Cyberschizoid

More Exquisite Terror

2012-02-13T22:27:00.000Z

British horror publications continue to prosper as Exquisite Terror issue 2 becomes available for purchase. I can't say "hits the newstands" or "hits newsagents shelves" as distribution still appears to be somewhat limited. At the very least, specialist book and magazine stores such as Forbidden Planet and The Cinema Store should be supporting small press zines such as this but we shall see...

Exquisite Terror is the brainchild of ex-Gorezone UK deputy editor Naila Scargill but is a very different kettle of fish indeed. Where GZ catered primarily to the teenage gorehound and sexually immature indie horror fan, Exquisite Terror is aiming for the less culturally and intellectually challenged, with essays focusing on the relationship between horror films and fairy tales; the analysis of book vs script in relation to Clive Barker's Hellraiser and an interesting take on cannibalism on film.

Of course, the more intellectual approach to looking at horror isn't to everyones taste but it is nice to see a magazine which doesn't feature the latest Hollywood horrors or even the same old classic horror films recycled and re-examined; not that there is anything wrong with either of those approaches but it does make a nice change. Personally, I would have preferred a little more film articles overall and less of the cannibal recipes and the article on occultism and necromancy went way over my head but that says more about my own personal tastes rather than the skills of the writers.

All in all, if you're a horror fan who wants to try something a little different from the norm and expand their intellectual horizons a little then give Exquisite Terror a try. And check out the exclusive illustrations by artist Paul Talbot, they're worth the price of admission alone.

Order your copy from exquisiteterror.com

NAZIS IN SPACE!

2012-02-12T16:48:00.000Z

How on earth did this one pass under my radar?? I mean come on, Nazis...from outer space? Sounds like my kind of trash exploitation movie! Due for release in April, here's the trailer for Iron Sky to whet your appetites!

A FLASH OF THE BLADE - Exclusive Interview With Director Scott Symons

2012-02-01T23:06:00.000Z

John Steiner returns in first time director Scott Symons upcoming "American Giallo".

Cranston McMillan Interviews Scott Symons.

Early this year in the US, first time director Scott Symons started filming his modestly budgeted indie horror movie A Flash of the Blade. Billed as “An American Giallo”and in Symon’s own words “the next Deep Red” it is without doubt a personal triumph and a tribute to the young man’s dedication that the cameras are at last rolling.

Scott first announced A Flash of the Blade back in 2004, back then it was known as A Moth to the Flame and had some heavyweight genre names attached; David Hess, Reggie Bannister, Judith O Dea and John Steiner. The project faltered due to finance problems, but Scott in determined fashion carried on finding cash any way he could most notably on Indie Go Go, where various incentives such as Exec Producer credits or small non speaking parts are offered for money; this is now a perfectly valid way of raising a budget outside of the Hollywood machine.

After the passing of the years, a title change and some of the big names dropping out, it was great to hear that filming had commenced. Scott’s biggest coup however is that the great John Steiner is still on board in his first movie role in more than two decades. Steiner has of course been busy dealing in real estate and making pots of money for himself in LA, and although he was never short of film offers over the years this is the first time since his wildly OTT cameo in Tinto Brass’s Paprika that he has committed himself to a project.

Scott’s plot for A Flash of the Blade revolves around an alcoholic loser, Nick Blakeman a loner on the verge of suicide his life is turned upside down when he witnesses the savage murder of reporter Jessica French. Jessica had been covering a story on a serial killer, and it looks like she has become a victim. Nick obsesses over the case and in fine Giallo tradition he starts his own investigation. Nick discovers however that he and the killer have very similar psychological profiles, and as he closes in on the killer it looks like he may well become the next victim.

I’ve been in contact with Scott a few times over the years and admire very much his dogged determination. It is an enormous task he has taken on, but I’m pretty sure the film due in 2013 will be worth the wait. I took the opportunity to ask Scott some questions, and he very graciously took time out to provide an insight into his inspirations and the film.

A Flash of the Blade has just begun filming. Its been around 8 years since the project was first announced as A Moth To the Flame, you have shown great dedication, but did you ever feel like giving up at any time?

No. I have a very obsessive personality and I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life. I admit that there were times when I got incredibly discouraged, but I had to find a way to make this film. There were no other options. For better or worse, this is what defines me as a person.

The main reason it has taken so long to get this project off the ground is that I was being way too ambitious for a first-time filmmaker with no track record. I was aiming for up to a million-dollar budget, which seems completely insane now (although I came VERY close to getting that budget a few times). Also, I was a film purist. I was absolutely adamant about shooting on film. In the last 3 or 4 years, though, I feel that the digital technology has finally caught up to film, and it's gotten to the point where you can make a really great-looking movie for well under $100,000. There's no reason for an independent filmmaker to bother shooting on film at this point.

The great John Steiner is making his first film appearance in more than 20 years, what does it mean to you to have such an iconic figure in your film?

I'm still very overwhelmed that John is actually in my film. This is a guy who has worked with virtually all of the great Italian genre directors and with actors like Orson Welles, Malcolm McDowell, Sharon Tate and Helen Mirren. There's always been something special about John. He has a presence about him. He's not just some washed-up, has-been "cult" actor who desperately takes every role that's offered to him. As you said, he's been retired from acting for over 20 years. He's a very successful real estate agent in Beverly Hills these days, and he certainly didn't *need* to do 'Flash.' He told me that several directors had asked him to appear in their films over the years, but something about the way I asked him made him want to do this film. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but for some reason he could sense there was something special about this project. It was obviously very humbling for me to hear that.

What is your opinion on the state of the US horror movie scene at the moment?

