Halloween is the horror lover’s Christmas, and adding a daily countdown adds to the excitement and anticipation of this devilish day. Yes, it’s Halloween season, which means there are TONS of people watching horror flicks every day to get ready…and if you’re one of those people, then chances are you’ll have some Stephen King on your TV set at some point. And why would you have it any differently?!
Stephen King and Halloween go hand in hand, and CraveOnline and ShockTillYouDrop have unrolled their web series, “Kings of Horror,” to showcase just that. Every day in October, Crave’s William Bibbiani and Shock’s Ryan Turek are reviewing a different theatrically released Stephen King films, along with sharing awesome trivia and some great insight to the films. We’ve all seen “Carrie” and “The Shining,” but what about “Sleepwalkers”? Or “Graveyard Shift”? Or “The Dead Zone”? And lets not forget all of the glorious sequels! Bibbiani and Turek thoughtfully, humorously and horrifyingly break down all of your favorite classic Stephen King films and will continue to do so until Halloween! Glorious!
Who doesn’t like an awesome alien invasion movie? We don’t get many of them, but when we do, they usually involve F-16 fighter jets, massive explosions and hordes of flying saucers. But that’s not the case in “Exile” (formerly “The Sunderland Experiment”), a gruesome and thought provoking horror flick from Blatke Productions that was incredibly effective in all the best ways. I’m making a prediction: “Exile” will be very well received by fans of creepy, undeniably original and thought provoking science-fiction horror. This film was such a delightful surprise.
The story is anything but simple, and I’m almost hesitant to get too far into the actual plot. I honestly didn’t know much about this film when I saw it, and I feel like that only made it more enjoyable and shocking. I will say this quickly: the story revolves around young man named David (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow classmates in the small town of Sunderland. Also residing is the “Angel,” a ruthless and haunting creature who gives an ultimatum to every resident of Sunderland: worship and obey her to become blessed, or fall and become an outcast.
Sounds pretty far out, right?
Directors Sean Blau and Adam Petke assume that their audience is intelligent and open-minded and lets them experience the events in Sunderland just as the residents do. The world they created is nasty, scary and oddly believable, given the nature of cults and extreme religion in our societies nowadays. And maybe that’s what makes “Exile” so unique. This is without a doubt an alien vs. human style monster movie, however it never even gets close to touching the clichés that so often stick to that genre. And while there’s plenty of scares in “The Sunderland Experiment,” there’s also plenty of laughs and real human moments. Blau and Petke have made a thoughtful and dynamic film that also manages to push the boundaries of extreme horror.
And let’s talk about the horror. This movie is gory—super gory—and the Angel is seriously fucking creepy. Not only that, but from a technical perspective, this movie was seamless. There’s a wonderful blend of puppetry and special effects, enhanced by beautiful cinematography, a simple yet extremely detailed setting and sound design that is out of this world. When the Angel speaks, you can’t help but feel a crawling sensation up your spine, and I found myself to feel very invested in the characters while watching.
O’Brien steals the show as lead man David and gives an honest, endearing performance along side of the loveable and spunky Cassie (Katie Reed). It’s so nice to watch a horror movie where you actually root for the main characters, and these two lead a terrific ensemble. The townspeople of Sunderland were delightfully creepy, and kudos to voice actress Dennice Cisneros who is a powerful force throughout this film.
Looking at the small size of the cast and crew of this film, they’ve definitely accomplished something special. Rarely do you see small, indie horror films look, sound and feel this good. This film will undoubtably find its audience, and it really sticks with you. Keep your eyes peeled because you do not want to miss this.
“Zombie with a Shotgun.” That’s rolls off the tongue nicely, doesn’t it? I always like to see how people take the classic idea of flesh eating zombies and transform it into their own creation, and in this web series by Hilton Ariel Ruiz, not only is our main character a soon-to-be zombie, but he’s also got a motherfucking shotgun. Get it?
