// Category Archive for: Horror

Keepin’ Halloween Alive with Alice Cooper

By Tyler Hodg

Unless you’ve lived under a rock your entire life, you know that Alice Cooper makes a living out of shocking and scaring audiences. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the King of Hallowe’en’s spooktacular single “Keepin’ Halloween Alive,” and it’s only fitting that the song sees a revision. Released digitally and on glow in the dark vinyl, “Keepin’ Halloween Alive” is definitely not a trick, but a high energy, extremely fun treat. You know, brand name, none of that generic crap.

I can’t fathom the fact that it took Alice Cooper 40 years to make an official Halloween song. Nonetheless, “Keepin’ Halloween Alive” not only rocks, it’s scary good. It’s up-tempo and is the perfect way to get into the spirit for the day of the dead.

Buying the digital version of the song is great and all, but the seven-inch glow in the dark vinyl is definitely the way to go. Side A features the song “Keepin’ Halloween Alive” and if you flip the vinyl over, side C (very clever, Alice!) is a live version of the fan favorite “I Love the Dead.”

I don’t know where Alice Cooper has been hiding, but Halloween is alive and well. His song hasn’t exactly become a mainstream Halloween hit, which is a shame seeing as it’s the perfect song for the occasion. Just as we’re keeping Halloween alive, we should be keeping this song alive as well. Long live Alice Cooper and may everyone’s Halloween be a thriller of a night.

Boo!

DVD Review: Hillbilly Horror Show Vol. 1

By Noreen Sobczyk

Hillbilly Horror Show Vol. 1 was created and curated by award-winning writer and producer Blu de Golyer (House Of Good And Evil) and veteran actor and producer Bo Keister (Remember The Titans). This one-hour collection of horror shorts is strung together by not so funny hillbilly humor from characters Bo (grubby bumpkin leader reliant on bathroom humor), Cephus (mumbling counterfeit of King of the Hill‘s Boomhauer), and sister/cousin Lulu (provider of the daily recommended amount of T&A). It just doesn’t compare with the fun factor of horror hosts like Elvira and Svengoolie. The attempt to change the usual horror format presentation is clever, but the lowbrow humor falls flat, flatter than the roadkill Lulu cooks up for dinner. Perhaps if they amped up the redneck skeezy sleaze factor a bit more it might be a successful execution of concept.

The first short, “Franky & the Ant,” is a throwaway copy of a Tarantino-sque scene and has an ethically questionable duo participating in a mundane conversation as they complete their violence. The rest of the shorts are definitely worth a watch, though. “Doppelganger” gave me a chuckle and had gorgeous stop action photography of a skeleton on an arduous journey, but could have edited a minute from the piece, even though it’s only a short. “Amused” is an interesting concept with fresh camera angles, great foley work, and a bit of gore. I can’t say I was shocked by the ending (though many will be), but it was nice to see a strong female making at least one smart choice in a horror piece.

The best was saved for last in “The Nest” which has a uniquely twisted storyline, is well shot and acted, and is at least as good, if not better, than anything shown on Tales From the Crypt or Tales From the Darkside.

Volumes 2 and 3 will be released in 2015 and will feature gag reels and added footage in addition to the featured horror shorts.

Hillbilly Horror Show Vol. 1 was released by MVD Entertainment Group on October 21.

Knoxville Horror Film Fest: 28 Shorts in 28 Paragraphs

By Jeffery X Martin

Waterborne

The Knoxville Horror Film Fest screened 28 short films this year. Here are mini-reviews of all of them.

(more…)

Halloween Viewing: Let’s Binge Watch Ti West’s Movies!

By Tim Murr

The House of the Devil, 2009

One thing that drove me away from contemporary horror films back in the mid ‘90s was the lack of artistry, the lack of guts, and the lack of a good story. Discount bin fodder like weak PG-13 big studio efforts and boring sequels to should-have-been-over-by-now ’80s slashers didn’t have me rushing to the theater or the video store. Instead, I stuck to renting older horror films and exploring art house and foreign cinema. This was a rewarding and educational time for me, but it burnt my ass to have nothing available but re-watches of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Suspiria if I wanted to really get my fix of terror.

(more…)

DVD Review: The Devil Incarnate

By Brad Henderson

I’m a found footage lover, but holy shit, this style is becoming so redundant.

(more…)

DVD Review: Grave Halloween

By Brad Henderson

Have you ever watched a film and then the next day you don’t remember a thing about it? Yeah, that happened to me with Grave Halloween.

(more…)

Blu-Ray Review: Nekromantik

By Brad Henderson

Years ago I came across a VHS bootleg of Nekromantik. All these years later, I thought I had seen Nekromantik in its entirety. I was wrong.

(more…)

DVD Review: The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill

By Brad Henderson

Man, I hope I’m not getting burnt out on found footage films. I can’t seem to find any that are halfway decent these days. Every week I’m faced with one and I just sit there wondering why the hell it feels like I’m watching the same thing over and over again. It seems out of 20 films I see I might find one that’s decent but those aren’t good odds. I’m actually not kidding when I say 20; I’ve watched about 20 found footage films this past month and only found one that I actually liked. The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill is not one of those films.

(more…)

DVD Review: Dracula Sucks

By Brad Henderson

Today I watched John Holmes’s penis get bitten by a vampire. What did you do today?

In the ‘70s and ‘80s many pornographic filmmakers made pornos with stories. Whether it was action, horror, or comedy, there was usually a genre represented by more story and less sexy time. As a horror enthusiast, I get excited more ways than one when the porno has horror elements and Dracula Sucks has more horror than porno. . . and it is freaking weird.

(more…)

Indiegogo Campaign: Catching Up with Found Footage 3D

By Jeffery X Martin

Earlier this year, we interviewed Steven DeGennaro, the director of an upcoming indie movie called Found Footage 3D. It was a ridiculous concept, and I actually called him out on it on Twitter. He responded, which led to the interview, and I’ve been keeping tabs on the project ever since.

The film is in post-production now, and they’ve run into a snag.

Crowdfunding is still a controversial practice. I approve of it, by and large, especially if the cause is good enough. Participating in a worthwhile crowdfunding campaign makes me feel magnanimous, like a DeMedici, a patron of the arts.

Check out the Found Footage 3D Indiegogo page, where they are raising money for one specific important element of their film. They have one of the smartest, funniest pitch videos I’ve seen in a while, and it explains precisely what they need the money for. There’s nothing vague to it, no nebulous goal in carefully couched language.

Even if you can’t give, or choose not to, the pitch video itself is a great watch. If you’re a horror fan, though, consider throwing a couple bucks their way. As major studios continue to botch a majority of the horror movies they put out, the best hope for the genre seems to be independent films with small budgets and great creativity. Crowdfunding allows unparalleled contact between filmmakers and their audience, and it looks like DeGennaro has a good idea of what his demographic is after.

Please follow the movie on Facebook to keep up with the latest news.