For the Lord God says ask & ye shall receive.

     Awhile back award winning writer/director Clive Tonge asked me if I would like to review his new short Sunday Best currently running the film festival circuit & of course I said hell yeah! A six minute & thirty eight second churning ride, Sunday Best starts you off less than 46seconds in (that's the point where I physically jumped from great audio/suspense work). From there on out you're not sure whom of the three characters you trust but you can be damn sure none of them sits well with you. By the time the short is over you've had enough to satisfy your palate & though you may think you have no room for more, you just know you have to stick through the credits to found out for sure.

     Andrew Squires, Bill Fellows & Valerie Shields do an awesome job, delivering their characters so perfectly you truly forget you're watching a short. Their mannerisms, the dialog & the connection between them is simply brilliant. Add on to that some truly awesome special effects, great misdirection & well done cinematography & you just can't get any closer to perfection.


     If you are out at a film festival this year & you see this film listed I ask that you go see it. Trust me, you wont be disappointed & I know I personally cannot wait to see more work from Clive Tonge. In the mean time though, check out his tumbler & the links for Sunday Best below.

SundayBest.moonfruit.com
Clive Tonge
IMDB Sunday Best

    


So,

Until next time,

Sit back, relax & don't forget to scream!

     Death in Absentia; - The legal action of declaring one dead in the absence of remains.

     Tricia just wants to move on. Her husband Daniel has been missing for over seven years & it is time for her to finally & legally let him go. But just like old memories are hard to part from, so to is the belief that the one you love is out there, somewhere....watching you.

     Absentia. Such a simple & brilliant title to a disturbing, emotionally breaking & mind twisting film. There is no comfort in Absentia & just when you think you finally have the answers, you realize you know nothing. Mike Flanagan, Morgan Peter Brown, Katie Parker, Courtney Bell, Justin Gordon, Doug Jones & Dave Levine create a masterful story that pulls you in, mind & soul, from the start. This is not your conventional horror movie. I've seen this film described as non-formulaic & it is suiting.
     Not only is the cinematography just beautiful, but the acting is so natural, so flawless, you feel like you are invading in a very private-very terrifying moment in these individuals lives. You absolutely cannot forget what you see & experience & trust me when I tell you there are no bright places you can run to. For me, Absentia will remain one of the top indie films I have seen in the past year & that is high praise. I cannot get enough of this film. I reviewed it briefly a year ago at the Pittsburgh Horror & Film Festival & yet again it felt like I was watching it for the first time. I know (not suspect) this film will become timeless.

     If you have not seen Absentia yet I insist you do so. You can buy it on dvd or rent it on demand via multiple networks including netflix; either way you must see this film. It is truly unforgettable & you will be leaving the lights on.



So,

Until next time,

Sit back, relax & don't forget to scream!

 Look at this, another Fright Box that isn't a rant. I don't know what is up, maybe I'm stressed out about so many other things I'm too busy to get pissy (ha!) with any Horror movies I've seen as of late. Who knows. Anyways, this Fright Box, as it says above is a special one directed towards all of you crawling along the media outlets looking for your place.

     For those of you who may not know or are too young to remember, a man by the name of Michael Moorcock wrote an article in the 1960s about the interrelated nature of modern media at that time. With this article came a diagram webbing prominent media platforms together, all drawn to one singular media - T.V. With the rise & increasingly growing pace of the internet even over the last decade, Moorcock’s web has changed some. What, you are wondering, does this have to do with you? Everything.
    T.V. is no longer the most prominent base for media. Growing conflicts & increasing prices have the public (including myself) turning to other more interesting works online. Where reality tv was limited to the news & game shows it has now expanded into its own genera, complete with ignorant people you can’t stand to see but yet find yourself watching time & again. This has swallowed up time slots where you use to catch riveting shows with intricate plots & well rounded characters. Even an increase in tv channels, more premium networks & access to paid for services have not opened up enough slots for great entertainment. That is not to say there isn’t smart, creative & intriguing shows on tv. The issues, as of late, has been a lack of fresh, new ideas; & shows alone are not the only media affected.
    Below is a revision of Moorcock’s diagram that I have done. Some changes seem minor but the economic & media impact have rippled into everything we see & do now.