Well, like any serious horror fan, I'm fed up with the remakes. The only good news in that department is that they're beginning to run out of films to remake!

On the bright side, though...if you look past the remakes, torture porn, and all the other awful, boring trends of the last 10 years, you'll actually find some good films. You have to do a lot more digging than you had to do in the 70s and early 80s, but still...there are some good films out there. What's promising is that so many horror directors these days are actually passionate fans of the genre. Let's be honest, many of our favorite directors, like George Romero and Wes Craven, were using the genre as a stepping stone to "bigger and better" things, and they certainly never wanted to be typecast as horror directors. But now you have directors like myself who would love to have that problem! It's just inevitable that some great, original films will be made in the coming years.

What directors have influenced you most?

Dario Argento is easily my biggest influence. When I first discovered SUSPIRIA in the late 80s, it was like a religious experience. I had always been a horror fan, but I had no idea what I was in for when I rented that film. I woke up the next day, not sure that I hadn't dreamt the whole thing! And of course SUSPIRIA was kind of my "gateway" into Italian horror and I eventually discovered all the other Italian masters, especially Bava and Fulci.

I'm not sure what's happened to Dario over the last 25 years, though. His films have become almost unwatchable. But we'll always have everything he made from THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE up through and including OPERA.

As far as non-Italian directors, I would say David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, George Romero, and Brian DePalma. Kubrick. Hitchcock (especially FRENZY and PSYCHO). Werner Herzog.

After this movie has been a massive hit, do you have any other projects upcoming?

I appreciate your optimism! Well, I can't name names yet or go into too much detail, but there is a certain horror novel that I'd like to adapt into a film. Nothing is official at this point and I don't even have the rights to the book yet, but I'm pretty confident that it will be my next film. Visually and musically, I imagine this film being very SHINING-esque and having a very different vibe from A FLASH OF THE BLADE. Right now, though, my main focus is on completing FLASH.

Shooting will drag on for a while, and before all is said and done, I will add a couple other 'cult' actors to the cast...but I'm not going overboard with it this time, and I'm trying to be a little more creative with who I get. Again, I want to get people that you don't see all the time, and John Steiner was a good start.

When should we see the finished film?

As far as a completion date goes...we're shooting the film in such a piecemeal fashion, it's difficult to say. I'll just say that it will definitely be completed by the end of the year.

Cranston McMillan is editor and publisher of the highly entertaining and popular fanzine Kontinental X.

DARK ARE THE WOODS (2013) Preview

2012-01-29T10:34:00.001Z

Aussie film production company T3N31 is proud to announce Dark Are the Woods, an independent horror movie starring Nick Principe, Bobby Rhodes, Elissa Dowling, Jessica Sterling, Sonya Louis, Carmel Rose and Daniel Cason, directed by Brian Vaughan and written and produced by horror artist Caid Rhymes has begun filming in Queensland, Australia.

Dark Are the Woods is the story of two backpackers and two locals who are caught by a cannibal inbred family and are tortured, abused and eaten. They escape out into the night, only to find something even more evil awaits them in the dark woods…

Dark Are The Woods already has a huge fan-following overseas and has an Australian flair which the film-makers are hoping will make this movie one of the greatest and goriest horror films ever made in Australia.

The crew will be lead by Director Brian Vaughan, who directed last year’s Gold Coast Vampire short film The Rarity, as well as Canadian Director of Photography April Hall, who has worked on television shows such as Smallville and Corner Gas. With a special effects crew trained by some of the best in the industry, Dark Are The Woods promises to be a gory feast for horror fans. Initial make-up and special effects designs are by Shane Ryan, a highly regarded dark artist who has featured on this very blog in the past.

You can follow the progress of this exciting Ozploitation movie on their website or on Facebook.

RAGE (2010) - review

2012-01-20T10:52:00.000Z

A guy from the suburbs heads into the city to break things off with his mistress and is then stalked by a mysterious black-leather clad biker. Things escalate as the biker follows the man to his home and terrorises his wife and neighbours...

Rage (2010) is an award-winning independent feature from writer and director Christopher R Witherspoon and draws its inspiration heavily from Steven Spielberg's Duel (1971) which is one of its biggest problems. It's all very well to pay homage to other films and even to openly acknowledge those influences within the film itself but to take on board those influences and not really go anywhere with them is a sin. Transplanting the setting of Duel's "man vs machine" template from the open desert landscape to a crowded city centre and a suburban neighbourhood is a clever concept but doesn't quite hang together or use the idea to its best advantage.

Rage continues with its Duel comparisons for the bulk of the film but then changes tack to become a melodramatic rape-revenge drama and stalk and slash hybrid for its final act, which although bringing the film to life, still doesn't really work or come across as convincing. The fact that I didn't feel in any way emotionally connected to the two main victims didn't help; our leading man comes across as a whiny victim type, feeling sorry for himself from the outset (not to mention cheating on his wife) and his wife is a bland/ "too good to be true" combo who we really know nothing about.

On the positive side, the film is technically very proficient and looks good, particularly for a low-budget indie. The action sequences involving the car and the motorbike are particularly effective and the cinematography is professional and draws you in to the story perhaps more than it deserves. The performances range from very strong to embarrasingly bad, particularly the "comedy relief" neighbours, which ruins some of the later potential for tension and suspense. On the whole, a film that didn't particularly appeal to me but that may entertain others and could make a killing on the home video market. I wish the film makers, especially Chris Witherspoon all the luck in the world and despite my reservations with this particular production, would still cite him as a talent to follow.

