playwithdeath.com

Zombies: A Living History of the Undead

Edward B. Abbott — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:56:32 +0000

Why are people so afraid of zombies and what would happen if there were really a zombie apocalypse? These questions and more are discussed in a 90-minute documentary special titled “Zombies: A Living History” by the A&E Television Networks’ History.com.

Zombies traces the history of zombie-like creatures in folklore, literature and entertainment to as far back as the Epic of Gilgamesh, and explores their relation to other undead creatures from various legends and mythologies, including the Scandinavian “Drauger,” which was said to be a person who comes back from the dead as an unstoppable, savage zombie with a craving for human flesh.

Also covered is the difference between the traditional Haitian zombie, a person whose mind is controlled by voodoo, and the modern, post-apocalyptic zombie, made famous by George Romero’s 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, that is typically created by exposure to some type of virus.

Zombies links the fear of zombies to a fear of cannibalism, deadly plagues, tinkering with science, biological warfare, and mind-altering conditions that can be caused by eating diseased meat. It also draws a correlation between stories of the undead becoming more popular during stressful times in history when societies face unknown threats that they don’t know how to deal with, citing that more than half of all zombie movies were made after the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Zombies notes how burial ceremonies and rituals throughout history were inspired by the desire to prevent the dead from coming back and harming the living.

The video also includes several segments on how to successfully fend off a zombie with various fighting techniques and weapons, such as swords, maces and crowbars, and covers various supplies and strategies needed for surviving a zombie apocalypse.

In spite of what some might consider a farfetched topic, the documentary takes an earnest approach to the subject matter and is presented in the same analytical fashion as any subject that might be covered by History, including interviews with authors, anthropologists, and even a U.S. Assistant Surgeon General.

A zombie-hunting organization known as Zombie Squad is also featured. With chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, the organization focuses on providing people training for surviving a zombie apocalypse.

According to the Zombie Squad website, “When the zombie removal business is slow, we focus our efforts towards educating ourselves and our community about the importance of disaster preparation. If you are prepared for zombies, you’re prepared for anything. To satisfy this goal we host disaster relief charity fundraisers, disaster preparation seminars and volunteer our time towards emergency response agencies.”

The Zombies documentary highlights how part of the Zombie Squad’s agenda is to teach people that they are more likely to survive catastrophic events by forming communities that work together for survival rather than trying to survive as individuals.

The full Zombies documentary can be viewed for free online at History.com or through the link below.

http://www.history.com/videos/zombies#zombies

Urban Legends: Humans Can Lick Too

Jess Barrett — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:13:25 +0000

Ugh, even the title gives me the heebie-jeebies. Also known as “The Licked Hand” or “The Doggy Lick”, this classic creep-out myth has been causing kids and grown adults alike to do the run n’ jump into bed for decades. This tall tale has nestled itself comfortably in popular culture as well, appearing in television shows such as Supernatural and a personal favorite book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The minds behind the Urban Legends Trilogy loved it so much that they used it two different ways in the second and third installations. All right! Let’s get to the story already!

A girl is home alone and happens to hear a report on the radio about a serial killer on the loose. Her mind somewhat at ease knowing that her devoted dog would be at her side throughout the night. Still, she went around the house and locked every last window and door; her loyal pup keeping pace every step of the way. It was close to bedtime anyway so she chose to wash up for bed and maybe read for a while. Her dog sat patiently outside of the bathroom until she emerged ready for some rest. She crawled into bed while her dutiful pal scurried under it to curl up in a pile of perpetually dirty laundry. As she did every night, she let her arm fall off the side the bed right above the mutt’s sleeping place so that he could offer a supportive lick. She turned off the lights; it just wasn’t a night for reading. She fell asleep almost instantly.

A few hours later she was torn out of sleep by a persistent dripping sound. Still foggy from sleep with echoes of escaped serial killers drifting through her mind, she merely pulled the covers over her head and tried to go back to sleep. For an extra dose of security she put her hand below the bed and felt the soft wet licks of her furry friend.

The dripping sound continues on but the calm consistency of the pup’s warm breath and reassuring licks to her hand keep the girl calm until eventually she falls asleep once again.

The next morning she awakes to her horror that the maddening drip, drip, drip, throughout the night was the blood pouring out of her precious dog which had been hung in her doorway and gutted. On the wall written in the dog’s blood reads the phrase “humans can lick too”.

Other versions involve a baby sitter or a man hiking with his dog. Another variation stars a blind old woman and her dog that must be weary of an escaped animal. Their story ends with the dog nailed to the ceiling and the storyteller poising the question “So what was licking her hand?”

Somehow there is yet still another portrayal where the dog is not the only victim and the killer slaughters the girl’s parents. After she discovers their mangled bodies it is a cat and mouse game throughout the house in the dark of night. This seems like it may be a better fit for a film adaptation.

Given the various spins it is no wonder this oral fixation work of fiction has such a presence in culture today. Aside from being featured in cinematic movies, numerous fans have taken it upon themselves to create their own short web renditions. A favorite seems to be by ScaryforKids.com, which is probably due to its G rated nature. One simple search will return copious folklore enthusiast short films, ranging from delightful to deranged based around the notorious narrative of “Humans Can Lick Too”.

Make up Tutorial 3: Bruises & Scrapes

Jess Barrett — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:35:20 +0000

So you’ve made your blood! What to do with it aside from splatter it everywhere, right? That’s fun but gets old pretty quick. If you have been diligent and read the previous tutorial (A Brief Education in Make Up Application) you should have a good grasp on the process.

First, we will start with bruises and you will need this stuff:
2 tones of creme foundation
Creme hi-lite (light concealer)
Bruise colors
Setting powder
Make up sponges
Large make up brush
Palette
Stipple sponge
Thickened blood

Now, if you don’t have a model to torture…um I mean practice on, then find a spot on your own body; make sure it is a place you can easily see. For example, I am using my extremely boney knee because not only have I had numerous bruises there (be nice) but also because I can see the entire area. This is my obnoxiously pointy knee all clean, shaved and ready to get beat up. I’ve been meaning to speak with it about that…

OK! Ready? Let’s go. Use the ripped edge of your make up sponge to apply the creme foundation until blended with the surrounding skin. You are using downward swiping motions and dipping from foundation you have scraped onto the palette, RIGHT? Awesome. Pick up a new sponge and using the red color, stipple (lightly dab) an amorphous splotch; this will be the center color of your bruise. I went a little big at first but that is okay because we are working from the inside out. A separate sponge with some foundation can be used as an eraser should you need.

Next, using a new sponge of course, stipple and blend the light purple in a circle around the red blob. If you went too big like I did simply make the circle on top of the red, starting close to the center and dragging the sponge out. If the sponge is frustrating you (it is to me) just use your fingers to blend the colors once applied to the skin. Wash your hands first, please. It’s not a bad idea to keep hand sanitizer near by if you travel this route.

Do the same thing again with the dark purple/blue. You can see here how I used my “eraser” to make my bruise smaller and more blotchy. My personal style creates light bruises for the most part. Do not feel as though your bruises have to look the same way!

Starting to look pretty painful, isn’t it? You only have a few finishing touches to add now, then you’ll be ready to freak out your friends and family. So take the yellow and dab in three places on the circumference of your bruise. Always remember the rule of three, things just look better in threes. If your bruise is fresh then the yellow is not necessary as it is usually a sign of healing. An old bruise can be almost entirely yellow, light brown or an olive green.

Now, using a small part of the sponge or your fingertip and the hi-lite concealer tap a small dot at the very center of your bruise. This creates depth and shows the point of impact that caused the bruise. When you are satisfied, finish it off by lightly dusting the complete work area with the large brush and setting powder. Congrats, you have achieved your first special make up effect.

Unless, of course you wanted to add some blood in there. Why the hell not? To make this into a scrape, simply dip your stipple sponge into the thickened blood, then press and drag against the skin. Always consider how the injury occurred; the direction I pulled my sponge makes it look as though I fell forward.

As a beginner think small and remember that even a minor head laceration can still pump out a surprising amount of the red stuff. It’s difficult to make anything dramatic without the aid of wax or latex. Don’t panic my pets; we will get to that soon enough.

Aaah! Zombies! Movie Review

Skot Six — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:07:23 +0000

Director: Mathew Kohnen
Date: 2007

I was searching for something a little outside the box…

Okay, #1 I have been a fan of zombies for a long time, and I still have a warm (or maybe cold) place my heart for them. But they are getting a little too popular now, and beginning to be too popular to like, if you know what I mean. I’m getting a little bored with them.

So I was trying to find something about zombies…with a twist. And I found it!!

This movie is only for those of you who like lots and lots of comedy in your horror.

Did mention lots?

I must say, this really threw me for a loop, even the Netflix description didn’t prepare me for what the movie was actually about.

Four friends eat some extremely green dairy treats and turn into zombies, but they don’t know it. This is no spoiler, its in the IMDB description. But what they don’t tell you is the whole movie is from their perspective, and they act like normal people…but the rest of the world sees them for what they really are.

I think this is a very original and funny take on the zombie movie, where zombies get to play the lead roles…hell, in this one they even get dialogue. FUNNY dialogue at that.

This is obviously a spoof movie, so things like the sound track are obviously just fit into the mold like they are supposed to. Right with acting and plot, don’t expect a whole lot of that. With a couple of really cool exceptions. “Take the Skinheads Bowling” was unexpected and fun to hear and added a very nice slice of nostalgia.

I laughed out loud , full on “LOL’d” quite a few times in this movie.

It has a really cool 50′s feel to it, which is always fun. A couple of big time C-list actors lends a little credit to this indie film.

There’s not much in the way of gore, and most of the time the zombies don’t look like zombies and in a way, it’s almost a love story.

Ultimately I enjoyed this movie very much, it was funny and well written and directed the “Kohnen” brothers (Mathew and Sean) and they even showed up in cameos as “Mr. Handy” and “Hand job.” You’ll get it when you watch the movie.

It had a very well written story, and surprised me with its witty cinematography. Bouncing from black and white to color to make sure you know whose perspective you are seeing it from.

