific serial killers in American history.  There was, of course, the night stalker, the hillside strangler, the freeway killer and now another, Craig McIntyre’s “The Los Angeles Ripper.”

Kristy (Celeste Martinez) is an aspiring singer who has just arrived in Los Angeles for a fresh start in life.  Living with her lazy cousin and horror fanatic Aunt, things are looking up for Kristy as she makes new friends and begins to take singing lessons.  However, drug dealer Grahm (Randy Tobin), The Los Angeles Ripper, has other plans for poor Kristy.  You see, Grahm likes to torture, rape and murder young women, and he’s damn good at it…

“The Los Angles Ripper” starts with a bang and ends with a bang, take that how you will.  From the very first scene of the film, you know what you are signing up for:  a low budget, gritty serial killer story with a director unafraid to show you the good stuff.  And what else would you expect from a movie called “The Los Angeles Ripper?”  While the body count isn’t necessarily the highest, when Grahm does reveal his sinister intentions to his victims, the intimacy of the filmmaking makes for a quite unnerving experience.  The camera is always no more than a foot away from the victim, often in a cramped room or a van, and catches every grueling detail of the torment of the victims.  The style is reminiscent of the ultra gory 70s exploitation flicks, with a little dab of some zombie feasting as well.  McIntyre is clearly well versed in the horror genre.

The problem with this film is not in the kills, however, but in the killer himself.  No doubt Tobin is a talented actor, and his character is quite memorable but also kind of a…well…a douche bag.  He’s the guy who’s at the party that you didn’t really invite.  He’s the drug dealer that insists that you hang out with him when you only want your fix.  He’s the guy at the bar that just doesn’t catch a hint.  No means no, Grahm…well, kind of.  At times his awkwardness is hard to watch, but when he starts to turn into the Ripper, it’s night and day.  The douche becomes a monster and that’s when the performance really takes off.

The main meat of the story is when Grahm meets, and ultimately becomes obsessed with, Kristy.  He brazenly stalks her, is constantly showing up wherever she goes and ultimately puts her in a rough spot near the end of the film.  Their chemistry is awkward, but that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be, so in that regard, it works.  The supporting cast behind these two is also quite enjoyable, in particular a couple of characters that show up to Kristy’s music lessons add a light hearted break to the carnage in this film.

Indie horror fans should appreciate this film, especially ones in the Los Angeles area.  It does give you a feel for this city and there are some moments that legitimately made me cringe.  While the film isn’t necessarily as deep as it could have been, the gore is intense and the soundtrack is excellent.  The final shot of the film is also one that will stick with you, a serious gut-wrencher.  I’m a huge fan of serial killer films, and while “The Los Angeles Ripper” isn’t necessarily the scariest, it certainly is worth a look for indie horror lovers and newbies to LA.  So go get ripped already.

Be sure to check out “The Los Angeles Ripper” on Facebook and twitter.

LA Horror Presents: “Teddy”

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Who doesn’t enjoy a quick slasher flick?  Call me sadistic, but nothing cheers me up more than cramming a whole bunch of death in a real short amount of time – something that Slasher Studios‘ short film, “Teddy,” has no problem doing at all.

The set up is classic: a group of friends having a party weekend when things start to go horribly wrong.  Not only do they accidentally run over an old man on their way to the woods, but they then find themselves being stalked by the old man’s demented stuffed bear wielding son, Teddy.  Needless to say, things don’t work out too well for these fun loving teens.

What makes “Teddy” so enjoyable is its rapid fire pace.  An 11-minute run time is really not a lot, yet “Teddy” manages to establish motive for the title killer, introduce our victims, give us a blood splattering car crash, slam about 20 beers, show a pretty raunchy sex scene, as well as multiple murders that even Jason himself would be proud of.  Let me just say this without giving away too much:  nobody’s ass is safe in this movie.  Don’t believe me?  Well see for yourself…

Well, was it too scary to…bear?  What I love about this piece is our killer.  Much like the horror classics we know and love, Teddy is mysterious and could probably use a feature or two to really get to the bottom of his troubles.  I mean, who is this guy and what’s with his demented bear?  It’s eerie and unsettling, and while the mystery makes the story stronger, my morbid curiosity would love to learn more.  While it works as a short, it easily has all the pieces to grow into a much larger project.