     Newspapers are being replaced by their EPaper counterparts, as well as Books being replaced by EBooks. Classic social arts like Painting, Sculpture & Model works have been replaced by Photography, Graphic Design & Apparel. Music is no longer limited to discs, clubs or the radio but accessible everywhere, including your phone. Same goes for tv shows, movies, comics & magazines. In effect, the only media now they are all connected to? The Internet. It has become the new central hub.
    So where do you fit in & how does this apply to you? Well, where do you want/need it to? Are you an indie artist who can’t get past the dozens of remakes filling studio seats because your script doesn’t feature a leading name? Are you a musician who has resisted signing a recording contract with a record company who struggles to control not only access to their music (or controls it too much) but doesn’t give their artist room to be unique? Are you a dime a dozen Graphic Designer looking for work outside of where you live because you are being replaced by the kids from arts & crafts now that having the powerful basic skills of drawing isn’t necessary anymore to create imprints, posters, designs & other eye catching advertisements when you can simply cut & paste clipart? Are you a writer looking for you audience where book companies wont go? Who, simply, are you?

Who ever you are, it is clear that this is where you should start looking. Now, am I saying it is easy to transition to the web to find the market & creative outlet you are looking for? No, if it was easy everything would be web based. But if you want it & you know your “media web”, then you can do it. There are nearly over half a dozen new & creative Web Series popping up internationally on a regular basis. More & more artists are being discovered daily & one is no longer limited to their demographic when it comes to finding & connecting with fellow artists & clientele in their fields.

The road may not be easy & you may have to learn the ins & outs of what it is you want to do rather than just hiring people you think you can trust or laying all your chips on a company who claims they’ll do good by you. But nothing in life worth having comes without hard work & not all of the entrepreneurs of old started off at the top with cash & a dream in hand. The smart ones, the ones that last, started at the bottom, wearing multiple hats, working their way up towards the top & making their own paths that others have come to follow.

In the end, it is clear that the media web of the past has been replaced by the web of tomorrow & though no path is clear or certain, there is always at least one that exists towards  your destination. The question to ask yourself is, which path (or paths) will be yours?

     A wonderful care package from Don at tshirtbordello came in earlier this year to start my 2012 off with a bite. I have to say, considering my new found acceptance that McDonald's food is likely going to kill me & I am no longer willing to eat it, the shirt Don sent me fit right into my life changing stance.

     Every time I think of stopping in to the drive through & loading up on some chicken nuggets, I just pull this "I'm Loving IT" t-shirt out & remind myself that Ronald McDonald just can't be trusted. True, he may not have the seductive voice of Tim Curry or the demented child-like approach of Stephen King to murder. None the less though, his pleasure in serving food with die hard additives is just as devious as IT himself.

So if you are looking to add something new to your collection of Horror shirts or you're a fan of delightful twisted clothing then be sure to visit Don at tshirtbordello.com and pick up your own t-shirt of Ronald McDonald as IT here -> I'm Loving IT . Just like happy meals bring smiles to kids, this shirt is sure to bring a smile to your face as it does mine.

So,

Until next time,

sit back, relax & don't forget to scream!

     "Happy fucking Valentine's day."

     Tom Hanniger returns to the barely surviving mining town of Harmony where he grew up & ran away from 10 years ago after barely surviving the murderous rampage of former fellow miner Harry Warden. Some of his fellow town folk aren't too happy to see his return but Tom's just here to bury his father & put his past behind him. However he soon learns you can't outrun your past, especially when it has remained buried deep inside of you & no matter how many bodies you put six feet down it'll just keep coming back to haunt you; pickaxe & all.

     A remake of a previous cult film, My Bloody Valentine hopped aboard the 3D wagon to offer some deep hits & scares. Truth be told, the 3D parts were just ok though; maybe a couple good pickaxe swings made wearing the headache inducing glasses worth while. But if you're like me you'll flip the dvd over & just watch the movie in it's natural state. There you get to see some really great cinematography & some wonderful acting, even for an average film.