The acting was bad when it was supposed to be, and I liked all the main characters.

This is a fun movie if you are looking for laughs with some blood mixed in for good measure. Watch this movie.

Zombies are people too!!

I give it 3 out of 5 blood drops

Arizona Man Found Guilty of Stabbing Mother’s Face, Hiding Body

Jen McEntire — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:00:40 +0000

Peoria man Dominic Chagolla has been found guilty for the 2010 murder of his mother who he stabbed to death and then made sure to clean up his mess like any good mama’s boy should.

Chagolla was given the title mama’s boy after the New Times obtained detailed documents of the case. The lifestyle of a couch surfin’, coddled, and catered-to little wienie must have gotten to him,cause mama just had to go, Norman Bates style.

This unfortunate mother, who was found in her SUV in early December 2010, was named Maria Chagolla, aged 50. She was reported missing a few days after the murder. The search ended when police found her body concealed under a blanket in the back seat. She was reported to have multiple stab wounds to the face and the sicko even went so far as to use the weapon on her eyes as well.

Underneath Maria, police had said, was a bloodied silver colored knife that happened to match the set in the house that mother and son shared. The family began to question Dominic when Maria didn’t come home after dropping her son off at the park. Court documents stated that family members did admit he became evasive when asked about Maria.

Dominic, who was financially supported by his mom, had no job because “his mother gets him whatever he needs”, according to court documents.

Two workers in the area claim to have saw Chagolla walking down the street carrying a black duffel bag. He then hopped a fence and headed back the way he came, minus the bag. The bag was later found by the workmen inside a trash bin full of bloody clothes which Chagolla of course, claim to be his.

Glendale police arrested Dominic Chagolla, 32, on charges of first-degree murder and the concealment of a body. He pleaded not guilty in January 2011 and is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on July 29th. His priors include: assault, criminal damage, and possessing tools used in a burglary.

It looks as if Dominic is finally getting his just desserts and this time, it’s not mama’s chocolate cream pie.

Urban Legends: Farmer John’s Meat Packing Plant

Jess Barrett — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:52 +0000

Located in Tuscan, Arizona, Farmer John’s meat packing plant has been the stuff of ghostly invention since the sixties. While dilapidated it was often an attraction to many urban spelunkers, photographers and graffiti artists. One can only assume this is due to the ominous aura it exudes as defunct animal murder house.

According to local lore, more than critters in line to be BBQ fodder lost their lives at good ole Farmer John’s. In 1964 it is rumored that the factory shut down after the children of owner Warren James suspiciously went missing. The nanny, Miss Stiles, brought Sarah and Nelson by to see their father and left them in his office for only a moment but when she returned they were gone. Mr. James immediately shut down production and searched frantically for them throughout the building before contacting police. A week passed with no sign of the little ones.

Eventually there was foul play suspected and a warrant was issued to search the establishment. Regrettably, the search turned up human remains in the cutting and processing rooms leading officials to the James children’s mentally unstable uncle. They suspected him of hacking the wee tykes to bits and cramming the chunklets through a meat grinder. Of course a recall was passed at once with the given reason “meat contaminants, human in nature” and people promptly began spewing profusely (I don’t know about the vomit, maybe some were pleased they could cross off “try people meat” from their bucket list without upsetting anyone).

Although their bodies were never found Sarah and Nelson Warren were officially declared dead. Unfortunately, the madness drove their father to commit suicide in the boiler room of all places. The drama picks up again ten years later when new owners contacted police about trespassers in the facility; a little girl and little boy had been seen running around. Matters only became worse when frightened employees persistently reported seeing an adult man tossing two kids into a meat grinder then vanishing. It is said that twenty years later, in the same place that Warren James took his own life, the body of the deranged uncle was found hung with the words “I killed them” carved into his chest. As if there wasn’t enough meat to this feature, the legend goes on to claim that every October the ghosts of the kiddies can been seen running throughout the building and on the 31st the figures of two men appear in the boiler room.

Over the years the Tuscan tradition of scaring the pants off of youngsters with the horrid tale of Farmer John’s meat packing plant has not only continued but has escalated to awesome proportions. It would seem simply re-telling the tragedy wasn’t enough anymore so in a fantastic embrace of the factory’s rich and ghastly history, it is open to the public as a haunted house attraction by the Tuscan Screamers (who deserve some serious high-fives for their devotion).

Urban Legends: The Terrible Legend of Slender Man

Jen McEntire — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:45 +0000

There are legends and myths that have been around for centuries and have seared themselves into our minds and culture. Then there are those that have been brought to life by way of modern technologies reminding us of nightmares that should have been buried and forgotten. One such legend is known through internet popularity as Slender man.

The creature known as Slender man is said to have the appearance of a tall, lanky man in a black suit. Not so scary, right? Just wait.

He towers at six to seven feet with unusually thin limbs. His face, if you can call it that, is featureless and white, though some say that it can morph into whatever you fear the most. His arms, however, can stretch out to grab his victims and bend in unnatural ways with long, talon-like fingers used to scratch at the windows of children. Yes that’s right. While he haunts everyone who has the misfortune to see him, he prefers to devour those that are 16 and younger. He is also said to have multiple arms sometimes seen as long tentacles used to ensnare whomever catches his eye, or should I say, the void where his face should be.

Slender man is a silent stalker that likes to hide in plain sight and is usually spotted in wooded areas where he could blend in amongst the trees and dark corners of the forest. When he finds his victim of choice, he follows them home and upon being seen through the window, can use a form of hypnosis that compels you to walk right into his spindly arms. Usually glimpsed at a distance, once he’s close enough to get a good look at, that’s when he slinks into your home appearing in dark hallways or blank t.v. screens.

American legend says that he was once a man who was tortured viciously, first being beaten with a log, then impaled with a 2 foot stick and hung from a tree with his arms and legs pulled from their sockets.

When captured, you will wake to find Slender man standing above you. He will ask one question and if you’re lucky and get it right, he breaks both your arms and legs. But if you are wrong, then he slowly sticks his fingers down your throat pulling out the heart. In circles on the internet Slender man is claimed to be the creation of a website called Somethingawful.com. Many say that this alone debunks the mysterious legend and closes the case on the creature’s fictitious existence. Well, not quite.

It appears that the Slender man myth goes back a lot farther than is claimed. He is based on something called Der Grossman, meaning “tall man”, which is the Germanic version. Legend says that children would site him in the Black Forest days before their disappearance. All that was left behind would be the mutilated remains of livestock and in a few cases, village inhabitants would be found several miles from their homes impaled on the higher branches of the trees.

A Romanian folktale tells of twin sisters Sorina and Stela that were led out into the woods one day by their mother. They could see Der Grossman close by, waiting dressed as a nobleman, his arms boneless as snakes and sharp as swords. The mother, under the order of the creature, told her daughter Stela to cut a circle in the ground with a knife and have Sorina lay down in the middle to be cut open. Stela refused and ran home to hide under her bed. When their father returned home, his terrified daughter told him what had transpired and he then went into the forest to track down the twins’ mother. The girl fell asleep to be awakened by a knock on the door. “Open the door, it’s your father,” a voice said. The girl refused. “Open the door it’s your mother,” the voice continued. Upon refusing once again, the door flew open to reveal the horrible sight of her mother holding the severed head of her sister Sorina in one hand and the head of her father in the other. “Why?” cried Stela. “Because,” said her mother, “there is no reward for goodness in this world, nothing but cold steel teeth and scourging fire for all of us. And it’s coming for you now.” At that moment, Der Grossman, or Slender man, slid from the fireplace clenching the surviving twin in his burning embrace. And that was the end of her.

Internet fiction or not, Slender man indeed has horrifying origins and lore from the old world. What makes this myth so fearful is the fact that to this day, people are still questioning the existence of this humanoid creature. Websites flooded with people claiming to have had sightings of him especially those that live near wooded areas. Even more terrifying is that he has been known to imitate the voice of a human calling out your name in the dark. And it seems that the more you talk about or research Slender man, the more likely you are to encounter him bringing life to a supposed legend.

All I can say is. now I have a new reason to be afraid of the dark.

“My Soul to Take” Review

Rev. Tommy B — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:27:35 +0000

Director: Wes Craven
Date: 2010

The story of a killer getting killed then coming back to murder children years later has been used and abused through the years in the film industry. It seems to be the basis of most classic horror. When we take a look at the stories of Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, or Freddy Krueger there is a common thread, vengeance. “My Soul to Take” follows this same basic premise and adds a little twist to it.

Abel is a family man with a daughter and a pregnant wife who realizes his own secret, he has split personalities and one of them is a murderer. The murderer side warns Abel not to tell the police or he will kill his family. One fateful night, he calls his doctor to tell him of the murders only to realize he has killed his wife. Lost yet? No? Ok. Cops come, Abel goes crazy, all kinds of wild stuff ensues, then 7 kids are born at the same time as Abel dies. These 7 children are believed to possess the 7 souls that were trapped in Abel’s body. 16 years later, it’s Ripper Day and all the kids in town assemble for a party. What they don’t realize is, the ripper has and he is taking back the souls that once were his.

This film was actually pretty good. Not sure why this surprised me with Wes Craven at the helm. He has written, directed and produced a plethora of horror classics in everyone’s collection. This one was just kind of like the rest. He uses that same format, that of a killer coming back for the children, that has worked for years. You have a supernatural killer back from the dead but you don’t know if it’s him killing everyone, someone possessed by the evil spirit, or a side individual just doing it because they are pissed. Some twists and turns do keep you guessing and re-guessing.

The down side of this film is it’s basically a combination of scream and Friday the 13th. Reusing the same story line leave the film a tad predictable and left me wanting a bit more back story. It definitely was not a waste of time and I do recommend it to folks that love the generic horror of the 70′s and 80′s. Just don’t get your hopes too high with this one. And remember that the California Condor is an amazing creature, frog shirts and cardigans are in, and if you think there might be a killer on the loose do not travel in the creepy woods.