That being said, mad props goes to filmmakers Kevin Sommerfield and Steve Goltz.  Slashers are always great fun and it’s always exciting to see new disturbing characters and deaths thrown into the world of horror.  Who knows, a couple years down the road maybe we’ll get to see some more of Teddy, but until then?  Well, bust open a PBR and keep partying…

Please be sure to check out “Teddy” on Facebook, as well as SlasherStudios.com on Facebook.  Also follow SlasherStudios.com on Twitter.

LA Horror Review: “Homeless Joe”

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Maybe you walk past one on your way to work.  Maybe you see one standing next to an on-ramp by the highway.  You probably never really pay them any attention at all.  Most of us choose to ignore the homeless and pretend they simply aren’t there.  They are society’s forgotten victims of an all too cruel world and can hardly fend for themselves.  Well, all except for one: Homeless Joe, the deranged and very pissed off homeless killer in Bruce Fordyce’s unbelievably entertaining low budget slasher extravaganza.

“Homeless Joe’s” Sean Goodman (Eric Stayberg) has a confidence problem.  He can never get the girl; he’s overshadowed by his horny and obnoxious friends; and he’s simply looking for a reason to keep on going.  After being coaxed into a night of drunken debauchery, Sean’s journey begins as his friends harass the wrong homeless guy and end up in the clutches of Homeless Joe, the genetically engineered, metal toothed, axe-wielding psychopath who gets his rocks off by killing helpless teenagers.  It’s now up to Sean to face his fears and save the day or fall fate to brutal murder himself…

To be honest, this movie is way better than it probably should be.  While it does have some cheesy moments and some less than Shakespearean performances at times, this was a seriously fun trip.  The shining star is our hero Stayberg, who gives, hands down, the best performance and plays the loser redemption card masterfully.  He is believable and likeable; his character truly goes through a journey and the worse things get for him, the stronger he becomes.  His supporting cast does their job well and the cheese ultimately makes the movie stronger.  There are a couple of unbelievably funny moments and one-liners, as well as plenty of horror stereotypes nailed to a tee: the far-out stoner, the horny guy, the pissed off jock and, naturally, plenty of beautiful (and busty) babes.  It’s the perfect cast for a movie like “Homeless Joe.”

“Homeless Joe” truly does have MAXIMUM BODY COUNT!

The real credit to the picture however should go to writer, Mike Merickel, and writer/director/editor, Bruce Fordyce.  In terms of a story about a psychopathic homeless killer, I don’t think there could be a better script.  There are plenty of legitimate twists and surprises and the story really grows into something larger than life.  And while this is obviously a low budget film, Fordyce’s direction was intelligent and entertaining.  There were many camera tricks and shocking reveals that really helped drive the story and keep it interesting.  In particular, there is a rather impressive scene in a parking structure that consisted of two, maybe three long, well-choreographed and suspenseful shots.  I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat when I wasn’t leaning back due to giddy laughter.

And that’s the last thing.  This movie is funny—very funny actually.  A couple of accidental gunshots (“You shot her you slut!”), heaping amounts of over the top gore, several well-timed uses of the “Howie scream” and even a severed penis (that was very realistic, by the way), this movie had me rolling throughout.  It’s funny, gory as hell and full of nasty little surprises.  What else can you ask for in a horror movie?!

“Homeless Joe” is not yet available on DVD, but when it is, it will no doubt become a favorite for fans of obscure and over-the-top horror.  It certainly has replay value and a heart that most other low budget horror flicks can only dream of having.  Keep your eyes peeled.  “Homeless Joe” is a serious killer!