     Now I admit to being biased since My Bloody Valentine was remade in Kittanning, Pennsylvania just twenty five minutes from where I currently live. Two dear friends of mine, veterans in the movie industry also happened to work on this film so I'm clearly partial to it. Hell, I even have a signed poster from this film hanging up.

     That being said, I truly did enjoy the acting chops of Jensen Ackles who plays Tom Hanniger & Jaime King who plays his former lover Sarah Palmer. Kerr Smith does a great job of being the asshole Axel Palmer & Betsy Rue caps off well in this cast as Irene. The camera angles, lighting & over all editing of this film is probably some of the best I've seen still in a while & that's saying a lot. I think had this film not been released in 3D it probably would have been more successful.

     So if you are looking for a film to help vent some of those bitter Valentine's day feelings, this is the one I highly recommend. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone with pent up frustrations finally get to make their point...so deep it comes out the other side of the person in serious need of a wake up call. Trust me, you'll be rooting for Harry Warden quite a bit in this film & I just love it when you can cheer on the bad guy.


Until next time,

sit back, relax

& don't forget to scream!

     We're here for FEAR!

     Catch Me Kill Me, an Independent Horror Production company out of Arizona recommended I check out some of their short films on youtube under CatchMeKillMeFilms recently & I did just that. I'm always one to check out what up and coming individuals are looking to add to the Horror world & from what I've seen so far of CMKM things are looking bright! Check out these three shorts I watched & then be sure to see what more they have to offer!

     La Llorona

     The weeping woman, her sorrow so deep her soul continues searching for what she cannot reach. After watching this short, you'll hesitate to check out the noises coming from the other side of the house!

     Jennifer Kelley as La Llorona does a wonderful job impacting this character upon  you. Her wails of agony are piercing and deep and you know you wont be forgetting them anytime soon!


     The Keeper

     Davey just can't help it that he sees monsters everywhere he looks. True, most of his family thinks of him as the boy who has cried wolf, but will they be too late when Davey seeks out to prove the truth?

Gabe Sellman as young Davey does a wonderful job of filling you with those childhood paranoia's you use to have about the neighbor down the block or the babysitter across the street. He may very well become the next Mulder!


     Shackled

     There is nothing more terrifying than finding yourself in the merciless hands of a captor. It is even more horrific when it's your captive that puts you there.

     Big kuddos to Jesse Van Camp & Carley Pacholski for a strong film performance. The lighting & camera work is brilliant in this short & both actors deliver a clear presence you will find yourself coming back too!


     All in all CMKM has made a great start in the Independent Horror community & I am fully looking forward to more work from them. With the talents of Ian Messenger, Beth Clabourne, Jesse Van Camp, Chris Johnson, Jennifer Kelley, Bill Messenger & Brian Hurdlow on board I see nothing but bloody works in the future for this crew! Be sure to check them out at cmkm.webs.com & visit their youtube channel to watch their work & leave comments behind!


So,

until next time,

sit back, relax & don't forget to scream!

 

     "The house is alive, we're all going to die."

     Evelyn Price just wants to throw the perfect party for herself & her amusement park creator husband Stephen & the abandoned insane asylum she just saw on the tv is exactly what she's looking for. Not only does it have a killer past, but the games she intends to play with her husband and her guests will be down right deadly. Especially if the former tenants of the asylum have any say in it.