With four episodes released, “Zombie with a Shotgun” definitely sparked my interest by the quick pace and high drama. We start during the middle of some sort of flesh eating apocalypse, and our hero, Aaron (Braeden Baade), along with love, Rachel (Lynnea Molone), are trying desperately to survive, even though Aaron himself has been bitten by a member of the undead. The great thing about “Zombie with a Shotgun” is it starts right at all the good stuff – zombies, guns and of course the cruel battle against human nature. It’s a fun idea from Ruiz that has the potential to become a much larger story.
The episodes showcase our two protagonists nicely, and at times you wonder which one of them will emerge the story’s true hero. Each episode runs just about five minutes, and they do go quick. It will be fun to see our hero’s full transformation into a flesh-eating Zombie…with a shotgun, of course.
Ruiz will be releasing another 5-6 episodes and potentially a feature film down the road. We’ve posted the first two episodes here, so grab your twelve-gauge and pull the trigger!
Who doesn’t have nightmarish memories from high school? The mere thought about my 10-year high school reunion makes me nervous – not because I didn’t like my classmates or have any terrible regrets, but because you get to see how people change and after years, and who knows what kind of monsters people have become…
In Slasher Studios’ debut feature film, “Don’t Go to the Reunion,” the reunion of the 2004 class of Hamilton High is no different, however instead of awkward conversation and bad fruit punch – this 10-year reunion is MURDER. You see, the popular clique, led by the beautiful Erica Carpenter (Stephanie Leigh Rose), wasn’t exactly the nicest to a certain horror movie loving geek Scott Rantzen (Brady Simenson). After a high school prank goes terribly wrong, naturally destroying Scott’s life, someone is back for settle the score 10 years later at the special, invite-only, “A-list” class reunion…
It’s the classic set up for a 80s revenge slasher, which “Don’t Go to the Reunion” has no shame emulating. And why would it? In this day and age, we are bombarded with horror remakes, sequels and reboots. It seems like a lifetime ago that the golden age of slasher horror reigned supreme – and “Don’t Go to the Reunion” reminds us how great the campy slasher can really make us feel. This film is an unbelievable pleasure to watch, especially for its target audience: die-hard slasher movie junkies.
And for those less seasoned horror viewers – let me explain what “Don’t Go to the Reunion” can offer: amazing, tongue-in-cheek one-liners (such as “Out of my way, faggot!” and “Why did we ever come to this fucking reunion?!”), plenty of gratuitous sex and nudity, tons of red-herrings and most importantly buckets and buckets of GORE. “Don’t Go to the Reunion” is a serious blood bath!
Brandon (Matty Dorschner) warns that something is going very wrong at this reunion…
But sex and gore do not alone a terrific slasher make. “Don’t Go to the Reunion” features several terrific performances by some cool-as-ice actors. Most notably, the quiet and cautious Brandon (Matty Dorschner) and the mysterious new boyfriend David (Spencer Harlan) really shine and add a couple of layers of suspense and intrigue to this film. And who can’t love the beer guzzling brute Joe (Mike Goltz), who can be spotted frequently in this film slamming beers and trying to convince other people (and himself) that he’s not gay (you might remember him in a similar fashion in Slasher Studios awesome horror short, “Teddy”).
I think it’s safe to say that director Steve Goltz and writer Kevin Sommerfield have succeeded in what they’ve set out to do: create an enjoyable, gory slasher film which pays homage to the greats that came before it. Albeit a classic set up, it’s great to see original horror coming out of indie filmmakers to remind us of how thrilling the scene used to be, and still could be for that matter. The work of Goltz and Sommerfield will be a pleasure to watch in the future as their passion radiates in each shot of this film, lending to the sense that everybody was on board to get bloody, have fun and make a memorable, freaky and occasionally hilarious slasher romp. I’m not sure if I’ll go to my 10-year high school reunion next year, but “Don’t Go to the Reunion” is one event that you should definitely not skip!
As a true fan of everything horrific and nasty, I always enjoy getting to experience other peoples #nightmares. Twixt #Nightmares, a new horror website, calls for horror fans to post their creepiest photos to Instagram, Twitter and tumblr with the hashtag #nightmare in the hopes of creating “the most Twixted place on the web.” It’s pretty much the best kind of sensory overload of horror, monsters and carnage — all shared by users. It’s pretty gnarly, but be careful; it’s kind of addicting. Check it out especially if you need a fix of some awesome inspiration and enjoy creepy and bizarre horror.