“Homeless Joe” was produced by Patty Sharkey and Mike Merickel, the team behind another one of LAHorror.com’s favorites, “Bloody Wedding.”

LA Horror Presents: “D&F3R”

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Things don’t go well for Betty and Skip…

This is a special news bulletin!  This is a special news bulletin!  There have been reports of another girl missing at the hands of the Homestead Ripper!  We at LAHorror.com along with local authorities urge you to stay in your homes at all costs, and for God’s sake don’t get caught necking with your boyfriend in the woods!

Well, that’s only part of the set up in writer/director Brian L. Hauge‘s multi-genre horror short, “D&F3R:  Dead and Floating in Three Rivers.”  Set in 1956, this movie has a serial killer, biological weapons, zombies and even a plane crashing, dead awakening blow-job all in the span of ten short minutes.

Beautifully shot and directed, “D&F3R” is by far one of the most unique pieces submitted to us so far.  It plays with some classic cliches as well as turning some others on their head, not to mention a wicked sense of humor in some of the sequences.

This movie went to a multitude of horror festivals including it’s premier at the 2008 Fright Night Film Festival and has garnished over 260,000 views on YouTube.  Haven’t seen it yet?  Well, what the hell are you waiting for??  Quit reading this story, click the link below and give this movie a shot!

LA Horror Presents: “Bunnyman 2″ (coming soon)

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We received a tip from writer/director/producer Carl Lindbergh about his upcoming horror film “Bunnyman 2.”  We checked out the trailer and it looks ultra creepy and fun.  While the film is currently in post production, we got the inside scoop from Lindbergh about the film, as well as a little bit about him as an artist.

LAHorror:  Tell us about the story of “Bunnyman 2.”  What the fuck is up with this bunny?

Lindbergh:  As the trailer suggests, this is one very pissed off giant bunny. Obviously someone really upset him, and as a result, he takes out his frustration on any and everyone that crosses his path. “Bunnyman 2″ follows the antagonist’s story line, and is about the title character and a crazy redneck trying to manage the stress of killing all these random people.

LAHorror:  Why should people see “Bunnyman 2?”  What type of horror are you striving for?  What makes it unique (besides the fact that it has a Bunnyman)?

Lindbergh:  Well the opening scene shows a giant Bunnyman slaughtering a bus full of kids. I would say that’s a pretty unique way to start a film!  I certainly haven’t seen it before and I watch a lot of horror films. The main thing I want to stress is that “Bunnyman 2″ is not cheesy, it’s not campy. It has a dark sense of humor, but not “stupid” humor. I’m presenting a very absurd idea with a very serious tone. Most films of this type, from say Roger Corman or Troma would play this up as camp. This is a “unique” approach to something very bizarre, almost surreal in a way like a David Lynch film. I guess you could ask yourself, what would a film look like if David Lynch made a horror film for Roger Corman. Perhaps “Bunnyman 2″ is the answer to the question?

LAHorror:  What are some of the inspirations behind this film?  Not necessarily other movies, but ideas/art/etc.?

Lindbergh:  The idea stems from taking something very innocent, say either a bunny suit or a school bus sign, and turning it on it’s head. Playing with the symbolic nature of seeing a school bus sign, but with blood on it. I believe it’s a striking image, and tells the viewer a lot with saying any words. It’s this contradictory nature that runs through the Bunnyman films. Another example, we’ll have someone die in a grotesque way however we’ll present it in a way, that the audience can’t help but laugh as it happens.

The cinematic influences on “Bunnyman 2″ are a diverse range of films. Two two primarily influences I see in the film is the “Friday the 13th” series of films and Terrence Malick’s ”Tree of Life”. Talk about two complete different films. “Bunnyman 2″ has the mood, feel, atmosphere of a Malick film such as “Days of Heaven” etc. however within that world we have a serial killer disposing of bodies as what you would see in a 80′s slasher film.