     What is there to say about House on Haunted Hill. Well, here are the words I would use to describe it; cheesy, trippy, gory, twisted & fun. To put it best, this is what Vincent Price would have done if he had the chance to remake House on Haunted Hill himself. This triple H smack down of a film tosses you into a lovely psychotic experience, not only with the haunted asylum storyline its self but the fucked up relationships between the guests & hosts. Famke Janssen & Geoffrey Rush as Mr. & Mrs. Price are the perfect demented couple who love to hate each other & get off on the games they play. Both deliver their characters so well you can't help but wish to see more of them again...and again...and again.
     Taye Diggs, Ali Larter, Peter Gallagher, Bridgette Wilson & Chris Kattan as the guests for the night create great chemistry amongst one another & each individually carry their characters well. They come off slightly feeling predictable but the refreshing approach to these characters is that they are not. Their reasons for being invited, though simple, are just an added bonus to a plot that has more to do with humanity at its most mentally unhinged than it does with any real significance to paying up for past deeds.
     If you are looking carefully, you'll notice two other cast members who are just a geeky plus to this star studded cast. Singer/song writer Lisa Loeb comes in early to the film as a local reporter & James Marsters, minus the fangs, follows behind her as her camera man. The thrills they get to experience in the beginning of this film help set off the tones of this delightfully unstable journey.

If you have not seen this House on Haunted Hill remake, I highly recommend you do so; though do keep in mind this film was released in 1999 & the cgi effects date themselves well. Besides that, this is a wonderful film to start 2012 off with & if you are looking carefully you will be able to spot out the little homage to the original The Haunting the film pays out.


So,

until next time,

sit back, relax & don't forget to scream!

     So it's exactly ten days till Christmas and you are still unsure what that horror loving family member of yours wants. I know. We're not easy to please and finding good deals on great material is sometimes impossible. Sometimes. Last week I received not one but two more wonderful care packages from Don at tshirtbordello.com that has loaded me up with awesome items for the holiday season. You're going to love these!

     With the heart breaking news that the ever present Jaws ride at Universal Studios in Florida would be removed to make way for something new, this shirt reminds everyone that the terror a great white brought to our screens will not be forgotten. This shirt could easily have been seen hanging in Quint's little shop or in a tourist store on Amity Island and brings with it more than nostalgia.

     Captain Quints along with a ragtag crew and water shy Sheriff brought peace to an otherwise terrorized island by a massive man eating shark that deliberately swam along the shores of Amity for victims to devour. Though the boat was destroyed and the shark got more than a few nips in, Captain Quint and crew prevailed in the end. I'm thinking if he had known what he was going to encounter he would have been wearing this shirt to taunt the angry beast. I know I sure would have.



     And if Quint had hindsight, he also would have brought along something to keep his keys on. Just in case he happened to drop them, or worse, the shark got a good bite in. This simple small but squishy floating key chain would make sure that even if Quint himself would not survive, his keys would; floating off along the waves to later be discovered say by tourists boating and drinking. I'm sure they would have picked them up and exclaimed aloud 'Shit man, I should get one of these to put my keys on!' or at the very least tossed them into their boat to ponder about later when they are sober.



     Now if sharks aren't your thing or if you're just not terrified of the big deep then how about zombies and beer? Who doesn't love them? Separately or together, zombies and beer are as much a staple of the Horror genera as blood and virgins are.

     Coffin Nail Pale Ale , doesn't that just sound like an awesome drink? It obviously makes a kick ass t-shirt. What with the zombie drinking happily and the brilliant gold and red coffin style design....yeah I'm no doubt a big fan of this shirt. Hell, if they made a root beer by the same name I'd be buying it in bulk.

     There is nothing, as an artist, that I love more than clever creative designs and this shirt is definitely high up on my list. Clearly other Horror fans would agree that this would be a perfect gift for any season, Christmas included. Who doesn't want a little zombie love in their stocking?






     And if zombies are likely to be crawling around your Christmas tree looking for something to eat, so too would be the next two shirts. Filled with the need to feast, these monsters don't come with sharp teeth or scary sagging rotting flesh. They just have an appetite for human flesh.

     Drayton Sawyer knows what good meat is and he also knows how to make a mean chili. If there is one thing his family loves more than eating, it's hunting down road tripping teenagers. An unforgettable character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Sawyer and Sheriff Hoyt (from a previous post) are a must treat for any Horror fan. I love the slightly comic styling of this shirt, almost reminds me of the cartoon work from the first Creepshow and that is always a plus in my book. Like Sawyer himself says 'The secret's in the meat' and so too is it in this design.