3 blood drops

Urban Legends: Icky Envelopes

Jess Barrett — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:40:42 +0000

Sure, envelope glue usually tastes quite awful, but is there a more disgusting reason to not run your tongue along that bitter-sweet, semi-sticky track of adhesive? I’m sure that description in itself has you drooling profusely. Well, drag a sleeve across your chin and brace yourself for these popular envelope glue hoaxes and myths.

Various e-mails from various envelope manufacturing company employees have circulated the internet, grossing out people by the thousands. Even I as a child remember a rumor floating around that there were spider eggs in envelope glue and I quickly switched to simply taping them shut. Other equally icky accounts include dead rats at the bottom of glue barrels and using dirty mop water to thin out batches that are gumming up the machinery. Several sites quote an Andy Hume, who claims to have been a print shop employee some 32 years ago, and says: “you wouldn’t believe the things that float around in those gum applicator trays. I haven’t licked an envelope for years!”

The most notorious tongue-retracting tale often centers around a woman working in a postal office. This tale is somewhat similar to the spider egg version I heard as a youngster, only knocked up a notch. The legend explains that for some unknown reason the woman licked all the envelopes and stamps at work one day instead of using a sponge. She unfortunately cut her tongue during the process and woke up the next day with a large lump in the same spot. Once she was examined and x-rays were taken by a doctor it became clear that the lump was a cockroach egg. As if that weren’t horrible enough, the saga continues on to say that when the doctor was about to remove it- a live cockroach crawled out! Because her tongue was warm and moist, it provided an excellent environment for the egg to hatch. Actually, I’m not quite sure which would be more gut churning; a spider or roach egg. I really would rather not have either one of them hatching anywhere near me, let alone in my mouth. Gag, cockroaches are large critters but spiders come in large numbers.

Actually, so do cockroaches- they lay their eggs in batches of 16-50 and store the them in larger cases. The cases are almost the size of a dried kidney bean (give or take) so hopefully somebody would notice that before slobbering their envelope shut. In any event, this disproves the popular post office legend of the woman and the roach egg. Still, I always think twice before licking an envelope and sometimes go for the tape. With options such as a damp sponge, self sealing envelopes and numerous other more creative tactics this rumor could easily continue until the end of snail mail as we know it. Short of inspecting all print shops and glue manufactures, we may never know the truth about the claims made by Mr. Hume and other supposed workers. The only danger I found relating to envelope or stamp glue is finely focused on the gluten intolerant; apparently there are trace amounts of gluten in some non-adhesive elements of the glue recipe.

Humanity’s Killing Machines: The Brazen Bull

Edward B. Abbott — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:53:47 +0000

The creativity and inventiveness of the human mind is not only evident in the centuries of fine art and music collected throughout history. It’s also evident in the devices and vast number of methods that mankind has created to destroy one another throughout the ages. Whether it’s killing one person accused of committing a crime or of being a witch, or slaughtering people en mass as an act of war or terrorism, humanity has turned killing into a sinister and macabre form of art. In this series, we will look at the kinds of devices created when mankind’s creativity and inventiveness are unleashed in combination with their tendency for insatiable bloodlust.

The Brazen Bull was a particularly unique combination of artistry and bloodlust that dates back to Sicily in the 6th century A.D. The bull sculptures were forged out of bronze or brass, and were reminiscent of the “golden calf” recorded in the Bible as having been used by the ancient Hebrews for idol worship while Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. The likeness of bulls is said to have been used in ancient worship and sacrificial rituals that date as far back as the stone age, but the Brazen Bulls weren’t worshiped as representations of any god. Instead, they were used as artistic barbecue grills for criminals, heretics, or anyone the local, sadistic authority wanted to see baked alive.

The statues were made hollow with an access door on the side or top. People were thrown in like living, human charcoals. Once the access door was closed, a fire was lit underneath the bull, heating it like a giant, cattle-shaped roasting pot over an open flame.

The person or people inside would die a slow, painful death from heat stroke, circulatory shock, thermal decomposition, or asphyxiation.

Mike McGeehin, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Environmental Hazards and Health Effects Program, described the effects of heat stroke on the human body in an article for Scientific American.

He said, “The systems in the human body that enable it to adapt to heat become overwhelmed. When a person is exposed to heat for a very long time, the first thing that shuts down is the ability to sweat. … When that shuts down, the body becomes very hot. Eventually that begins to affect the brain, and that’s when people begin to get confused and can lose consciousness. As the body temperature increases very rapidly, the central nervous system and circulatory system are impacted.”

In an article for Slate.com titled “How Does Heat Kill You,” writer Daniel Engber offers more details on the impact of prolonged heat on the human body.

He wrote, “Once your core gets above about 104 degrees, you’re in serious danger. High internal temperatures lead to increased pressure in your skull and decreased blood flow to your brain. Doctors diagnose heatstroke when the heat starts to affect your central nervous system. Damaged tissue may also enter your bloodstream and lead to kidney failure. Very high internal temperatures—like 120 degrees—can destroy the cells in your body through direct heat damage.”

“Elevated body temperature triggers chemical reactions in the cells of the body… highly active cells such as brain, intestinal and liver cells are at greatest risk for heat trauma,” wrote Stacy E. Smith for PawPrintsTheMagazine.com. “Most heat stroke victims are dehydrated as well, and their blood thickens to the point that the heart has severe stresses placed on it in trying to pump the abnormally thick blood through the blood vessels. In situations where the heat stroke victim has experienced a dangerously high body temperature for a length of time such that too many brain and other body cells have been damaged… death will result.”

It’s likely that death from heat stroke resulted within 10 to 15 minutes of their core body temperature rising above 104 degrees, leaving sufficient time for their flesh to begin scorching from the intense heat. Depending on what fuel was used to create the fire under the Brazen Bulls, the flames could have generated as much as 1000 degrees of heat, enough to burn away all flesh after a while, but not enough to cause disintegration of the skeletal remains.

To add an even more cruel and sadistic twist, the Brazen Bull was designed with a series of metal tubes that modified the sound of the screaming victim inside so that, from the outside, their screams sounded like the roar of an angry bull. And, if the condemned was being burned as entertainment for a banquet, incense was added to mask the smell of the person burning inside.

“Scream Park,” An 80′s Slasher Tribute.

Erin Stark — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:00:05 +0000

Remember slasher films? In the eighties, horror was squarely within the pulpy, tongue in cheek category; namely, there were victims and there were slashers. In other words-the higher the death count-the better. Unfortunately, contemporary horror films aren’t quite what they used to be-the slasher having gone the way of Dissociative disorders like “Hide and Seek” or creepy children like in “The Orphan”. That being said, any horror film promising eighties nostalgia has me chomping at the bit.

Luckily enough, one such film promises just that, and more. Scream Park, a forthcoming feature film from debut director Cary Hill isn’t well known-but it needs to be. Before you read on, actually, have a look at the “conceptual trailer” first.

If you’re wondering to yourself, “Hey did I just see Doug Bradley, from freaking Hellraiser, and without makeup!?” then yes, you are correct. And he isn’t the only eighties icon featured in the cast: Kevin ‘Ogre’ Ogilvie (REPO: the Genetic Opera, 2,001 Maniacs: Field of Screams, and the Devil’s Carnival) of industrial band and cult sensation Skinny Puppy stars as the main slasher-another masked villain to add to his resume.

In fact, it seems Scream Park was created as a love letter to eighties horror, right down to the bare bones of its retro plot; it highlights the story of a broken down amusement park that’s seen better days and is being shut down. The park’s owner, played by Bradley, makes a plan to sell more tickets by hiring a pair of killers to basically wreak havoc and murder people as an added attraction. And, some of his employees unfortunately get caught up in the mess, while hanging out in the park after hours.

As if all that weren’t exciting enough, the soundtrack is slated to feature “The Razorblade Dolls of Dallas, Texas”: a horror-punk group that started as a “social network recording project” in 2006, and grew to surprising success. Given that the band became famous for their graphic live shows, featuring such spectacles as, “mutilation with barbed wire” and “whips and chains”, I’m sure the score will be bloody enough to satisfy the sickest of slasher fans.

So, anyone out there tired of the manipulative world of contemporary horror should definitely check out Scream Park. In fact, you can even help contribute, by donating to their Kickstarter Campaign; those who donate will receive awesome film schwag like signed DVD’s or “a copy of the latest Skinny Puppy album signed by Ogre!” The more you donate, the more you get-which seems like a sweet deal to me. Here’s hoping Scream Park paves the way to the nostalgic 80s horror movement.

Woman Tries to Toss Child in Ocean After Claiming Him to Be Possessed

Jen McEntire — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:00:47 +0000

A Florida woman is faced with charges of child abuse after trying to toss her 3-month-old in the ocean claiming that he was possessed by demons. Lydia Chako, 39, is to appear in court after the incident happened around 2 p.m. last Tuesday.

According to reports, Chako’s property manager called the police after visiting her apartment and noticed that it was flooded. Upon entering, the manager said she saw the woman throwing objects around her living room and ranting about how her baby was covered in snakes and lizards.

Snakes and lizards you say? Surely that must mean there are demons afoot.

Chako explained that she was “keeping the demons out” and proceeded to pick up her child by the feet and flee to the sea wall outside the complex.

Officer Brian Tejera arrived on the scene just in time to witness the half naked woman who was wearing only a T-shirt, mumbling and pacing back and forth looking as if she was gonna throw the baby into Clearwater Harbor.

She said something about the baby being dirty, or both of them being dirty, Tejera recalled, and that they needed to be cleaned.

The police were fortunately able to distract Chako long enough to grab the baby with only a brief struggle. She made statements to detectives on scene that she was indeed trying to toss her little bundle of joy into the depths.

The strange thing about this story, besides the obvious, is the fact that her neighbors said they never saw her act out like this before. “I tell you that’s the God’s honest truth, no I didn’t,” said Martisha Kelly. “We’re all weird in our ways, you know, but she cherished that baby.”

The Department of Children and Families took the baby in custody and Lydia Chako was booked into the Pinellas County jail for child abuse. She is being held in observation and hopefully receiving a thorough examination while she’s there.