LAHorror:  What are the overall plans for “Bunnyman 2″?  Any screenings scheduled yet?

Lindbergh:  The primary goal is securing distribution. I’m not convinced it’s worth going the festival route as opposed to going straight to the distributors themselves.  If the eventual distributor decides to screen the film, I would of course support that decision.

LAHorror:  How was the cast/crew?  Cool people?  Small or large group?

Lindbergh:  I can’t speak highly enough about the cast. They put up with harsh conditions, 120 degree heat, meat eating bees etc. They went above and beyond what a filmmaker could ask from them. We had a small crew of about 12 people, i.e. a few amount of people doing multiple jobs.

LAHorror:  What are your favorite horror films/directors?

Lindbergh:  Obviously the horror classics such as the original “Nightmare on Elm Street”, “Halloween” and “The Evil Dead” series of films. I’m a big fan of more obscure horror films such as “Phantasm” and “Cemetery Man.” The directors that I’m truly inspired by are Ridley Scott and Tim Burton.

And in case you were wondering, “Bunnyman 2″ is the sequel to “Bunnyman.”  Check out the trailer!

Certainly seems like this bunny doesn’t CARROT all who gets in his way…stay tuned for reviews of both films!

Be sure to check out “Bunnyman 2″ on Facebook!

LA Horror Review: “Bloody Wedding”

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Kate Murdoch and Brad Coffey fight for their lives in “Bloody Wedding”

Who doesn’t like a good wedding?  There’s the dinner, the free booze, delicious cake and memories that will last a lifetime. But in the case of “Bloody Wedding,” the new over-the-top slasher flick from Sharkey Films, that lifetime may be a lot shorter than you might expect…

The set up is simple.  Cindy (Kate Murdoch) is about to marry Pierce (Ryan Sulak), the handsome man of her dreams.  She goes through the typical problems that all brides face – getting the flowers ready, an occasionally grumpy fiancé, bitchy, nasty relatives and unwanted wedding guests.  Yet, all of those things seem trivial when the wedding party begins to get horrifically murdered.  The suspects are everywhere with a slew of potential motives, and as the body count rises, Cindy realizes that nobody can be trusted…not even the ones she loves dearest.

“Bloody Wedding” lives up to its name – there is a wedding, and it is bloody.  But that’s not the only reason that it’s a terrific success.   The art of creating an enjoyable low budget horror film can be tricky, but “Bloody Wedding” kills it (pun intended).  This movie has everything horror enthusiasts could hope for – loads of blood, genuine laughs and, of course, plenty of beautiful women (and men) being killed in some brilliant ways.  While we don’t want to give away too much, one thing must be said:  “Bloody Wedding” has one of the most terrific sex-to-kill scenes since the original “Friday the 13th.”  Note from this reviewer:  LOOK UNDER THE BED BEFORE YOU HAVE SEX.

Tawny Amber Young finds herself in a rough spot.

Now, “Bloody Wedding” isn’t necessarily the scariest horror film ever made and that’s just fine.  It does utilize a number of slasher clichés, but they are easily forgivable due to the tongue-and-cheek nature of this movie.  It knows exactly what it is and doesn’t have to apologize for it.  “Bloody Wedding” is the sickest, sexiest and goriest wedding you’ll ever attend. Just one look at the remarkably attractive wedding party, and you’ll send in your RSVP faster than you can say, “I do.”

But while the actors are undoubtedly good-looking, don’t write them off as your typical “all beauty, no brains” horror cast. Each character is developed and interesting, and there really aren’t any sore thumb performances whatsoever.