     And no feast would be complete without the master Chef himself, Hannibal , from Silence of the Lambs to serve the main course. Don told me that this happens to be one of his favorite shirts and I have to agree. I will be wearing this shirt on Christmas eve at my parents house, I can promise you that. The beautiful portrait work and two toned color design is just impossible to resist, just like Hannibal himself. Smart and sharp, this shirt is a must have as far as I'm concerned in every Horror fans closet. He even says it himself, 'You are what you eat' and this shirt is Horror and must be apart of your collection as it sure is a part of mine.






     So if you are still looking to finish up your holiday shopping and you need to find that perfect little treat for either yourself or someone else, be sure to check these shirts and key chain out at tshirtbordello.com . I know I'm happy to have these resting under my Charlie Brown tree and I have no doubt you and your loved ones will feel the same way.


So until next time,

sit back, relax

and don't forget to scream!
 

     So I spent my Black Friday cleaning house, paying bills and in general doing chores. A pretty mundane day considering my Friday is finishing up at work. Well, to say my day got flipped around when the mail man showed up is an understatement. No, I didn't shag him nor did I get an unexpected stripper delivery. What I got instead was a surprise package from Don at tshirtbordello.com   with two awesome and generous gifts! Need say I tore into that package like an addict on Christmas.

     Like always Don never disappoints & my first pleasant treat was a t-shirt dedicated to the man with more than a gun in hand and badge clipped to his chest. Sheriff Hoyt is man of simple words. Quotable words to be exact.
      "People may not remember what we say here tonight, but by God they'll remember what we did." -Sound familiar? I hope so! This awesome shirt is the perfect political endorsement for the man that shared the screen with a leather faced fiend.
     The design is wonderfully done with great detail and perfect gold and white coloring screened on a brown shirt. If either The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake in 03' or The Beginning prequel released in 06' are your favorite movies then you've gotta pick the t-shirt up here -> Sherrif Hoyt TCM . It's perfect for any horror movie collector.



     Of course I had to put this shirt down to look at the second one Don had sent me. I have to say, it easily made me laugh in evil delight. What? I'm easily amused.


    
     Anyway, with the rise of zombies in pop culture and in horror movies, it was expected that at some point those with the right kind of names would make their debut in the zombie world. I don't know if this was exactly what Christopher Walken had in mind, but I think it's pretty brilliant. I mean, I know he hasn't exactly landed a zombie role but after this I'm certainly looking forward to when he does so.
    
     His already extensive horror film credits only lends to my desire to see him shamble his way across my screen some day. The imprint is pretty detailed, almost similar to a comic styling I'm rather fond of. The washed out blue-grey skin tones and contrasting blood spatter stand out nicely screened on a black t-shirt. The name pun is just perfect and no doubt when I wear this shirt I'll often find myself laughing aloud spontaneously due to it. Not that I don't randomly laugh out loud to begin with but this enjoyable shirt will increase the odds of that happening. If you want to join me in the fun in sharing the Walken Dead (heh) with the rest of the general public then find it here -> Walken Dead T .


    


     Need say if I dare call this (cause I'm going to do so anyways) a care package I'm sure you will all agree with me that it is. What better way to start off Black Friday than with two awesome t-shirts from tshirtbordello.com? And if you are still out shopping wondering what to get your horror fan then you don't have to leave the house. Instead, hop online and check out the countless awesome gifts Don has there. I already own at least three other Ts from there and a floating key chain (you may have seen in a previous post) that always make my day when I slip them on.

     Oh. And ff you are wondering if the above images are from the actual t-shirts then look below. I did in fact photograph them resting comfortably on a partial mannequin I found in my basement when I moved in.

                      

      No, I didn't ask the previous renters what they were doing with it. Considering there was also a waist up medical doll there too (which I gave away) and one of the renters went missing months after they left & we moved in....I figured I'm good not knowing.


     But if you are curious what it looks like...well you tell me what someone is doing with just the chest piece to a mannequin? Besides hanging t-shirts on it like I do and photographing them.


So,


Until my next post,

sit back, relax

and don't forget to scream!