The site’s background features images from “Twixt,” the latest film from Francis Ford Coppola. Yes, THAT Francis Ford Coppola. Check out the trailer below and keep your eyes peeled — it’s coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on July 23rd!
Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t it feel like there’s been a lot of seemingly unnecessary and frightening carnage happening in our world recently? It seems like every day we are hearing about another shooting, stabbing, bombing or general loss of innocence and life to people all over the world. And while it may feel like these tragedies happen in waves, they don’t. They’re happening all of the time and really always have been. Whether or not it’s in our nature to inflict pain is debatable, but the fact that we are fascinated, intrigued, curious and reflective of our ability to do so is not. Why else would people create grisly works of art? Why else would we create an entire genre dedicated to fear? And often pain? And often violence?
My fascination of horror probably began when yours did – as a very young child. The first films that truly inspired me, or rather the first character that I ever felt I could relate to, was Godzilla. Okay, that may seem a little silly, but as I child I would watch that radioactive monster destroying (or protecting) Tokyo and I’d be right there with him, blasting my radioactive breath all over my building blocks and imagining the shrieks of innocent civilians caught in my path. This is taking me back…
I’m getting carried away. Obviously, I’m much older now but throughout my years my love of fictional carnage has only grown, and now I get giddy at the thought of watching another helpless person cower in fear or fight for their life against a ruthless killer. Or ghost. Or monster. Or alien. It doesn’t matter; the seed was planted and it grew, but only relatively recently I began to think about how the real world is the original seed, the inspiration for these things I love so dearly. It begs the age-old question: does life imitate art or does art imitate life?
Everything worthwhile in this world has a price, and horror is no exception. Some of the most intriguing and entertaining horror has its roots in suffering. Without Ed Gein, we’d have no Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or Psycho, or countless other classic works of terror. Think about all of the art that was inspired by real life slashers Ted Bundy or Jack the Ripper. Hell, even Godzilla wouldn’t exist had we not dropped nuclear bombs on Japan. Horror is our real world fears manifested in our imaginations, and even the silliest horror or the campiest project has it’s roots in real life horror.
And maybe that’s why it’s so alluring. We watch these images of horror, listen to sounds of suffering and dream of mass destruction because it gives us fear, and reminds us that we could be next at any moment. After all, we’re all going to die someday and rarely do people have any say in how they go. And in a world full of real life horror, it will catch up with some people. So enjoy it while you can, horror lovers, because before you know it you could be next…
Be safe out there, and thanks for checking out LAHorror.com.
“Dead Inside” is an interesting little horror film with a fresh perspective and a brooding sense of atmosphere. This happens to be the film’s strong suit as it more than compliments the film’s jump scares. Often, it overshadows them. The film centers on a group of party-goers haunted by their impending doom and provides a healthy dose of supernatural goings-on while maintaining an overall ambiguity.
The film introduces Sarah (Hannah Ward AKA Lala Hensely), a quiet girl raging war with her inner demons. When those demons come to light, bad things happen. There are a few good ideas here and a few questionable ones, but all in all, the film just does things differently. Popular high school students crash Sarah’s house expecting a party and she timidly agrees to play host. The setup is seemingly “outcast versus the world,” but much of the scorn and bullying associated with this dynamic is substituted for indifference and, occasionally, sympathy. It’s a pleasant turn from the norm.
While the characters are treated to a decent amount of development, the soap opera dramatics to which the film often deviates take “Dead Inside” down a notch. The actors handle the material well, though, and Lala Hensely is superb as Sarah. It may not be a showcase of her range, but what she does deliver is genuine. There is a standout moment on a staircase where she turns to her friends and shares an ominous message. It is terrifically creepy and a highlight of the film.
Another interesting layer to this film is its refusal to designate a threat. There is most certainly a threat present, but it is tantalizingly mysterious. Any sense of villainy is juggled between all characters and the supernatural aspects of the story are kept in the dark. I mean that literally and metaphorically, but it is the former that may actually work against the film.