In Production Now: “Pot Zombies 2: More Pot, Less Plot”

Jeremiah Cress — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:50:24 +0000

Smoking pot and getting the munchies always go hand in hand. But what if instead of craving potato chips and candy bars, you start to crave brains and human flesh? Welcome to Justin Powers’ film “Pot Zombies 2: More Pot, Less Plot.”

This film is the sequel to the low-in-budget yet highly successful film “Pot Zombies” (available on Comcast on demand). Justin created his first film with a budget of just over $900. The only money spent was for cheap halloween make up, stuff to make fake blood, gasoline, guts and meat products, food, and weed. When we asked him about the first film he said that he never thought so many people would have an interest in seeing the film, and really only expected his friends and family to watch it. When he finally completed the film and got it out to an audience, which according to Justin took over two years thanks to having to reshoot several scenes, the response was definitely better than expected.

How “Pot Zombies” made it to its wide audience was a great surprise to Justin as well. One of his favorite directors, Lloyd Kaufman, was at the “Troma” booth during the 1st “Texas Frightmare” weekend where Justin was attending for the premier of “Pot Zombies,” and he put a DVD copy into Lloyd’s hand. A few days later Lloyd emailed him, letting Justin know that he had watched the film on the plane ride home and was interested in distributing the film through Troma. The rest is history.

Since then Justin has been focusing on his camera work, which he tells us he really enjoys, and has been a director of photography on films, commercials and music videos over the last few years. Recently he has wrapped principal photography on a feature comedy film called “Rockin’ Reverend” and is back to work on preproduction with “Pot Zombies 2 after editing a film he directed, “Hostility Hotel” with Duane Peters.

When asked about the script, Justin told us “The PZ2 script was written like 6 years ago and was just recently had a rewrite. I had a screenwriter friend write the movie….i just told him to make it fast paced and 100 times more over the top gore and sleaze than the last movie…and write the film with structure…still not plot….but a structured script. Like an insane “Pot Zombies” movie structured like Richard Rinklater’s “Slacker.”

He went on to tell us, “with PZ2: More Pot, Less Plot” we are making the film I wish the first PZ was but didn’t have the filmmaking knowledge and experience needed. We have such an incredible crew for this movie….it is going to look incredible and polished but be more insane than any movie you will see this year.”

Justin and his film partner Abel Berry have been running their music video company out of Crooked Path studios in Dallas. Award winning director of photography Richard A. Crook will be handling the shooting (using a Sony F3 for all you techies). Richard will also be taking over the color grading as well. Abel Berry (Devotion) will be doing digital effects and titles, and they have a team of audio engineers at the studio for the post sound.

For this project they wanted best make up gore effects in the world so they decided to bring in Marcus Koch (“100 Tears”, “Sweatshop”) of Oddtopsy FX. With him at the helm of make-up effects you know this gore is going to be incredible.

Justin and his crew have an indiegogo campaign to raise some funds for the new film with some really cool incentives for anyone who contributes, as well as a yard sale and a zombie girl bikini car wash. You gotta hand it to these guys when it comes to creativity. They’ll also be at “Texas Frightmare” next month so if you’re in the area be sure to stop by.

Check out their YouTube channel for production updates and a vlog for their bikini car wash.

Happy 420 everyone…just be careful what you’re smoking. You never know what that stuff is laced with.

Relaxation, Rejuvenation, Reanimation: Zombiessage!

Rev. Tommy B — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:54 +0000

Close your eyes and imagine… wait. Open them back up or you won’t be able to read this. Ok. Now just imagine you’ve been walking around a horror convention all day in your replica Predator costume with the shoulder laser that turns when you turn your head. You’ve picked up that rare Ash action figure to complete your collection, stood in line for 3 hours for Tony Todd’s autograph, and finally got the soft pretzel and soda for 20 bucks to quell the growl in your tummy. Now your back is hurting and all you want is something to relieve your aches and pains. You look around and spot an oasis where for a mere $10 per 5 minutes you can get a rub down from a zombie.

Zombissage is the combination of 20 years of zombie movies combined with 5 years as a licensed massage therapist. It was born when founder Erin____ haunted around the 2010 Horrorhound weekend in Cincinnati. “After walking around the con in high heeled boots all day dressed as Janine Melnitz from Ghostbusters, my legs were killing me. I looked around to see if there was a massage therapist booth. There wasn’t one.”

With Zombissage, Erin combines her two biggest passions in life, massage and zombies. Dressed in a pretty bad ass zombie costume, she utilizes a table instead of the typical chair. While this takes up more room it gives greater comfort and flexibility for those in costume. If needed, there is a regular chair to sit in as well. And just so you aren’t too scared, Erin only nibbles on flesh for the photo ops.

Upcoming Events to get a Zombissage:
Blood on the Beach VA
Fright Night Film Fest in KY
Days of the Dead III in IN
Horrorhound Weekend in IN

Look for Zombissage at your next horror convention or zombie walk.

Unexplained Creatures: El Chupacabra

Jen McEntire — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:11:30 +0000

Have you ever witnessed something you couldn’t explain, possibly an animal seeming to be outside of nature? Or perhaps you have heard stories of such creatures, the ones that loom in dark places at night leaving strange tracks on the ground and peering at you with glowing red eyes. Creatures that stalk humans and even terrorize communities, those that are outside the realm of science. They have been spotted and talked about since ancient times and are the source of nighttime terrors and the origins of many legends and myths from our culture and from around the world.

The monsters in which I speak are being classified as cryptids, a term describing them as unknown in the animal kingdom. This pseudoscience is known as cryptozoology, and while the term is fairly recent, these creatures of the skies, forests, and deep within our waters have been a part of alternative history for eons.

One such creature has been sighted in Puerto Rico and Mexico since the early ’90′s and has been known to tear through the local livestock. It’s name “El Chupacabra” literally meaning “goat-sucker” in Spanish. He was thusly named after farmers noticed small puncture wounds on the corpses of their animals. Some claim that the chupacabra’s eyes become glowing red when threatened, giving it the ability to hypnotize and stun it’s prey before it feasts.

Chupacabra’s have generally been described in two different ways. The first being a lizard-like animal with scaly skin, sharp spikes or quills running down it’s back, and a dog or panther like face with a forked tongue. It screeches when alarmed and leaves a sulfuric stench behind, causing witnesses to be nauseous. The second description being that of a creature standing about three or four feet tall, gray in color with an oversized head, having large black eyes and a big mouth full of sharp teeth, this one also emitting a sulfuric smell.

The first account to bring the “goat-sucker” to the media’s attention was in 1995 in Orocovis, a mountainous region of Puerto Rico where sheep, goats, cows, and chickens were slaughtered daily for two months. Many people claimed the creature had literally “sucked the insides out of it’s victims through the eye sockets.”

After that incident, many stores began to pop up in different areas. In 1996, a newspaper for Sweetwater, Florida reported that a chupacabra was sited west of downtown Miami when a woman said she saw an “inhuman thing” cross her property. That same year the evening news mentioned a story about a mysterious creature killing people’s pets in South Florida leaving behind the smell of sulfur.

In April 2006, MosNews reported that the chupacabras was spotted in Russia for the first time. Reports from Central Russia beginning in March 2005 tell of a beast that kills animals and sucks out their blood. Thirty-two turkeys were killed and drained overnight. Reports later came from neighboring villages when 30 sheep were found dead having been sucked dry of all their blood.

Theories about what this mysterious beast could be range from them being mythical creatures called gargoyles, to being alien in origin, or that it could possibly be a genetic experiment that got loose from a secret laboratory in El Yunique, a mountain on the east part of Puerto Rico near a military complex. Whatever the case, it certainly seems that the reign of this little bloodsucker is raging on and he’s still pretty hungry.

“Man Bites Dog”- Netflix Review

Skot Six — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:00:47 +0000

Directors: Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel
Date: September 1992
Language: French

Now there are several types of horror movies in this world, some to make you scream, some to disgust you, some to make you root for the bad guy, some even to make you laugh.

“Man Bites Dog” is a little bit of all of those. Ben is your average, run of the mill serial killer. Remy and Andre are the documentary crew following him around. Not only are they the writers, directors and producers, but they also use their own real first names.

I don’t think you can get any “darker comedy” than this — it’s even in black and white!

The script comes off very “spur of the moment”, almost improved sometimes, which really helps to add to the documentary feel of the film.

The original score written for the movie is well thought out, and fits the movie very well. It’s intense and subtle at the same time. It fits the live action film style very well.

Let me tell you, if there is anything on this planet that disturbs you, I’m sure it is in this movie, as Ben casually talks about how much weight it takes to sink a “midget” compared to a “child” and shows them all a drink he made up called a “dead baby boy”. He describes the subtlety and “craft,” the art of his work, and how to kill people the best way depending on who they are (old people, postmen, families, etc). Ben kills everyone he feels like however he feels like, and does whatever he feels like before he kills them. Then he will sit back and talk about classical music or politics

As the movie progresses the documentary crew gets more and more….involved, and the violence gets more and more chaotic and unexpected.

This was obviously an attempt to try hit all extremes possible in a slasher movie, and I have to say they even made me squirm in my seat once–just once, and that my friends is HARD TO DO.

The movie progresses like a roller coaster, as it goes from calm open conversation about murder in a pub to open murder in front of witnesses. I wont spoil how far the cast goes to try to make you squirm, but they do a damn good job! I think most of you will watch parts of it through your fingers.

If you like disturbing, upsetting, and boundary slasher horror movies that might also make you laugh, which I do, then you will have a blast watching this messed group of guys commit some messed up actions.

Now, I enjoyed this movie as it provided exactly what it promised. It’s an extremely dark comedy, or maybe its a slightly funny horror movie…the funny is there, but you have to be a sick fucker like myself to find some of the comedy funny. Either way it’s a gross/disturbing/fun ride, and NOT a movie you are soon to forget. And you might learn something about art, poetry and politics in the meantime.

4 blood drops.

Make-Up Tutorial #2: A Brief Education in Make-Up Application

Jess Barrett — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:48 +0000

Welcome to part two of our “movie make-up” tutorial.