HORROR MOVIE MAGAZINES - The Rise of Print 2011 - 2012

2012-01-19T14:06:00.000Z

I am addicted to horror film magazines. Anyone who knows me or who reads this blog will be well aware of this fact and just to quantify, I am addicted to print horror film magazines, not websites or blogs (although I read many of those too) or Aps (which I just don't "get") but actual real printed magazines on paper that I can hold in my hands. It's been a passion of mine since I was about eight years old or so when I first started reading Monster Mag, House of Hammer and then Starlog and Starburst as well as a host of horror comics and books. Over the past few years people have tried to claim that "print is dead" and that "no-one reads magazines any more" but if the evidence of last year is anything to go by, nothing could be further from the truth with more genre magazines being published today than ever before; just look at the Cyberschizoid Horror Movie Magazines A-Z Guide for proof.

2011 was an amazing year for fans and collectors of horror and sci-fi movie magazines. The revamped Famous Monsters of Filmland was still trying to find its feet with some slight tweaking of its format, editors, writers and content, although I personally still find it lacklustre and somewhat lacking in personality; its Famous Monsters Underground spin-off was actually a lot better but was ironically cancelled after just one issue. Also ironic was that Freaky Monsters, a magazine based heavily on the original Famous Monsters format and published by former Famous Monsters editor Ray Ferry (are you keeping up?) captured the spirit of Forrest J Ackerman's creation much more successfully and has gone from strength to strength in the last year.

In Britain, Gorezone finally gave up the ghost (most would say that was a good thing!) and its much-vaunted relaunch never happened. The long-running Darkside rose from the grave and began selling out in stores across the UK and the young pretenders Shock Horror and Scream Magazine successfully carved themselves a small niche in the market and gained new fans. The UK also saw the launch of Bedabbled!, which focused on British horror films and Exquisite Terror, which aimed at the more intellectual genre magazine reader.

Across the pond (actually originating in Canada) Rue Morgue conquered all before it and continued to be the worlds biggest-selling horror culture magazine, whilst in the States yet another newcomer was born, Monsterpalooza, which I felt was glossy and attractive, with some good writing but somewhat lacked a distinct personality of its own, reminding me a little of Famous Monsters Version Three. But for a first issue, it was still well worth reading and it will be interesting to see how it evolves over the next twelve months. Also from the USA came Shadowland Magazine, a black and white fanzine-style publication which comes across as a joyfull celebration of sci-fi, horror and fantasy in all its forms. Put together by a team who are obviously passionate about the genre, Shadowland is definately one to watch and comes highly recommended.

Looking ahead to 2012, the big news is that the UK's Starburst magazine is returning to print as of February! Starburst was originally created by the legendary Dez Skinn way back in 1977 and continued through various publishers and changes in format until 2008 and has since been revived as a popular website. It will be interesting to see how the revamped magazine will fare against its main competitors SFX and Sci-Fi Now on the newstands but I hear rumour that Dez Skinn himself has some involvement which can only be a good thing.

Last but not least is a mention for Diabolique magazine which has offices on both sides of the pond. With its emphasis on all kinds of horror from around the world, in-depth articles and superb visuals, Diabolique launched in 2010 and really is another "one to watch". They are sponsoring the next Frighten Brighton horror event in the UK alongside Hemlock Books and are taking an active interest in all spectrums of the horror genre from feature films to shorts, books to magazines, movie screenings and festivals and beyond.

Relevant links and websites:

Bedabbled!
Darkside
Dez Skinn
Diabolique
Exquisite Terror
Famous Monsters
Freaky Monsters
Frighten Brighton
Monsterpalooza
Rue Morgue
Scream Magazine
Shadowland Magazine
Shock Horror
Starburst

Kontinental X Rocks!

2012-01-14T22:57:00.002Z

Once again Cyberschizoid takes a look at one of the best fanzines on the market, definately one of our favourites, Kontinental X. There have been two more issues published since we last took a look at this old-school A5 zine, issue 6 and a "John Steiner Special Issue" which covers exclusively the career of Italian exploitation actor John Steiner.

Let's start off with issue 6 which features a look at the exploitation career of gorgeous British actress Judy Geeson, beginning with the late sixties, through the seventies and finishing in the early eighties with UK sci-fi shocker Inseminoid (1981). Ms Geeson has always been a particular favourite of mine ever since her guest appearance on the superb science-fiction television show Space:1999 in 1975. Not only is she extremely easy on the eye, she is also an outstanding and underrated actress whose movies include Hammer's Fear in the Night (1972) opposite Joan Collins and Peter Cushing and the classic thriller 10 Rillington Place (1971).

Kontinental X issue 6 also includes part one of an English-language reprint of Italian erotic comic strip Wallestein, which can only be described as violent, sexy and cool! Add to this part two of an overview of actor Chris Chittel's b-movie career and the resurgence of VHS videos as a collectible commodity and once again you have a totally fascinating and eclectic selection of articles and comics. You can now buy issues of Kontinental X from the Strange Vice website. Highly recommended!

And finally a quick plug for the Kontinental X John Steiner Special Issue. Personally I am not usually a big fan of magazines "special issues" which only cover one subject, especially if I've never heard of the subject in question. However, Cranston McMillan is such an enjoyable writer and is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his subject matter that he could probably write about the old BBC Test Card and make it interesting. I now know that John Steiner had an amazing exploitation career in Italian cinema during the seventies and eighties and want to actively hunt out and watch a bunch of his movies including May Morning (1970) and Hunters of the Golden Cobra (1982). So do yourself a favour and grab yourself some Kontinental X action; you won't be disappointed.

Relevant links and websites:

Strange Vice
The Site of Movie Magazines

THE CODE : Award Winning New Horror Short!