Marguerite Insolia and Mike Pfaff put up with the crude antics of Jordan Bates

Most notably, Jordan Bates as the hilarious and crude best-buddy Jim Swim is the glue that holds this cast together.  His ridiculous (and often improvised) one-liners are seriously hysterical and over-the-top.  “I’d go to war for those rocket tits!” was our personal favorite.   Mike Pfaff plays Jackson, the groom’s brother, in a genuine and believable way, and the chemistry he shares with Ryan Sulak certainly has an insidious nature at times.  Bombshells Pason and Tawney Amber Young are terrific bitches and it’s truly a pleasure to root against them.  Lastly, Kate Murdoch and Brad Coffey (the brother of the bride) are the heart of this story, and they do an amazing job getting you invested in these characters and showing their humanity in an otherwise inhumane setting.  Along with a stellar supporting cast, these performers clearly had their hearts in this project and made it a most memorable experience – we wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of these actors blow up in a major way given the right opportunity.  After all, don’t all the greats start in horror?

Writer/producers Patty Sharkey and Mike Merickel and director Robert Hoover have a lot to be proud of with this piece.  They set out to make an enjoyable horror film and they did just that.  While “Bloody Wedding” may not get a massive theatrical release, it certainly has the potential to be a cult favorite in no time at all.  Do yourself a favor and send your RSVP to “Bloody Wedding.”  This is one wedding that people are dying to attend, so don’t miss it!

Please visit “Bloody Wedding” on Facebook.  Also take a peek at Sharkey Films first feature “Homeless Joe.”  Music for “Bloody Wedding” was provided by Old Man Markley.

LA Horror Review: “The Funny Man” (web series)

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Lee (Ryan Reyes) is your average struggling comic.  He’s socially awkward and a recluse.  He has a hard time making relationships work.  He shows up to open mics and tells his best jokes— jokes that he may or may not have borrowed from other people…from recently murdered people, to be precise.

You see, Lee has a deep dark secret.  His twin brother is a murderous psychopath hell bent on hearing a good joke, and he isn’t afraid to kill to find it.  And that naturally causes a lot of problems for Lee, especially after he meets the beautiful and kind Rachel (Abby Wathen), who actually takes a liking to him.  Lee now must struggle to prevent her untimely demise at the hands of this masked killer, The Funny Man.

“The Funny Man” is a 10 episode horror web series written and directed by Jake Barsha and produced by Daily Motion, and it delivers.  Each episode ratchets up the body count and drives the story closer to its shocking conclusion.  It’s slick, gory and ultra creepy.  “The Funny Man” is no joke.

The series is led by actor Ryan Reyes who gives a subtle yet haunting performance as our disturbed comedian, Lee.  You’re not really sure what to make of him.  You like him, but you don’t want to.  You hate him, but you sympathize.  You want him to succeed, but fear what he’s going to do next.  It’s dynamite that will divide horror audiences into two factions: those who root for the victim and those who root for the killer.  And should it really be any other way?

Lee’s performance is complimented by a stellar ensemble cast of both up-and-coming actors as well as veterans of the genre alike.  Leslie Easterbrook (“The Devil’s Rejects,” “Halloween”) and David Fine add a wild card element to the series as the nosy neighbors, and, in near the end of the series, you can see exactly why these two have had such terrific careers so far in Hollywood. They really light it up when the time comes.  And while many of the other characters only survive for one or two episodes, you really get a feel for who each one is as a person.  “The Funny Man” looks like a web series, but plays like a feature film, creating characters you sincerely care about that all help drive the full story forward.  The body count in this show is high, but it never feels gratuitous.

Other notable successes of “The Funny Man” go to the stellar cinematography by Yuki Noguchi and the editing and directing by Jake Barsha.  It is masterfully lit and each frame carries a certain weight to it.  The editing is crisp and often adds to the scares, from quick flashes of horrific moments to long, dreadful sequences.  The overall pace of this show is quick, but thorough, enabling the viewer to see all of the bloody details.