Sarah has some serious issues in “Dead Inside…”
“Dead Inside” is shot well throughout and makes expert use of shadows and silhouettes. It is a dark vision and a justified representation of Sarah’s dismal outlook. However, it is at times too dark. On a practical level, a few key shots are so underexposed that they obscure all information. However, it is not without its qualities. Director Pearry Teo carefully treads a line that aims to only hint at things unseen. It may not always be the perfect execution but it is always scary. After all, that is the wonderful, alluring thing about the dark.
Teo has a good eye for creepiness and an acute handle on suspense. The soundtrack is minimal but effective, especially the soft lullaby that opens the film and revisits us throughout. With elements of “Carrie” and “Identity,” this film is a slow burner worth seeking out. If you’re looking for an eerie supernatural drama or if you have any appreciation for dark irony, “Dead Inside” is for you.
Finding a job these days is tough, especially one that actually pays the bills. The search could even be described as a “true horror story” for some; even if you do land an interview, often you can get beat out by a more qualified candidate. Frank Merle, the writer and director of the new horror thriller, “The Employer,” takes this idea to a whole new level: in this interview, you either get the job or die…
It’s a now classic set-up. Five strangers wake up in a locked room. Before long, they realize they have something in common: they have all recently interviewed for a position at the mysterious Carcharias Corporation, and today is supposed to be their final interview. Unbeknownst to them, The Employer (Malcolm McDowell) has a very sinister way of choosing the perfect candidate for the job. You see, at Carcharias Corporation, having a well-rounded resume is only half the battle. What’s the other half? It’s killing the competition before they kill you first. Last one standing gets the job of their dreams…
The great part about a film like “The Employer” is that it takes a familiar premise and gives it its own unique and rather intelligent spin. Yes, pitting people against each other in a locked room has created some pretty grisly horror films, but “The Employer” isn’t about the gore; it’s about the characters. Merle creates a group of very fleshed out young professionals who have every reason in the world to try to get ahead. It’s more fun to get to know the characters first before they’re brutally murdered as opposed to watching strangers get hacked up; it makes for a much more satisfying viewing experience.
But while Merle crafts characters who are undoubtedly justified in their reasons to despise each other, he also brings out strong performances by five very talented actors. The scenarios he sets up for these interviewees are amplified by their terrific performances. Everyone brings something to the table, and everyone has a secret.
James, played by David Dastmalchian, is our Everyman and is wonderfully naïve and hopeful that in this terrifying scenario maybe, just maybe, nobody has to die. It really feels like at any moment Dastmalchian could break out and become a recognizable face for frequent moviegoers, and a film like “The Employer” certainly allows him to show some great range. Opposite him is the beautiful Paige Howard who plays the kind and caring Sandra. It’s hard not to root for these two; their chemistry is strong, especially when the going gets tough.
Mike (Matthew Willig) tries to silence the trash talking Keith (Michael DeLorenzo) much to the horror of the level headed Sandra (Paige Howard)
Juxtaposed against this optimistic, seemingly level-headed pair are our other three captives: the sexy and ass-kicking Billie (Katerina Mikailenko), the bruising and massive Mike (Matthew Willig) and the loudmouth Kieth (Michael DeLorenzo). Five very different people in one nightmarish interview, “The Employer” creates a tense and unnerving experience that gets to be a real free for all with plenty of twists to keep you guessing who’s going to get the job.
Which brings us to our last and most important piece of this puzzle: The Employer himself, Malcolm McDowell. As the puppet master of this whole scheme, it’s extremely fun to see The Employer get inside of the heads of these characters and find out exactly what makes them tick. It’s always fun to see McDowell play a bad guy, but in “The Employer” he’s even more dementedly charming than usual. Every time McDowell is on the screen he steals the show, which is understandable given his ultra-talent. He embodies the mission of the Carcharias Corporation and adds a level of mystery and intrigue that we can only hope for a sequel (or two) to expand upon.