It occurred to me that some of you may not be fluent in aesthetics lingo or may not even know what foundation is. If you do, bare with me for the sake of those who don’t. Feel free to comment with your own information as well! Everyone has a different way of doing things; certain methods work for some people and not others. I will be doing my best to explain the “professional” make up application procedure as I learned it at beauty school and special make-up effects school, as well as my own (sometimes weird) approach.

The easiest way to get started is to visit your local drug store to pick up some crème foundations, concealer, color correction concealer, and setting powder. If you cannot find these things, fxsupply.com and stagemakeuponline.com are great places to shop online and usually have wonderful starter kits by Ben Nye for a reasonable price. Also, get yourself a pack of wedge sponges and a basic set of make up brushes. When working with make up that is for professional use, it is wise to get a plastic palette and plastic spatulas. A make up artist does not double dip a brush or sponge in make up! By this I mean it is forbidden to dip the brush/sponge in the make up pot, put the brush/sponge on the face then put the brush/sponge back in the same (or other) pot again. This is gross and how bacteria spreads and you get a bad reputation. Think about this when you use those testers at the department store. They try to sanitize them when they can but that is why there are usually those little plastic things with the fuzzy end or mascara wands near by.

Okay, sorry, did not mean to go on a tirade about my personal pet peeves. Anyway, when working on a project that involves more colors than you have brushes, hand sanitizer and a paper towel can be used to clean brushes on the spot. After the sitting, brushes should be washed with shampoo and thoroughly dried after use to avoid the spread of bacteria. Brush cleaning solution can be found at beauty supply stores if you prefer that. You can also wash the sponges if you would like to reuse them, but unless you’re really pinching pennies it’s not worth the effort.

First-start the magic! Concealers are the best because they cover small discolorations in the skin. You can even use them to cover a tattoo. The skin tone concealer should be only slightly lighter than your base foundation and you probably found a color correction palette that has mint green, easter-egg yellow, lavender and maybe beige. Each of these colors is specially designed to neutralize color problems of the skin.

Here’s the quick and dirty:

Mint Green on red tones
Yellow to correct blue (bruises, veins…)
Lavender for yellow discolorations
Beige is used to conceal flaws and shadows

Notice anything? These colors are opposites on the color wheel and that is the definition of a neutralizing color. Now you know. So time for application with either a medium-small brush or a sponge. Start with a small amount and lightly dab the problem area with the corresponding color concealer and lightly blend into the skin tone.

Now, the foundation! Just like a house. (I’m sure your model is not a house). To find the color that best matches your model, find the three colors that best match their skin tone: 1 lighter, 1 darker and 1 closest to their skin tone. Don’t be afraid to mix shades together on your palette to achieve the perfect match. Each shade has a purpose-the light is a high light where the dark is a shadow. When you are working with light/shadow on a person, you should view their skin as the canvas. We will get into this further with old age and zombie make up. The best way to start this is by laying a base foundation over all skin that will be showing. Your base color will be the shade that best matches their skin tone (or whatever color you mostly want your model to be). Tear up the thin end of your sponge (this prevents the hard edges from leaving frustrating lines). Apply the foundation in a downward stroke, starting at the highest point that will be showing and working your way down. The motion should be a light, downward sweeping gesture. ¬Make sure you even cover the lips, eyelids and move down past the chin onto the neck when working on the face. If you apply the make up in an upward movement you will immediately see why that is a bad idea: all the fine, tiny hairs will be sticking up and be coated with make up causing your model to look like a real baby Sasquatch when under certain lights.

At this point, your model should be a nice flat colored canvas. This is where you would apply whatever beauty, monster, fantasy crazy ass make up you want. This is where you can manipulate light and shadow. We’re not going that far yet, but stay tuned. There are so many options it would be maddening for me to add details and tweaks to the process for every individual look. So, when you are finished with your look use the biggest, puffiest brush you have to lightly dust the setting powder over the work area of your model. This will prevent your work from getting greasy or smudged when your model with moving around. It’s often a good idea to tap the brush after dipping in the setting powder and before brushing on the face; this prevents over coating and causing a grainy effect.

Godspeed! Next will be cuts and bruises…try to contain yourselves.

Make-Up Tutorial #1: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Blood!

Jess Barrett — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:00:12 +0000

As a certified SFX artist, the question I’m most asked seems to be “How do I make a good fake blood?” It’s really quite easy but the thing that trips most people up is probably the food coloring. Those little egg shaped gnome things from the grocery store just wont do unless you can afford a lot of them. It’s much less aggravating (and cheaper) to hit your local crafts or kitchen supply store for some gel “icing” color. Although, if you can find powdered food coloring that stuff is crazy pigmented and great to have if you are going to be making several large batches.

While telling you what product to buy is nice, it’s useless if we don’t think about a few things first: Blood takes on various shades and consistencies. Blood oxidizes. It can clot. You don’t want to just buy red food coloring because your blood will end up looking like candy; make sure you get blue and yellow as well. For your standard 16oz corn syrup recipe, usually a 3:2:1 ratio will be good (3-red, 2-yellow, 1-blue) but it’s always different. With the gel or powdered food coloring 1/8 teaspoon=1 part, so on your first test batch use 3/8 tsp red, 2/8 tsp yellow and 1/8 tsp blue. However, you may also want it to be darker or lighter, so have fun and play with it. Go crazy go nuts.

Aside from the color, a blood’s consistency is also important to note as I kind of mentioned earlier. This is where some of you may use dish soap for the first time EVER. Just kidding.

Dish soap thins out corn syrup the way water just wont. (note: this recipe is NOT for in-the-mouth blood. Swallowing soap makes ya poop like crazy. Nobody wants that). Omit the dish soap in a separate batch and label if using for mouth blood. You could be a real pal and put a flavor in it, too. About a quarter sized dollop per 16oz corn syrup should do you right for your basic sticky, drippy blood. Or, add more to thin it out to your liking.

If you would like to thicken your blood, add some cornstarch as it is used as a culinary thickening agent for things such as gravies and pie filling.

Alright cats and kittens, have fun! Tune in next time for bruises and scrapes!

You WILL need:
1 bottle corn syrup
Food coloring (red, blue and yellow)
Dish soap (clear is best)

And always refrigerate your leftover blood!

“Zombie Apocalypse 2012″- Netflix Review

Skot Six — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:23:27 +0000

Director: Nick Lyon
Date: 2011 (t.v.)

Picture this, if you will. Zombies!

I know it’s hard to imagine. It’s easy if you try.
Zombies everywhere, very few humans left on Earth

They let you know right off in the opening that the human race is going down like a meteor crash. The VM2 virus was let loose upon mankind and it was goodbye for 90 percent of the people on Earth in a very short period of time. (The zombie virus is called VM2. V.M. are the initials of one of the writer’s fiancés).

A group of survivors comes out from hiding as the horror subsides and the dead have won. The living begin to try to make their way across the country to the island of Catalina off the cost of California

I noticed a lot a “shout outs” to other Zombie movies in the dialogue, which was pretty funny.
Keep your ears open for them. They have a catch phrase for every type of zombie kill. “Stop and Drop,” “Wheel and Deal,” etc. which was also pretty funny.

They also have a name for every type of Zombie, because they did cover the whole Zombie food chain and they had slow and fast Zombies. Usually a movie picks a side of that “fast zombie/slow zombie” debate and stays there.

Lots of gore but it was so bad looking so often it was hard to look past. I swear I saw the same zombies dying over and over again. There was this one rather large Zombie…… I swear she died like three times. Do you think being overweight affects how fast an undead can run?

We’ve all seen unlimited ammo in guns in Horror movies, this was the biggest caliber I’ve seen. .50 caliber machine gun with huge bullets. The actor is firing the gun and the bullets are just not feeding into the gun. And of course it had the usual double barrel shotguns shooting like 10 times.

I liked the actors, they kept me entertained. Ving Rhames was great as the big bad ass that he usually plays. Hammers are fun against the undead. Lesley-Ann Brandt, I remember her from Spartacus (By Jupiter’s Cock I loved that show!) played Cassie and she was great with a sword that never seemed to get any blood on it………ever. Gore never seemed to get on any of actors or weapons! I found myself saying: “Shouldn’t he be covered in blood after that? But he’s not.”

I wouldn’t say it was a total waste of time, if you are drunk and want to watch a lot of zombies go splat and don’t want to think too hard while watching it, this is a film for you. Maybe on in background at a party, because there’s a lot of action but a plot full of holes if you pay too close attention.

It was obvious the people who made this movie have seen a lot of zombie movies. If you ask me they should have watched their own movie more times before they said “ this is ready for release”.

2 blood drops

Edward’s Julia- The Trailer

Jeremiah Cress — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:00:57 +0000

Jody S. Dean of Sickafyed Films proves that you don’t need a monster-sized budget or A-list actors to make a horror film. All you need is a script, some talent, and a drive to entertain. His latest work, “Edward’s Julia” is a case-in-point.

Read the description of the below provided by the producer himself:

“The crazy comes out in Edward Yames, (Jody Dean) after finding out Julia, (Kelly Novinski), the woman he loves, is having an affair. When the relationship becomes fatal he finds himself falling apart and the voice of Julia threateningly haunting him.

After a strange visit from a young physic Sara Middlestone (Stephanie Walk), things start to get crazy. As Julia sends messages through her messenger, the only question is will the love of a new woman bring Edward back to normal or will the voice of Julia drive him off the edge before he has a chance to live a regular life once again?”

Here’s the trailer. Check it out, and when you’re done be sure to pay a visit to his website, Sickafyed Films.net and see the collection of trailers, photos and music beats they have for you to browse through.

Burton’s Dark Shadows Trailer Enrages Die-Hard Fans

Edward B. Abbott — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:48 +0000

If the fans of Dark Shadow were vampires themselves, the recently released trailer for Tim Burton’s upcoming remake of the classic soap opera would have been enough to drive a stake through their hearts.