At the end of the day, this is simply a terrific piece overall.  If you’re a fan of gory horror, watch this show.  If you’re a fan of psychological horror, watch this show.  If you’re a fan of horror in general, watch this show.  Who knows, you may even relate to “The Funny Man.”  After all, don’t we all like telling jokes?

Watch “The Funny Man”

LA Horror Presents: Timothy L. Raynor

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Timothy L. Raynor began his acting career as a fighter.  He started studying martial arts as a child and became a Master Level Instructor.  In the early 1980s, Raynor took the plunge into Hollywood, where he very quickly was able to put his skills into action.

“I got into live on stage fight scenes, you know, for demonstrations for Star Trek conventions and things like that— Sci-Fi conventions.  And a friend of mine said, ‘You know, why don’t you try your luck in Hollywood?’”  And that’s where Raynor met Jimmy Huston, the writer and director of the campus slasher, “Final Exam.”  Huston, looking for an actor with combat and weapons experience, asked Raynor to audition for the most important role in the film: the killer.

At the audition, Raynor immediately made an impact. “The night of the audition I come dressed in this three piece suit, this three pin striped suit, decked out.  And I’ve got all of my weapons,” Raynor told LAHorror.com.  And after showing the producers his skills, they only wanted more.

“I did everything I could, and Jimmy Huston comes up to me afterward and he goes, ‘Can you do anything else?’” Raynor recalled. “I also do a six-inch palm strike. I put up a telephone book up to some guys and I’ll do six-inch palm strike and knock em’ ten feet back. So that’s the only thing I could think of at the time.”

And Raynor demonstrated that strike on the largest guy in the room who, unknown to Raynor, just happened to be John Chambliss, one the films executive producers.  After the punishing blow to the chest that left Chambliss on the ground, the audition was over.  Two weeks later, Raynor got the part.

Aside from the camera time, Raynor choreographed each fight scene and murder, and after watching “Final Exam,” you can see a raw intensity in each kill.  In one scene, for instance, Raynor had to jump off a 14-foot plank onto his victim, a “groin busting” stunt that they luckily only had to do once.  In another, Raynor pulls a character out of a moving convertible top with one hand.  In one of the longer action sequences, Raynor battled actor Ralph Brown in the school gym that ended in Brown’s character’s death by weight machine strangulation.  That fight scene, which took only 20 minutes for Raynor to choreograph, received a standing ovation from the crew.  However it was during that scene that real death nearly crept onto the set of “Final Exam.”

The Killer strangles Wildman in "Final Exam"

“Well, there were some reporters there, that were from the local papers and that stuff–TV stations–and they were talking to me.  Jimmy wanted to do a close up of Ralph being thrown up against the machine…[Ralph] goes over; he wraps the chord around his throat himself.  He did it too many times.  He pulls himself out, they said “action,” he throws himself back against the weight machine and it tightens up–starts choking him…they think he’s acting!”

Luckily, Raynor noticed the unsupervised stunt in a nick of time, untied the unconscious actor and administered CPR.  Pretty nice move for a killer.

Now 30 years later, “Final Exam” has hit cult status and Raynor often receives autograph requests from horror enthusiasts (he signed our VHS copy himself).  And while Raynor is flattered by the attention, it is by no means his only claim to fame.  Raynor has appeared on multiple TV shows and films, including “The Sarah Conner Chronicles,”  “My Name Is Earl,” Animal Planet’s “Wildlife Wars” and played a different type of killer in the gangster film, “Drop Off.”  While auditioning for “Star Trek:  Enterprise,” Raynor met the love of his life and fellow actress, Tracey Kimball, who was working on the series.  They now frequent science fiction conventions and are currently in pre-production on two sci-fi series of their own.  Raynor most recently portrayed the character of Death in an upcoming short, “Deathwatch.”

Raynor as Death in "Deathwatch"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that bringing death is just in his nature…

For more on Timothy L. Raynor, please visit his IMDB page.  You can also get a peek into his new Sci-Fi series, “Praetorian,” here.