Only The Employer knows the secrets of the Carcharias Corporation…
And maybe that’s the real reason this movie was so enjoyable: the fact that it asks more questions than it answers. While Merle’s intentions for making this film are unknown, “The Employer” raises a lot of questions not only about its own reality but also our own, and frequently plays with moral questions that we deal with on a daily basis. How often do we see people doing anything to get ahead of the competition, or a massive corporation treating its employees like pawns in its own sinister game? Merle has created a film that is modern, violent and full of nasty twists, “The Employer” grabs you and won’t let you go.
Lastly I’ll leave you with this, the same thing that Merle told me before I watched the movie and the thing that probably intrigued me the most: at the end, only one person walks out of that room alive…
Does life imitate art or does art imitate life? It’s a tricky question, especially when you apply it to the world of horror, given all of the atrocities that happen on a daily basis all over the world. Director Edward Payson‘s “The Cohasset Snuff Film” blends the fictional world and the real world together, giving us an up close and personal look into the mind of a serial killer in a chilling way. At times, it’s hard to determine if what you are watching is real or merely the fantasy of a couple of disturbed but talented filmmakers.
“The Cohasset Snuff Film” is real, or so they say. The film begins with a pair of documentarians as they uncover the secret tapes of Cohasset, Massachusettes best kept secret: serial killer Colin Mason. You see, Mason killed three girls in 2009 and had the good sense to get it all on camera. In a quest for infamy, Mason compiles a series of video diaries plotting, and executing, his plans for inflicting pain and torture. Now you can see the footage for yourself in every horrifying detail.
This film is a tender reminder of just how fucked up this world really is. With murder sprees and serial killers seemingly popping up all the time these days, this film feels relevant. And this is certainly one that will attract the morbid curiosity of both experienced and novice horror viewers. And when I say novice, I mean the kinda of kids that sneak horror movies into their slumber parties, that watch them when their parents aren’t watching or don’t know. I say that because the killer in this film is in high school, and what sort of normal adolescent hasn’t fantasized about murder at one time or another? This film will no doubt be a dirty little secret for many viewers.
But while the idea of this movie hits close to home, our lead character is a little harder to sympathize with. I always like rooting for a killer. It’s fun and makes you feel a little guilty. Yet, the one thing I felt was missing from this film was a strong motive for this killing spree, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Colin Mason is obviously resentful of his fellow humans for the typical reasons – being ignored, abused and picked on, however we never really see any of that on film. While we do learn about the human side of our killer through classmate interviews, psychology studies and the police reports, the face to face time with Mason is long past his days of being “normal.” It’s less of a descent into madness as it is being just thrown into the mix right before shit goes down—and shit does go down.
The great thing about “The Cohasset Snuff Film” is its raw intensity. There are no jump scares or cheesy twists. This film is grounded in reality and the murders are real. Some mad props go to these actors who certainly had trust in director Edward Payson and believed in this project. Their trust will no doubt be rewarded as this film will certainly be getting some pretty big attention in the near future. I say that with no hesitation, because this film has all of the right pieces to be an underground hit.
On a hilarious side note, supposedly some people in Cohasset, Massachusettes are pretty upset that this film has been made. Now, why they are upset is up for debate. Maybe they don’t want their town to have a bad reputation, or maybe they just don’t want to be associated with something as nasty as “The Cohasset Snuff Film.” Or maybe, just maybe, there’s a little more truth to this film than originally thought. That’s why I recommend you check it out and decide for yourself.
If you are living in the Los Angeles area, the world premier of “The Cohasset Snuff Film” is fittingly this Halloween in North Hollywood. You can purchase your ticket here. If you’re not in the Los Angeles area, the film is beginning a self distributed theatrical run in limited cities. If you want to see this film in your area, then visit this page and demand to see “The Cohasset Snuff Film!”
LAHorror.com has previously interviewed director Edward Payson about this film and other horror projects. You can read that here. Be sure to check out “The Cohasset Snuff Film” on Facebook and Twitter.
We had to share this – this is a pretty good spoof on the classic song “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You” by Gloria Estefan. Don’t know it?? Check it here. But for all of you gore hounds that love and adore and cherish and appreciate the amazing music by Gloria Estefan as much as we do here at LAHorror.com, you’ll certainly enjoy this:
LAHorror.com 