2012-01-08T17:17:00.001Z

Here at Cyberschizoid we are constantly on the look-out for new horror stuff and short films are currently one of our major passions. We invite you all to check out this award-winning comedy horror short from film maker Taylor Brandt which was created for the Splatterfest horror festival in Houston, Texas.

A spoof on horror movie cliches, The Code is sharp, witty and well-acted. Few horror icons escape their satirical claws from Buffy the Vampire Slayer through Friday 13th by way of Romero's zombies and even Big Foot! The Code received eleven awards including best director, best film and best special effects. Watch the movie for yourselves and place your comments below! Enjoy!

The Code - watch more funny videos

Wonder Woman 2011 - Was It Really So Bad?

2012-01-06T19:51:00.000Z

Wonder Woman, the iconic DC Comics superheroine, previously played by Lynda Carter in the seventies, almost made a return to our television screens last year in the form of a pilot show for the NBC network. Fans across the world were excited and hopeful that the show would be picked up and commissioned for a full season, but sadly this was not meant to be. Cyberschizoid has watched the unaired pilot, starring Adrianne Palicki as the legendary Amazon and looks at what went wrong with the all new Wonder Woman.

Where do I start? Probably the show's two biggest failings are the total miscasting of Wonder Woman herself and the producers disastrous attempts at playing around with the characters mythology; trying to reinvent the show in a smug, dated, post-modern ironic fashion, which actually went OUT of fashion in the late nineties. In this version, Wonder Woman doesn't appear to have an alter-ego as such, or she does but the whole world knows it. Or something. The format is so muddled that its really hard to tell what the writers are trying to do. The fact that Wonder Woman funds her crime-fighting by marketing her persona as a doll/action figure and uses the profits from the merchandise in this way could have been quite clever and fun, but none of this really hangs together in any kind of logical way. There is no real back-story to explain who Wonder Woman really is or what motivates her so she ends up becoming just a vacuous blow-up doll with the emotional depth of one of her own action figures.

Adrianne Palicki just doesn't work as Wonder Woman at all. She is way too young and comes across more like a sulky teenager than a strong, powerful role-model for women. The character is also written as an over-violent criminal-killing bully; she has none of the charm or earnest conviction that made Lynda Carter so perfect in the role back in the seventies. Ironically, I watched a recent television interview with Lynda just last week and despite being almost sixty years old, she still looks good enough to be playing Wonder Woman today!

Another controversy amongst fans in regards to the Wonder Woman pilot is the redesigned costume but to be honest, the fact that they have replaced the shorts with leggings isn't such a big deal. At least they have kept the basic red, white and blue template and she still looks like she has jumped from the pages of a comicbook, although the costume does look a bit cheap overall.

Surprisingly, perhaps the only thing about this failed pilot that works is the casting of Elizabeth Hurley in the role of the shows villain, Veronica Cale. Sadly underused, Ms. Hurley looks absolutely stunning throughout and puts in a well-balanced performance, just the right side of camp, which would have fitted in perfectly had the rest of the show actually been well-written and better cast. It's a sad day when Wonder Woman's nemesis is more attractive, looks fitter and has more charm and character than Wonder Woman herself! All in all, I still think a new version of Wonder Woman could work, but with a different producer, different writers and a new cast.

Shadowland's Popularity Continues To Grow

2011-12-30T22:07:00.000Z

New horror, sci-fi and fantasy magazine Shadowland continues to go from strength to strength with its second issue. Boasting 56 black and white pages bursting to the seams with in-depth articles, reviews and interviews, Shadowland is a worthy successor to those classic genre magazines of the seventies and eighties. Coming on like the illegitimate son of Starburst and Starlog, the magazines strengths are the engaging enthusiasm of the writing staff and the eclectic mix of genres and media covered.

An incredibly in-depth look at William Castle's seventies anthology television series Ghost Story rubs shoulders with an overview of Japanese superhero The Guyver in all his incarnations alongside a discussion on classic horror films vs slasher movies. There is also coverage of the Amityville Horror movie franchise, a look at the Spanish Blind Dead movies as well as an article on breakfast cereals featuring or inspired by monster, sci-fi and horror movie characters!

Shadowland is now distributed within the UK by the excellent Hemlock Books or you can order copies from their own website as well as follow their blog for all the latest monster news, views and opinions.

Relevant links :

Shadowland Magazine
Hemlock Books
Starburst Magazine
Horror Movie Magazines A-Z Guide

The Horror Community and The Christmas Spirit

2011-12-20T21:17:00.001Z

Regular readers will know that I don't usually use this blog to share personal thoughts or experiences apart from my opinions on the odd horror movie, tv show or monster magazine. But this has been a particularly difficult year for me; one which has caused me to reflect on a lot of personal things, people, family and the horror community.

This year I nearly died, I was virtually pennyless for a time, have been let down badly by various people and currently live in some form of pain to a greater or lesser degree every single day. But one thing which really opened my eyes and surprised me in a very good and positive way over the last twelve months is how amazingly supportive, kind and generous the horror community is towards me and each other. Sure, everyone falls out and bitches about each other from time to time and there will always be a few rotten eggs in the basket as there are in every community but on the whole, we are an awesome bunch. All of you out there who read this blog, read the horror magazines, watch the monster movies old and new, share your own opinions on blogs, websites and horror forums across the world need to pat yourselves on the back and appreciate how lucky you all are to be part of such a cool crowd.