Prior to the release of the trailer, fans were only treated to still images of a ghostly Johnny Deep in character as Barnabas Collins, the tragic and tortured character credited for making the original soap opera series a cult classic. But with the release of the trailer for Burton’s film, fans realized that Burton had done the unthinkable. He had taken their beloved Gothic tale of love and loss and turned it into a comedy.

While the original series, which ran from 1966-1971 on ABC, is now considered to be campy and melodramatic, creator Dan Curtis’s original take was intended to be dark, mysterious, and rarely ever intentionally funny. Even the short-lived NBC remake in 1991, starring Ben Cross as Barnabas, was initially able to attract viewers by turning Dark Shadows into a big budget series that focused on Gothic style, intense drama, and classic horror.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Seth Grahame-Smith, the film’s writer, said of the decision to make the film a comedy, “We wanted to have fun with it. We wanted it to be something that paid homage to the actual series, which was campy in its own right and very sincere. But we also wanted to make something that people would have fun seeing.”

Yet the trailer for Burton’s re-imagining still ignited a fury of scathing comments across the internet from die-hard Dark Shadows’ fans, some potentially more entertaining than the movie itself. Here’s a sampling of what the naysayers had to offer:

Willie Loomis on MTV.com: “I hope a real witch puts a spell on Tim Burton, then he will lose his hair and drop dead.”

LakeWobegon on MTV.com: “What crap. I’ve already seen this film a few times — it used to be called “Edward Scissorhands.” In a way I’m not too upset because no one could ever replace Jonathan Frid as Barnabas and the classic series will remain at the top and not be associated with Tim Burton’s crap. I also can’t stand Depp anyway.”

TerrieK on MTV.com: “I found it amusing but as an avid fan of the original series I would prefer they call it something other than Dark Shadow and not sully the character of Barnabas Collins with this cheap comedy version.”

Caedge on Reelz.com: “Dark Shadows done as an effing COMEDY!? Are they serious!? I was bitterly disappointed in the trailer. Making Barnabas into a buffoon… blasphemy! I will be boycotting this at the box office.”

Anonymous on Reelz.com: “I am insulted by this, I am a true fan of the show. When I saw the trailer I was so mad, then again what do you expect by that idiot Tim Burton! He has destroyed Dan Curtis’ classic. … I wouldn’t pay a dime to see this trash!”

Mistymoon1 on reelz.com: “All I can say is YUCK. I was excited about seeing the new Dark Shadows movie in May. After watching the trailer, I think I’ll pass. They ruined the movie. It’s garbage compared to the real thing.”

Erin Allice on MSNBC’s Facebook: “What a travesty that Tim Burton has wrought.. There is no way I can ever sit thought that movie… I’d say the cast of the TV show is prob rolling in their graves.. literally…. I can understand that a remake should not be an exact copy but this movie’s relation to the series is only … by the names of the characters and the show. Tim Burton would have been better off making this movie more in the style of Sleepy Hollow or Edward Scissorhands. …Michelle Pfeiffer’s Elizabeth does not stand up to Joan Bennett’s passionate Elizabeth who is hiding dark secrets but we sympathize with for trying to protect the Collins name and family. Or Jonathan Frid’s Barnabas Collins, the frightening but tragic vampire as he [struggles] with the death of Sarah, Josette and Naomi, but that eventually heroically saves the Collins over and over. …Tim Burton you have lost a fan in me sadly.”

Jay Rivera on MSNBC’s Facebook: “Disappointed. I was excited for this movie, but I didn’t expect a beloved show to be turned into a joke.”

Sue Haley on MSNBC’s Facebook: “This is not what Dark Shadows fans anticipated . . . love Depp but this looks like a waste of time. I will buy the MPI originals and enjoy [them] instead. Too bad I have waited for this one.”

Marlow Weaver on MSNBC’s Facebook: “I hate it! It starts out so well then its turned into a comedy. I grew up watching Dark Shadows and loved it. …. What could have been a great Gothic romance, has been trashed. Burton, did such a great [job] with Sleepy Hollow, I thought this would be something in that style. The creator of the show would be appalled.”

Mike Miller on MSNBC’s Facebook: “Why the hell give Burton any credit at all? He took a good Gothic story and turned it into to s**t. Vampire Depp looking like Michael Jackson? What’s next Jar Jar Brinks as a werewolf? Someone better get ahold of BLADE….”

Carol Lewis on MSNBC’s Facebook: “Sucks! No pun intended! There was no mention of his beloved Josette/Vicky that was his main obsession as this character. It looks like they changed this so much it is basically another movie entirely, [with] parts plagiarized from Dark Shadows. They could have done a better job of this as a comedy, such as Love at First Bite, but it seems really dorky!”

Jr Ray on MSNBC’s Facebook: “The first few seconds were ok, then it went rapidly into a deep pit of fail.”

What do you think about the remake? Will you see it or not?

Henry: portrait of a serial killer

Skot Six — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:52 +0000

Director: John McNaughton
Date: 1986

Dead Naked Girls, there’s several of them the first few minutes of the movie.

So the movie is off with bang! Sort of…you don’t actually get to see any of these murders, and a couple of them look confusing…One happened with a coke bottle, I think.

That’s one way to get your attention. Well, slowly pan over and get your attention. But its a good start anyways!

Michael Rooker is amazing and very believable as our hero: humble, soft-spoken killer Henry Lee. Who recently got out of jail, only to go back to his old habits. Murder is a hard habit to break apparently.

Occasionally I got the feeling like I was watching a 70’s porno……..just shut up and get to the good parts.
But the good parts do come in surprising waves of violence, as murder after murder filled the screen. They were not short random murders. that’s for sure.

The sounds track sounds like all the other movies in the early 80’s. They all had the same sound track, it’s like Korg invented the keyboard as an instrument and suddenly everyone had to use for everything.

Not much gore, but very good on the internal horror of real murder. Oh, there’s blood don’t get me wrong, but more “blood” and less
“guts.” It will have a real appeal to people who have some sort of affection, if I should use that word, for serial killers, as it makes you really feel like you are there. Henry is one terrifying man when he starts to lose it. Otis is just goofy…even when he’s trying to be scary.

So all in all a little slow, more mental horror than slasher, not something to get if you are looking for a blood-fest.
But if you want to get up close and personal with a killer, find a way to relax if you know what I mean and slow it down with Henry and Otis. And remember, it’s an older movie with what I’m sure was not a huge budget, so cut it some slack when it comes to effects and cinematography.

Best line on the movie: “Are you telling me you’ve never killed anyone before?”

Can you do what has to be done to live a life of blood and death?

Henry did.

3.5 blood drops

Reincarnation- What Do We Know?

Kelly Preneta — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:00:35 +0000

Belief of a deceased soul being reborn into that of a new body is nothing new. The concept of reincarnation has been around since before the Middle Ages. Many religions believe the next step after death is to be begin again, to be reborn. It’s a carousel. Although the details of reincarnation vary, the basic idea remains intact.

The 1977 film “Audrey Rose” revolves around an 11 year old adolescent named Ivy Templeton. Ivy’s parents start to notice a strange man hanging around more frequently than considered normal. Ivy’s parents, Janice and Bill, come to discover that the man, Elliot Hoover, believes that Ivy is the reincarnation of his daughter Audrey Rose, who was killed in a fatal car accident along with his wife. Elliot has acquired the information of the reborn soul of his daughter from 2 clairvoyants; he also picked up Hinduism, which holds high religious regard pertaining to reincarnation, after her death. Ivy starts to have vivid nightmares which begin to torment her. Elliot, being present during one of the nightmares, is able to calm Ivy by referring to her has “Audrey Rose”. Elliot is then arrested and during the trial tells his story, trying to convince everyone of his reincarnation theory. Janice, Ivy’s mother, begins to believe Elliot and agrees her daughter is the reincarnated Audrey Rose. Bill, Ivy’s father, completely disagrees and has their lawyer request Ivy be hypnotized to disprove the reincarnation claims. Ivy subsequently dies during her hypnotic state after revisiting/reliving the car crash of Audrey Rose/herself.

The film is supposedly inspired by true events. Yes, the movie was based off of a book and Yes it does have discrepancies. The novel was written by Frank De Felitta after he reportedly walked in on his 6 year old son playing the piano perfectly, an instrument he never learned. He attributed his son’s new found musical ability to reincarnation…

At a very young age James Leininger loved airplanes. Not just loved airplanes, but LOVED airplanes; was fascinated by them. Not only did James LOVE airplanes, his knowledge of planes could have been considered at an expert level. Soon James began recalling memories of his days as a fighter pilot from World War II, which took place approximately 60 years before his birth. James began to have frequent nightmares of being trapped in a plane after it crashed. His frequent nightmares concerned his parents to the point of having him seen by a child psychologist, who believes reincarnation is a possibility. James’ doctor believed the boy’s recollections were real and encouraged him to share them. James was able to give immense details pertaining to himself and his prior life up to the conclusion of it after being shot down at Iwo Jima.

Please visit links below to learn more about James’s story
ABC NEWS.COM

PITTSBURGH LIVE.COM

Psychiatrist Ian Stevenson conducted many studies about reincarnation; he also published 12 books supporting his findings. In “Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation,” the subjects’ recollection of past lives are pretty astounding and detailed. Being able to name family members and the driver of the car that ended one of your lives is impressive, but what does it answer? Nothing. It doesn’t give a definite answer has to whether or not reincarnation has taken place or if another paranormal event is at play. Almost everyone who recalls events of a past life are children. According to Ian Stevenson children who are at the beginning stages of talking, between the ages of 2 and 4, recall the most of their past lives. As these children get older their memories of past lives fade.

So how do we detect reincarnation? By recalling a memory from a previous life? It’s a relatively good start, but how do we know it’s not attributed to another cause? It could very possibly be something else. Recalling previous events which should be unknown to an individual is also a sign of possession. So how do we differentiate between the two? I mean, with all the unexplainable in the world, is it really that absurd to think a considerably good lost soul could enter a physical body and begin to relive? Children are rather susceptible to ghosts, right?

Roommate Dispute Ends in Meat Grinder

Audrey Quaranta — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:36:23 +0000

In a big city like New York, conflict between roommates is a common occurrence. They usually end with some choice words, one person moving out, and maybe some time in small claims court.

In one Brooklyn apartment, however, the lease was broken by dismemberment.

Sergey Mamonov, 50, and Aleksandr Zilbergleyt, 55, had only lived together for six months, but the police were called to their home seven times. Mamonov barraged them with a list of complaints about his roomie – he was loud, stayed up late, and hosted rowdy nights of drinking with friends and homeless people, to name a few.

On the night of March 25, Mamonov arrived home to find Zilbergleyt partying with guests. He kicked the company out, and the two engaged in a fistfight that ended in Zilbergleyt’s death.

Investigators believe the killing was accidental, but what Mamonov did next is a bit more difficult to explain.

He began by stripping the flesh from the dead man’s bones. He then ran it through a meat grinder, soaked it in bleach and acid, and stuck the bones in his refrigerator.

No one knew what happened until April 3, when a friend of Zilbergleyt came to the apartment looking for him. Mamonov allegedly said, “You’re not going to see him anymore. I cut him up.”

Naturally, the friend called police. When the NYPD busted into the residence, they found a bucket in the fridge containing human remains, and several other boxes around the home reportedly smelled of decay.

“We have body parts. We have a rib cage there. We don’t know how much of the body is there,” said a source.

Mamonov eventually confessed to the crime. The NYPD told New York’s Daily News that he was “very matter of fact. He didn’t want to say anything at first, but once he started talking, he wouldn’t shut up. He said he decided there was no other way to take care of (the victim).”

We can think of a few, but okay…

Another source said of Mamonov, “He got scared, he had a fight with the guy and accidentally killed him.”

The only thing Mamonov should be scared of is himself.

He is currently being held without bail.

Finding Affordable Music For Independent Horror Films

Edward B. Abbott — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:40:09 +0000

When you watch a movie like Halloween or Aliens, it becomes perfectly clear how an effective musical score can heighten the emotion of a film. John Carpenter’s simple yet erie piano arrangement in Halloween is probably as synonymous with the film series as Jamie Lee Curtis and Michael Myers themselves. And James Horner’s score for Aliens was so successful at creating a feeling of fear and frenzied military-versus-alien chaos that several other movies used Aliens’ music in their trailers to make their less exciting films seem more interesting.

This underscores how music is a key element that needs to be considered when making a horror film. A well-edited soundtrack can give even a low-budget film some extra production value. It could be the difference between a finished product that looks like a carefully planned and produced labor of love, or a campy summer project filmed by a bunch of drunk guys with a new camera and too much time on their hands.

Nothing can limit an independent film’s chances for reaching an audience faster than using copyrighted music from another film. It’s likely that such a film won’t last long on video hosting sites, like Vimeo and YouTube, before someone comes along and has it removed. Or worse. If the production becomes successful and the copyright owner finds out about the illegal use of their music, the filmmaker could be facing jail time and fines up to $250,000.

Most independent and hobby filmmakers aren’t going to have a budget large enough to cover $250,000 fines or to avoid them by hiring the London Symphony Orchestra to create an original score for their film. But there are several resources available to help the budding horror-movie filmmaker create a professional score on a budget without any legal issues.

Make Friends With Musicians

Friends with musical talent and access to a recording studio, or a knack for using software like Apple’s Garageband, can be a great resource for original soundtrack music. Garageband is fairly easy to use and even a novice can use the music loops included in the program to create an arrangement. Third party horror loop collections are also available to increase the musical options in Garageband and create a more customized sound. For good quality results, however, the user should have some basic understanding of arranging music so that the results sound well constructed.

Buy Royalty Free Stock Music

An easier option is to purchase royalty free stock music. As the dropping prices of video recording and editing equipment make film editing more accessible to the masses, more and more sites are popping up that offer royalty free stock music for use in any type of production. Many sell individual tracks as well as CD collections with multiple tracks.

Opuzz.com offers several collections that lend themselves well to horror movies, particularly their “Dark Moods” and “Erie & Creepy” collections. They have a multitude of pricing options, from buying individual tracks based on length for as low as $2.99 for 10-seconds, to buying full CDs with 10 tracks for $49, with discounts starting at 2 CDs or more. Although not the cheapest option, Opuzz does offer a large selection and their tracks have a strong, cinematic quality.

Footagefirm.com is a site that initially offered only free stock videos, but they recently began offering stock production music as well. Their CD collections are organized in themes and usually contain about 10 to 15 tracks, some that include various length clips. While most CDs are priced at $139, they frequently have promotions in which they will offer a collection for “free,” meaning, you just pay $8.41 for shipping and handling. The production quality is very high on their tracks, although some collections are stronger than others. Their “Science Fiction Cinematic Production Music” collection is somewhat campy, with far too many tracks that are reminiscent of 60s sci-fi movies. But many of the other titles in their Cinematic Production Music collection feature much stronger, contemporary tracks, including two volumes devoted entirely to horror music.

Download Free Stock Music

Freestockmusic.com is a spin-off site from the same people who run Footagefirm.com. The site is still expanding and currently only offers a limited number of tracks. However, the tracks are very high quality, are available in 3 different file formats (WAV, AIFF, and MP3), and are 100% free. The catch is that you have to create an account to download the tracks and, once you do, you will undoubtedly receive regular e-mails asking you to sign up for VideoBlocks.com, another sister site to Footagefirm and FreeStockMusic.

VideoBlocks promises 7 days of free stock music and video downloads with no obligation. But the site requires a credit card to sign up and, after the 7 days, they begin billing you a monthly fee, the amount of which is not disclosed in their terms of service. The reason for this is that their monthly fee is arbitrary. If you decide to cancel your service to avoid the monthly fee, they will send you e-mails offering you “special deals” and “reduced” monthly rates. It’s not a straightforward way to do business and is probably not worth the continued expense for the hobbyist filmmaker, especially considering all of the other options available. But getting access to the free tracks available on Freestockmusic makes it worth dealing with occasional, annoying e-mails promoting VideoBlocks.

Incompetech.com is a site hosted by composer Kevin MacLeod. While it’s sometimes difficult to figure out the navigation of the site, it’s worth the effort because MacLeod gives away all the music on his site for free, if he is credited in the production. Otherwise, a no-attribution license can be purchased for the use of his music. MacLeod also requests an optional $5 donation for any track used. He has a large, eclectic selection, searchable by genre and feel, which can be very helpful when you don’t have a lot of time for browsing. All tracks list the instruments used and the tempo, and some include helpful descriptions in which MacLeod describes the mood of the piece and offers some usage notes. Occasionally, he might have an arrangement that sounds overly synthesized, but overall, his offerings tend to be more distinct and have more character than other stock music sites. His tracks do a great job of capturing the particular feel of a scene and often times include musical highs and lows in an arrangement, where most stock tracks will have a consistent feel throughout.

Go Without Music

Another artistic choice could be to forego music altogether and let the audience feel their own emotion based on the scene. Sometimes that works better than telegraphing the horror by keying the spooky music and letting the audience know that something is about to happen. Depending on the subject and quality of your production, you might be able to create more drama and horror in a scene with no music at all.

James Cameron made this choice in the climactic battle scene between Ripley and the queen alien in Aliens. It’s probably one of the most memorable, exciting, and tense confrontations in sci-fi/horror movie history. Yet surprisingly, from the moment just before Ripley’s makes her entrance on the loader and delivers her classic “Get away from her, you bitch!” line, there is no music in that scene until the alien queen has been vanquished.

This could be a risky choice, however, if the production value of the film isn’t high enough to create the desired mood in a scene on its own. If it isn’t, it might be a better option to consider some quality stock music.

Whenever purchasing stock music, be sure to read the terms of use to make sure your production complies with the license offered on the tracks and any required attribution.

Unit 731- Horrors of WW II

Kelly Preneta — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:00:18 +0000

During World War II human experimentation was on the rise. While the Nazi party was busy exterminating the Jews and conducting human experiments on twins, the Japanese Imperial Empire was conducting human experiments contributing to the evolution of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Unit 731, based in Pingfang in the district of Harbin (now Northeast China), was the headquarters to 9 subsidiary units, all of which participated in human experimentation; Unit 516, Unit 543, Unit 773, Unit 100, Unit EI 1644, Unit 1855, Unit 8604, Unit 200, Unit 9420.

While each unit was equally heinous in there procedures, Unit 100 specialized in research dealing with diseases originating from animals. To sum it up they produced disease, which were then spread via animal carriers.

Unit EI 1644 determined human susceptibility to harmful stimuli, for example infectious disease and poisonous gas. They are also credited with being the largest germ experimentation center in China, infecting people with cholera, typhus, and bubonic plague. Just to clarify, Unit 731 and all its subdivisions were part of the Imperial Japanese Empire. During WWII Japan was in the midst of trying to dominate China politically and militarily, giving explanation has to why there were units based in Beijing and cities of China.

Unit 8604, commanded by Major General Sato Shunji MD, conducted food and water deprivation and water-borne typhus research. They were also the rat farm. Medical units provided them plague vectors for experiments.

Units 9420 had 2 subdivisions within itself. Umeoka specialized in plague while Kono was Malaria. They also had the responsibility of rat catching. How fun. There is also evidence supporting claims of other units in Thailand working on unknown disease.

Regardless of each individual units field on concentration, they all took part in crimes against humanity. Majority of the victims, referred to as “logs” (official cover story given to local authorities stating site was a lumber mill), were Chinese and Korean. The remaining were Southeast Asians, Pacific Islanders, and POW’s of all nationalities. Subjects were delivered to Unit 731 via Kempeitai, the Japanese Military Police. Kempeitai was run has a gendarmerie meaning the MP’s were granted police duties among the civilian population, which gave them plenty of access to the Chinese population.

Unit 731 didn’t discriminate when it came to human experimentation; men, woman (pregnant or not), and children were seen has equals. Vivisection, which is basically defined has the dissection of a living organism, was a common practice. Anesthetics were never used during vivisections for fear of alterations to the organs, vessels, etc which they were trying to study. Many “logs” were subject to amputation. Some having limbs reattached to opposite side of the body. Stomachs were removed while the esophagus was attached to the intestines. Parts of the main organs, including the brain, were also removed during these procedures.