Earlier this year I was in such a low place; with depression, a disfiguring skin condition and my confidence and self-esteem in shreds. But you lot kept me going. When I felt too ugly and hideous to leave the house, scared that I'd be ridiculed and treated like one of Tod Browning's Freaks I still had to venture out and present (alongside the amazing Scare Sarah) our Classic Horror Campaign double bills. And despite the way I looked and felt, no-one judged me, no-one ridiculed me or tried to make me feel bad. In fact, quite the opposite. The acceptance and warmth of the people I've met both in person and online over this last year have lifted me up and helped speed my recovery. My confidence has grown and my faith in human nature restored.

Through the online communities and social networks I have witnessed people openly supporting each others projects, films, books and events. I have seen horror movies funded, horror plays performed and horror literature self-published and promoted by like-minded individuals who are all share a passion for horror and also, by the looks of things, for life and their fellow human beings.

So as it's nearly Christmas and the time of year which is often both refective and celebratory I just wanted to take the time out to thank all of those who have stood by me, helped me and supported me in so many ways. Whether it's by retweeting a review or blogpost or having a deep and meaningful conversation, signing the Classic Horror Campaign petition, or just making me laugh with some crazy comment or silly video on Youtube. Thank you. And don't ever forget that we are all part of one big community and a small amount of help and kindness can go a long, long way. So enough of all the sentimentality! Have a scary christmas and a happy new fear!!!

Lots of love and horror hugs.
Cyberschizoid xxxx

Flakey's Feline Fear Flicks!

2011-12-14T23:18:00.001Z

Today our guest columnist is Cyberschizoid Towers' resident black cat Flakey and true to form she has chosen to look at her favourite horror films featuring some petrifying pussies!

What do you mean "there's no text"? Of course there's no text - Flakey's a cat!! Feel free to share your favourite cat-infested horror movies with us and in the meantime why not check out this excellent blog The Horror Cats ! Miaow!

Are You Ready For A Scary Xmas...?

2011-12-08T20:06:00.001Z

Coming to the Roxy Bar and Screen this Sunday! A Scary Xmas...featuring a classic horror double bill of Curse of the Cat People (1944) and Tales From the Crypt (1972)!
Thrill! To the ghostly ghosts!
Scream! At the killer Santa!
Marvel! At the seventies outfits!
Shiver! At the spooky atmosphere!
Win prizes! In Cyberschizoid's Horror Quiz!
Don't delay - book your tickets today!

Useful links :

WeGotTickets

Roxy Bar and Screen

Classic Horror Campaign

Jenny Ringo and the Monkey's Paw

2011-12-02T15:57:00.001Z

Jenny Ringo and the Monkey's Paw is a brand new short film from the multi-talented Uk film maker Chris Regan. We recently spoke to Chris and he gave us the background to this quirky dark comedy.

"Jenny Ringo was a character I used to write short stories about when I was at university, then later she turned up in a couple of feature scripts I wrote that never really went anywhere. When I decided to make a short film she was the obvious starting point, but the story really developed from watching other short films. I wanted to make a short that told a proper story about characters going on an adventure, and I wanted to fill it with things like the monster tongue and the musical number; things you never usually see in no-budget shorts. It was perhaps a bit too ambitious and took a year and a half too finish rather than the 6 months I’d planned for it, but I’m really happy with the result.

I was very lucky with the two lead actors Rosie Duncan and Lukas Habberton who were way better than a first time director really deserved and added a level of depth to the characters that I would’ve struggled to express if they hadn’t been so brilliant. I think Simon Messingham did a fantastic job as the magician too and really had a lot of fun with the role despite having to wear excessive layers of clothing whilst filming in a stuffy theatre on the hottest day of the year.

I also wanted to have a film produced that was true to the kind of projects I’m really interested in. As a writer I’ve mostly been working in the action genre – I wrote a micro-budget British action film called Ten Dead Men and the projects I’ve been developing since then have all been pretty similar. I think Jenny Ringo and the Monkey Paw represents the type of film I’m more interested in making. I always refer to it as a horror film, which probably seems odd as I know it comes across as more of a comedy, but I was adamant that the magic in the film would always have severe horror film consequences. I’m a huge M.R. James fan and I love the fact that they seem like these quaint little ghost stories but no matter what the main character does the ghost always gets them in the end. I wanted to tell that kind of story with Jenny Ringo.

I’m currently working on a sequel, but in the hope of actually getting better at directing I’ve handed the writing over to a friend so I can concentrate on the visual side. We’ve come up with a really great story and again there should be a few more things you don’t usually see in short films! I’ve set up a mailing list at www.jennyringo.com so if anyone wants to find out how they can see this film and follow our progress on the sequel please go along and sign up."

Jenny Ringo and the Monkey's Paw is a rare treat for fans of horror shorts with its combination of humour, strong characters, good performances and even an exceptionally well put together song and dance number! It tells the story of two best friends who share a flat and what happens when one of the flatmates happens upon a mysterious magician who gives him a monkey's paw. If you're familiar with the famous monkey's paw tale then you'll know that it grants three wishes to the person who holds it. However, those wishes all come with a price...

Considering it was made on a zero budget, Jenny Ringo's production values are surprisingly high and I am very intrigued to see what Chris could produce given a budget (any budget!). I like to think of this movie as the kind of product that BBC3 should be making and promoting with it's quirky story, young leads and Generation Y sensibilities. In fact, I could picture this as a regular series of bizarre short stories, like an anthology but featuring the same ongoing main characters. BBC3 or E4 are you listening?