The unit was particularly interested in studying effects of hypothermia and are credited with finding the best way to treat frost bite. Subjects were sent outside in freezing temperatures and periodically drenched with water. When it was established the limb was frozen it was sometimes amputated and other times it was left to thaw so the physicians could study gangrene.

A booklet just published in Japan after a major exhibition about Unit 731 shows how doctors even experimented on a three-day-old baby, measuring the temperature with a needle stuck inside the infant’s middle finger. “Usually a hand of a three-day-old infant is clenched into a fist”, the booklet says, “but by sticking the needle in, the middle finger could be kept straight to make the experiment easier”.” -http://www.toddlertime.com/bobbystringer/unit-731.htm#japknowhow

Humans, of all ages and gender, were used for grenade and flame thrower testing. They would be spread about to help confirm the lethal radius of germ-releasing bombs, chemical weapons, and explosives. It would have been an opportune time to make a run for it, if they weren’t tied to stakes. Prisoners were hung upside to see how long it would be until they choked, placed in high pressure chambers until their eyes protruded from their skull, air was injected into arteries so test the onset of embolism, horse urine was injected into their kidneys, animal blood injected into their veins, they were made to undergo lethal dose of x-rays, they were injected with disease disguised has vaccinations, and purposely infected with venereal diseases (most commonly syphilis and gonorrhea) sometimes via rape. Those not infected were placed with the diseased to test the effects of airborne illness and all were infested with fleas so Unit 731 could acquire a large number a disease carriers to continue the study on germ warfare.

Outside the combine, plagued fleas along with infected clothing and supplies were encased in bombs and dropped on various targets. It’s estimated 400,000 Chinese civilians were killed by the plague, anthrax, and cholera. In 1941, plague infested fleas were dropped by low flying planes on Chinese towns resulting in thousands being killed by the bubonic plague.

Under the supervision of General Shiro Ishii and hiding behind the mask of being officially titled the “Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department of the Kwantung Army”, Unit 731 is credited with a body count of somewhere around 700,000 plus. However; Unit 731′s high ranked personnel, unlike their counterparts of the Nazi regime, went on to lead prosperous lives post war. In 1945, after Japan’s surrender, Douglas MacArthur granted immunity to the head physicians of Unit 731 in exchange for their research on biological warfare. While many Third Reich members went into hiding under counterfeit names, some participants of Unit 731 went on to be the heads of US backed Medical Schools, one became the head of Japan’s leading Pharmaceutical company, and General Shiro Ishii went abroad to work on bio weapons research…in the United States. Maryland to be precise.

“Dark Rising”- Netflix Review

Rev. Tommy B — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:30:03 +0000

Date: October 2007
Director: Andrew Cymek

Cross over films that span genres are probably some of the best films out there. When you think it’s a dark comedy about some guy writing a script and it turns into an intense drama with murder and drug smuggling. Or folks are running from the newly risen dead but are quirky enough to make you laugh as they deal with the once normal world turned sour. Dark Rising is a genre crosser but I’m not saying it was done in an agreeable manner.

Picture a Dolf Longrin looking social outcast named Jason, hell-bent on getting back together with his ex-fiancé. He has a brilliant idea of re-kindling the flame by inviting her and two of her friends on a camping trip with his buddy who is obsessed with shooting phone sex line commercials. Unbeknownst to Jason, his ex is now a lesbian want-to-be witch that is bringing her coven along to try to contact a “dead” girl. In order to make contact, the witches pick up a dangerous book from an old used bookstore for $16.50 against the warnings from the owner. They take the book, written in some ancient language, and can’t read the inscriptions correctly. Lucky for them someone wrote out passages phonetically so they are able to open a portal to another dimension and unleash the horrors from beyond on earth. Additional luck shines upon them when the portal brings an axe wielding demon slayer in a hot little outfit.

This film basically was “Scooby Doo” without the dog and the masked man. You’ve got a smart girl deciphering a book, a fighting bad-ass chick, an oblivious guy making up the plans, and the idiot as bait. This film attempts to take the best parts and lines from “The Evil Dead,” add in an outfit like Angela from “Spawn,” and sprinkle on the topless women making out. I honestly had no real complaints with any of this because it really seemed like they were doing it and doing it poorly on purpose. Like they had a budget and said “lets blow it all on the monsters and we’ll deal with the rest later.”

A few things really came to the surface with this one that seems to resonate through the ages. If you purchase an old book in an ancient language, read it to yourself. Time and time again we see demons unnecessarily being pulled into our world by unsuspecting teens who are just looking for a good time. If someone is bitten by a big scary thing in the woods, they themselves will probably end up being scary and try to rip your face off. The best way to get over your dying girlfriend is to have a hot chick in a bra and panties hit on you, although it probably still stings when you show up and she’s banging your best friend.

This one is shot on low end cameras, chock full of campy line goodness, and ready for that Halloween party you’re planning for next year. Add in jello shots and a keg and this should increase the enjoyability of “Dark Rising.” Just remember to bring your axe.

2.5 blood drops

Man Blames Satan for Mother’s Murder

Audrey Quaranta — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:58:02 +0000

Poor Satan. The guy can’t catch a break. Every day, more and more people mess up and do crazy, bloody things, and he is constantly getting blamed.

Take, for example, the case of Joseph L. Nerone, 54.

Nerone was arrested on Friday, March 30 for the murder of his mother, Elaine. Earlier that week, he went to the Chicago home they shared for a welfare check and before he left he had stabbed and beaten her to death. Elaine, 84, received stab wounds to the head and back from multiple knives and her autopsy also indicated multiple blunt force trauma.

Nerone was charged with first degree murder, but according to Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Terry Clancy he claimed that, “Satan killed the victim and that Satan was inside him.”

People who knew the Nerones were eager to defend the devil…or at least reveal the truth about their neighbor, who was also arrested about a year ago for attacking someone on the block.

“We all knew it was only a matter of time. We all knew he was crazy,” said Patrick Hyland Jr., who lived a few houses away. “Police were here all the time. As soon as the father passed away four years ago, all hell broke loose.”

(“All hell” being a figure of speech, of course.)

“When I saw this [police tape], I knew that either he was dead or she was dead,” said another neighbor.

It was Nerone who was covered in the blood of his elderly mother, and that blood is on his hands and his hands only. The big red guy downstairs is, in this case, innocent.

“Lake Mungo”- Netflix Review

Rev. Tommy B — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:02:43 +0000

Directed By: Joel Anderson
Date: 2008

Back in 1999 a mockumentary swept through the horror scene and caused quite the raucous. The Blair Witch Project brought dark woods and hand held camera usage to a whole new level. Since then a smattering of this type of film style has run rampant in the film genre we hold dear. From zombies, to mutants, to a giant city-destroying thing, we have seen many, many hand-shaken moments that make us want to vomit when ogling them on the big screen.

Lake Mungo is the story of a father, mother, son, and daughter out for a fun day of swimming and enjoying some nice weather. The day is shattered when Alice, the daughter, drowns while attempting to swim back to shore. After her funeral, the fun begins to happen around the house. So much is going on that the brother sets up cameras and is able to catch the apparition on film and video. What he doesn’t realize is there is so much more hidden in these snapshots in time. The mother ends up befriending a psychic and the dark tale begins to unfold.

Most of the horror mockumentaries out there use fast camera movement and shadows to really set the tone of the film. When done correctly, they are able to spook you by making it all feel real enough that you feel like these are tapes that have been found and you are really seeing the last accounts of people’s lives as they are torn to pieces. Lake Mungo takes a bit of a different route. There are interviews and news story’s unraveling the tale of twist, turns, lies, and deceit.

The one thing they do right is unveiling it one piece at a time. First there are the creepy tales of things going bump in the night building up to full apparitions of the deceased. Next the photos have an odd image that could be someone or something standing there. Then the video shows blurry imagery and as the videos progress they get clearer and clearer. All the while, the director has you focus on just what they want you to see.

There were the typical cut scenes seen in documentaries to show time passing: the star filled night sky, clouds blowing past and even random shots from old home movies. After a while you seem to melt into the movie, and the line between storytelling and reality blurs a bit.

This story goes from haunting to murder mystery to thriller and back again. While this does throw you for a loop at times there is a building structure that all comes together and make sense as it unfurls. This is one to look into for those that enjoy the good ghost story that may or may not have happened.

3 blood drops

Mobsters Eat Remains of Traitor

Audrey Quaranta — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:11:47 +0000

News stories and pop culture have taught us a lot about mobster culture. Do what you’re told, pay what you owe, and don’t rat, or else you’ll be sleeping with fishes. Films like The Godfather, though harrowing and bloody, do not cross into the horror genre, and we rarely associate mafia lifestyle with the truly macabre.

That is, until some Serbian gangsters decided to up the ante and borrow from the likes of Hannibal Lecter and Leatherface.

Milan Jurisic, 37, angered members of the Belgrade’s Zemun Clan, a division of the Serbian mafia. The dispute was allegedly over money, but new evidence indicates that the source of conflict may have actually been a woman. Whatever the issue, Jurisic, who was on the run after being convicted for the assassination of Serbia’s prime minister in 2003, was in enough trouble to be hunted down and killed in Madrid, Spain in 2009.

Hit man Sretko Kalinic, appropriately known as “The Butcher”, confessed to his role in the murder and described what happened next. He told police he “literally dismembered” Jurisic and removed flesh from bone to make a stew. Any leftovers were thrown into the River Madrid. Just for fun, the group also made a mask from their victim’s facial skin, then spent the next five days cleaning up like good cannibals should.

Authorities suspect that Luka Bojovic, was the leader of the operation. Bojovic was also involved in the prime minister’s death.

Madrid Police are investigating based on physical evidence and documents found in Bojovic’s residence that confirm Kalinic’s story.

Jurisic was unable to comment, but it is safe to assume he would have preferred a horse’s head under his blankets.