Links relevant to this review :

Jenny Ringo

Jenny Ringo and the Monkey's Paw (Facebook)

Jenny Ringo (IMDB)

Writer By Night

Moviebar

HORROR MOVIE MAGAZINES A-Z Guide Part Six

2011-11-25T21:47:00.001Z

Undying Monsters

US magazine, glossy, black & white, 80 pages approx

Another magazine focusing on horror's "ghoulden age" and specialising in old-school "filmbooks", retelling the full plotline of a classic horror movie illustrated with numerous stills and screen shots. The magazine's strengths are the superb visuals and its obvious love and knowledge of the subject matter. Check out their website here.

Van Helsing's Journal

US magazine, black & white, 80 pages approx

A serious and fairly in-depth look at fantasy, sci-fi and horror films which is let down by an unattractive and somewhat cheap looking layout.

Video Watchdog

US magazine, glossy, colour, A5 format, 80 pages approx

One of the most respected cult movie zines which is always packed with reviews, interviews and features on fantasy movies and television past and present. Extremely in-depth and a stickler for detail, Video Watchdog is very readable and comes highly recommended. Check out their website here.

Videoscope

US magazine, black & white, 68 pages

It's full title is Phantom of the Movies Videoscope and this informative magazine has been running since 1993 but often seems to be overlooked by genre magazine fans, which is a shame as its mix of cult movie reviews and exclusive interviews is highly entertaining. Find out more information on their website.

Vintage Monsters

German magazine, color, glossy

I haven't actually seen any issues of Vintage Monsters although I've been informed that it is a mainly visual look at old sci-fi, horror and fantasy films with text in both English and German. If anyone has read any issues and has any more information please get in touch. You can find their website here.

CREEPY IMAGES "In Shocking Color!!"

2011-11-12T08:59:00.001Z

The cult horror movie magazine Creepy Images reaches issue #8 with an awesome look at Spanish promotional material for The Evil Dead (Posesion Infernal), Japanese lobby cards for Would You Kill a Child and a history of Italian movie posters.

Creepy Images is a publication which perfectly highlights the range and diversity of horror film magazines currently being published around the world. There is the in-depth academia of Exquisite Terror, Diabolique and Latarnia Fantastique International; the fun and nostalgia of Scary Monsters, Monster Bash and Freaky Monsters; the eclectic mix of classic horror and current genre trends of Rue Morgue, Famous Monsters and Horrorhound and the indie/punk sensibilities of Shock Horror and Ultra Violent.

Creepy Images takes an almost completely visual stance with its A5, full-colour, glossy format and focus on film posters, lobby cards and other pictorial memorabilia and marketing media. Horror is such an intensely visual medium that in many ways this is the perfect way to approach these classic horror and exploitation movies. If you haven't already sampled a copy, I would highly recommend this beautiful-looking magazine to any cult movie afficianado. But hurry...issue one is almost completely sold out!

Recommended links and websites related to this review:

Creepy Images
Diabolique
Exquisite Terror
Latarnia Fantastique International
Famous Monsters
Freaky Monsters
Monster Bash
Horrorhound
Rue Morgue
Shock Horror
Ultra Violent

HORROR MOVIE MAGAZINES A-Z Guide Part Five

2011-11-06T19:58:00.000Z

SCREEM

US magazine, color/black&white, glossy, 64 pages

Screem first came on the scene back in 1993 and is a nice mix of reviews, interviews and features on all areas of cult cinema. What I particularly like about Screem is that it doesn't shy away from the more bizarre and obscure...in fact, it embraces them wholeheartedly! Worth checking out, you can order copies from their website.

SFX

UK magazine, color, glossy, 100 pages approx

Focusing primarily on science-fiction on television and in movies, SFX was initially like the more "hip" younger cousin to the now defunct Starburst; now it is the longest-running and most popular sci-fi mag out there. It also features regular coverage of the horror genre and a new horror columnist called Penny Dreadful. Check out their website for more info.

Shadowland Magazine

US magazine, black & white, 56 pages

A new addition to the plethora of monster movie magazines, Shadowland has just launched its second issue. A throwback in many ways to the early days of Starburst and Starlog, these guys cover all forms of horror, sci-fi and fantasy with a real sense of fun. Check out their website.

SHOCK CINEMA

US magazine, black & white, glossy, 40 pages approx

Another mag that's been around for some time, there is a lot of love and respect out there for Shock Cinema. Excellent coverage of exploitation, blaxploitation, cult, horror and underground movies. If you're a regular reader of Cyberschizoid, you need to treat yourself to a copy of Shock Cinema. You can get yours here!

Shock Horror Magazine

UK magazine, color, glossy, 48 pages

Launched just over a year ago by ex Gorezone UK writer Dean Boor, Shock Horror is printed on extremely thick high-quality paper and aims itself strongly at the indie horror fan. Extensive coverage of "scream queens", tattoos and rock music sits alongside regular nods to classic horror icons such as Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. Check out their website here.

Ultra Violent

US magazine, black & white, 112 pages

Produced at the rate of about one issue per year, Ultra Violent takes an in-depth look at horror, sleaze and exploitation cinema. Some very bizarre and obscure stuff is covered by extensive interviews and reviews of films you've probably never heard of! Check out their website here!

EXQUISITE TERROR - Brand New Horror Magazine

2011-11-06T11:08:00.000Z

A brand new horror film magazine recently dropped through my mail box and highlighted an interesting trend in todays horror publications. When monster magazines first started in the fifties with Famous Monsters of Filmland they were aimed squarely at kids. It wasn't until the 1960's when Castle of Frankenstein launched that some magazines began to take a more intelectual, critical and even political look at films and the horror genre in particular. Even so, as the decades rolled on, most horror magazines, with a few exceptions, still seemed to aim at either the "gorehound" (Fangoria, Gorezone etc) or just concentrated on the more fun and visual aspects of the genre (The Monster Times, House of Hammer, Shivers) never going much deeper than a few behind-the-scenes articles, film reviews and shallow genre overviews.

But lately there seems to be an increasing number of publications which are looking at horror films and the entire genre on a much deeper level, delving into its socio-political aspects and publishing in-depth essays which analyse the fantasy genre in a respectful yet (when necessary) critical manner. Step forward Diabolique, Bedabbled!, Paracinema and now Exquisite Terror.

Exquisite Terror is the brainchild of ex-Gorezone UK writer Naila Scargill, but don't let that put you off. GZ magazine, despite its over-emphasis on Playboy-style photoshoots, cheap and nasty direct-to-dvd gore flicks and lads' mag sensibilities actually employed some excellent writers and published some intelligent and insightful articles hidden amongst the gloss and dross. Naila herself has certainly chosen to take a very different path in her own publication and takes a more academic approach to the genre. Issue one is a black and white, A5-sized 40-page glossy fanzine and includes an in-depth look at Donald Sutherland's genre films of the seventies, an analysis of Bram Stoker and Stephen King's take on vampirism and a review of recent giallo styled thriller Julia's Eyes amongst other interesting articles and interviews.

Exquisite Terror issue one is a fascinating addition to the ever expanding world of print horror magazines and I am interested to see where Naila takes us next. My only criticism is that I would very much like to see a more visual approach to the next issue, especially as issue one includes some excellent (specially commissioned?) artwork from Paul Talbot to illustrate some of the text. I don't care about lots and lots of film stills as these images can be found elsewhere in other magazines but it would be wonderful to see more exclusive artwork to complement the articles, much along the lines of UK film magazine New Empress. If you would like to order a copy of Exquisite Terror issue one then please head over to their webpage. You can also follow them on Facebook.

Recommended links and webpages related to this review:

Famous Monsters of Filmland

Moviemags

New Empress

Latarnia Fantastique International

HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE 2011

2011-10-29T10:38:00.000+01:00

The Classic Horror Campaign is currently running a Halloween Challenge for 2011 and your help is needed! They are campaigning to get the BBC to bring back their iconic classic horror double bill seasons which used to run on Saturday nights on BBC2. Once 2000 signatures have been reached they will present their petition to the BBC! There are currently over 1900 signatures - can you help the Classic Horror Campaign reach the magic 2000 by midnight of October 31st???

Just head on over to the petition, sign your name and leave a comment if you wish. It takes just a few seconds...and it's free! Help bring these classic films to a whole new generation of fans and make Saturday night viewing fun once more!

While you're at it, why not email the BBC and ask them to bring back their classic horror double bills? If you email the BBC and copy in admin@classichorrorcampaign.com you could win a cool classic horror prize!

CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW

2011-10-28T17:45:00.001+01:00

The year is 1948 and the United States has a new enemy, The Phantom Shadow. This dark figure has diabolical plans for captured scientist, Dr. Hammond, and his War Department weapons of mass destruction. Upon the Phantom Shadow launching a treacherous missile attack on key locations in the United States, the government takes action.

There is only one man to call, Agent 236, an elite government agent. Agent 236 has been dispatched to launch a rescue.

Along the way, Agent 236 is befriended by a spunky, sarcastic, gas station attendant who just happens to have pinup girl good looks. She also just happens to be looking for a little action,and excitement. Luckily, Agent 236 is the man of her dreams. Agent 236 puts the station attendant and her tow truck into service in pursuit of the Phantom Shadow.

This is the premise of a brand new short film currently being produced by independent film producer Mark Ross in the Las Vegas area. The movie is a homage to B-movies, Dick Tracy, Republic movie serials, comic books and pulp novels and magazines of the 1930's and 40's. The film takes place in 1948 and the filmakers are currently trying to raise funds to finish the production.

I asked Mark to tell me a little about himself and his influences and here is what he had to say:

"Growing up I was always around movies. My father was a cinematographer, as well as engineer. Additionally, my parents were 16mm film collectors. We had a screening room in our basement in Boston. We had a 16mm, and a Super 8 movie projector. Before there were VCRs, DVDs, or Blue Rays we were watching movies on actual film. By the time I was in 4th grade my father taught me stop motion animation and gave me my first movie camera.

As a kid I was a huge Star Wars fan. I learned that Star Wars had a huge influence from old movie serials, and pulps. I became a huge fan of the old Republic movie serials, pulp magazines, and Big Little Books. When it came time for me to shoot my first film, I knew where to draw my source material from."

If you would like to support this worthy endeavour then head over to the Curse of the Phantom Shadow Kickstarter page where you can find out more.

BRIGHTON ZOMBIE WALK 2011!

2011-10-22T17:19:00.000+01:00

I had an unexpected surprise today. Whilst walking through my home town of Brighton, England, I stumbled across the 2011 Brighton Zombie Walk! Hundreds, if not thousands of people dressed as zombies; all ages, all genders and various mixes from different parts of society all coming together for a peacefull stroll through Brighton. No violence, no anger; just smiles, laughter and good clean family fun. A congregation of like-minded horror and zombie fans scaring the passers-by with their growls, moans and occasional cries of "brains"!

As the Autumn sunshine shone through the trees it struck me how ironic it was that these crowds of people were all influenced and inspired by the most violent and gory of horror movies, television, literature and video games and yet were the most gentle and warm-hearted gathering I've seen in Brighton or any city for a long time. I've always found with punks, heavy metal fans, goths and horror fanatics that you couldn't meet a nicer, sweeter, more thoughtful bunch of individuals. How funny that the living dead can become so life-affirming!

And so I eventually left the hoard of zombies to carry on their peaceful hunt for human flesh and headed home to prepare for my own Saturday night zombie fest...Hammer's Plague of the Zombies, screening tonight on the Horror Channel at 11:10pm.

GORE NOIR Magazine

2011-10-16T21:50:00.001+01:00

Cyberschizoid's attention has recently been drawn to a new horror magazine which actually focuses on horror culture or lifestyle as opposed to horror films. In fact, Gore Noir magazine consciously avoids the subject of movies altogether in order to focus entirely upon artists, models, tattoos and music; "all the kind of things that has to do with horror that the other guys just gloss over" according to Mitch Rafter, the mastermind behind Gore Noir.

Whilst applauding his attempts to produce a horror magazine with a different slant, I can't help feeling that so far he's perhaps missed a trick a little. Or it could be that as a massive film and television fanatic Gore Noir just doesn't appeal to my personal sensibilities. Pictures of half naked girls (or guys for that matter) rolling around in fake blood for horror photoshoots just doesn't cut it for me but having said that you've only got to spend half an hour or so on Tumblr to realise that there's actually a big market out there for this stuff, particularly amongst the angst ridden goth and teen crowd.

So putting some of my personal tastes aside I think Gore Noir is well-produced, well-written and is possibly filling some kind of gap in the market. As a horror mag that avoids the usual subjects of film and television I am disappointed that despite their coverage of artists there are no horror comic strips included within its pages. There is also no short fiction or coverage of horror literature which also seems a shame; after all, books and storytelling are the roots of the whole genre in the first place. But this is only issue two and the guys behind Gore Noir are very open to feedback and suggestions, making this an organic, ever-growing publication.

Things I'd like to see in future issues? Certainly some original short fiction and unique horror comics; some gothic horror photography (they need to get in touch with horror photographer Amanda Norman for this); coverage of live theatre events, plays and shows; a look at horror radio broadcasts and horror art through the years (not just new stuff but a look back at the roots of horror-influenced artwork over the centuries). All in all, I wish these guys good luck with this project and will definately be keeping an eye on them over the next few issues.

You can follow Gore Noir on Facebook and Myspace.

BEDDABLED! Issue Two!

2011-10-14T09:14:00.000+01:00

In our never-ending quest to read at least one issue of every horror magazine in existence, Cyberschizoid delves into issue number two of a fairly niche publication which looks exclusively at the world of British horror and cult cinema. Bedabbled! is 60 pages of interesting and in-depth articles and interviews on the theme of "cult of Satan", looking at such delights as Norman J Warren's Satan's Slave, the fairly obscure Nothing But the Night and the erotic Virgin Witch amongst other nostalgic delights.

The writing is intelligent but accessible and the pure love of British horror in all its forms shines through, although that's not to say that the writers involved don't look at these productions with a critical eye. Sarah Morgan's piece on Nothing But the Night (1972) gives both a fascinating overview of the gestation and production of this possibly underrated minor classic as well as a fair and honest critique. Sarah acknowledges that this is not a perfect film by any means but is able to look at both the positives and negatives with an unbiased eye.

I would say that if you are a true fan of classic horror and cult cinema from Britain in particular, you really should invest in a copy of Bedabbled! If you've ever read either of the two Creeping Flesh books from Headpress publications, you'll have some idea of what to expect as Bedabbled! sometimes feels like a natural extension of what those writers were trying to achieve; a celebration of British exploitation pictures and sometimes obscure horror cinema.

To order your copy all you have to do is email bedabbled@hotmail.co.uk
You can also follow Bedabbled! on their Facebook page.

THE DEAD - Zombies Go To Africa!

2011-10-07T10:37:00.000+01:00

A zombie outbreak has overrun the African continent. A plane crashes somewhere in Africa and one American soldier fights the living dead and the harsh elements as he tries to reach sanctuary. Along the way he is helped by Daniel, an African soldier and together they go in search of Daniel's missing son.

The Dead is an independent horror film made by Howard J. Ford and his brother Jon shot on location in Africa. The cast and crew were almost killed whilst making this picture,even being held up at gunpoint along the way. But what of the film itself? Does it match up to the fascinating stories behind its creation? Well....not quite.

The major problem with The Dead is the lack of empathy with any characters. Our hero, Lieutenant Brian Murphy, trudges across the African plains shooting one living corpse after another and hooks up for a while with African soldier Daniel Dembele, who is searching for his missing son. There is little dialogue and events seem to just occur, one after the other conveyor belt fashion, with the narrative feeling more like an exceptionally slow computer game scenario rather than an engaging tale of one man triumping over the odds. The scenery is stunning and the atmosphere at times pretty creepy but the film is soooooo slooooow that it just seems to drag on forever. One tends to think that a documentary about the making of The Dead would have been more interesting than the actual finished product.

Overall, for me, The Dead was a disappointment but contains interesting elements which make me intrigued to see what the Ford brothers will come up with next. Because of the films intensely moody atmosphere and setting it actually got me thinking that a remake of the classic Val Lewton picture I Walked With a Zombie would be very interesting to see. Given a decent script with a strong storyline and characters, who knows what these boys could do with a modern update of this iconic film.

GREAT HORROR GIVEAWAYS!

2011-10-02T11:26:00.001+01:00

Our sister site over at the Classic Horror Campaign is currently giving away some great classic horror prizes in some awesome competitions and free prize draws!

Hop on over to the CREEPY COMPETITIONS page and you could be in with a chance of winning a classic horror Frankenstein T-shirt courtesy of MoreTvicar.com, a subscription to brand new movie magazine New Empress or a mystery classic horror prize!!

Good luck and don't forget to sign the Classic Horror Campaign petition! It's free!