Dollar Bin Horror

The 2013 Oldschool Sinema Spring Cleveland Zombie Walk Recap (finally!)

2013-05-14T19:17:00.002-05:00

This being my 7th zombie walk, you'd think it would be the same thing over again, right? Well nothing could be further from the truth! This year, I did something completely new to get a different perspective of the walk...I didn't go as a zombie! I decided to see what being a survivor with The Z.E.R.O.S. (Zombie Eradication & Rescue Operations Squad)...and I gotta say, it's even better to kill than be killed!

The Z.E.R.O.S. are a group of zombie killers from the Cleveland area who all help to keep the zombie apocalypse in check at all of the OSS walks in Ohio. Headed by miss Bruiseher Sweetbottoms (seen above in the blonde wig) and Ryan Cunningham (seen in the center of the top photo), they not only help keep all of Ohio safe from the undead...but they also help keep the undead safe from on-coming cars and stuff while walking. They always stay in character while keeping the zombie group together during the course of the walk and are a group of some of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Ryan even offered me a place in the group (meaning for future walks, I will stay in my survivor character) and after seeing how amazing it is to be a survivor, how could I say no?!?! Ryan in also currently working on a novel using the "characters" of The Z.E.R.O.S. (he is creating a bio for each member and I got a small glimpse of his plans for mine...he is so badass in character that it's almost shocking to see how wonderfully nice and courteous he is to talk to). You can find out more about The Z.E.R.O.S. by liking their Facebook Page HERE. There were other survivor groups there as well, including Umbrella Corp and their kickass car (pictured at the bottom of this post) You can like their Ohio/Michigan branch on FB HERE.

But even the best of us have close calls...Ginger Rose is a FANTASTIC makeup artist who likes to top herself every walk...this time was no exception as her clown almost had me...

...ALMOST! HA HA HA!

It's also a sad day when you have to put down Jesus...but you gotta do what you gotta do to protect the living!

Jason Nagy from Zombiesandtoys.com (we all LOVE that blog!!!) was also on hand selling awesome zombie toys (of course) Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic with his this time, but had to mention the kick ass little zombie robot I got!!! It's called a Hexbug and it's the cutest little thing ever! It's a simple little "robot" that moves by vibration...but it's just so damn cute!!! You can get one (and all other kinds of zombie goodies) HERE!

But let's not overlook what the OSS walks are for...charity! The walk was $5 and two cans of food, all of which go to Harvest For Hunger.With around 600 zombies (and survivors) in attendance, over 2,000 pounds of food was raised to help the needy in our local area!!! Joe (above) from Oldschool Sinema (like their FB HERE) is the man behind all of this and I cannot say enough great things about him and what he does. Not only does OSS make GREAT horror films, but he has a great heart and we are all grateful to be able to be a small part of something bigger!

And I also wanted to briefly share a little local treasure I found at the walk. This is a local punk/horror singer/band known as The Creeper and his Pals. Got their CD (well, two actually). I really liked the old style punk mixed with the horror themed lyrics to a lot of the songs on the albums and thought it was worth a share. I'll do a more in depth post soon about em, but in the mean time check out their FB HERE!

Here's a few more selected pics from the walk! The next one will be in September and if you're in Cleveland/Lakewood then, come out for the fun!!!

A Slight Change of Plans...

2013-05-10T11:47:00.001-05:00

Sup Reaps...Eric here...The return of Dollar Bin Horror Radio has been moved backed from May 19th to June 2nd due to scheduling conflicts...So join us now Sunday, June 2nd as The Reaper and myself make our return to the digital airwaves with Rock-N-Roll Horror Radio starting at 7pm est followed by the BIG Halloween Horror Movie Marathon Madness Announcement show at 7:30 pm est featuring The Head Hauntress Mrs. Elizabeth Gray. Join us or be turned into a rat!

It's Backkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!

2013-04-29T16:05:00.001-05:00

Sup Reaps!!! Eric here and I am more pleased than Jason Voorhees in a camp filled with horny teens to announce that, after a 5 month absence, Dollar Bin Horror Radio will be making its return to the internet air waves Sunday May 19th at 7pm EST as Head Hauntress of the Facebook Halloween Horror Movie Madness Marathon, Mrs. Elizabeth Gray will be announcing the theme to this year's BIG contest and introduce the judges who will be the overlords of this latest edition of the most exciting contest this side of a Shirley Jackson story.

Rock-N-Roll Horror Radio at 7 pm EST, Halloween Horror Movie Madness Marathon Announcement at 7:30 pm EST. Join Rhonny Reaper and yours truly for what is truly going to be an epic night.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!!! I am also happy to announce that the DBHR will be returning on a weekly basis beginning Sunday June 9th on our new day, Sunday nights at 7 pm EST. It will be Ms. Rhonny Reaper and myself starting a brand-new era of horror radio. Settle back and relax, Reapling Nation. Things just got real!

Dollar Bin Horror Review - Bubba Ho-Tep

2013-04-27T07:34:00.000-05:00

"Elvis" and "JFK", both alive and in nursing homes, fight for the souls of their fellow residents as they battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy.

Ok most of you have seen this film, but for those of you who haven't, let me try and explain this to you...
Bruce Campbell plays "Elvis" (or a man who believes he really is Elvis and switched himself out with the best damn impersonator he ever met who like drugs and fast food even more than he did) who now lives in a nursing home with a growth on his pecker (best line in the movie by the way). His one friend is a black man who believes he is JFK (stick with me). A lot of the residents are dying and the staff assumes it's old age...but Elvis and JFK soon realize it's actually an ancient mummy (in a mofo cowboy suit I may add) who sucks souls out of an orifice of the victim's body to stay alive (namely...their assholes).
Now, I know this sounds like a really bad plot that might make you wanna say what the fuck did I just read (or maybe you like it, either way, it's a WTF moment)...but there's a reason horror fans (and even Roger Ebert) liked this film. Why you ask? Because despite the craziness of it all, the film stands out as heartwarming as we learn more about our two heroes (seriously, when the one resident who thought he was a cowboy hero tried to shoot the mummy with his toy pistols got killed, I actually teared up a little...it was sad!) and is packed with funny one liners (lots), pretty cool action for a nursing home, and Bruce Campbell's portrayal of The King (even if it's not really The King) is pretty fucking dead on! They really need to make a movie of Elvis' life and have him star (seriously, he really had that shit down! The voice and everything!). And even with the plot's craziness, the script is superbly written with the dialogue being 100% believable and doing the job of pulling you into the story.
As crazy as it may be, Bubba Ho-Tep is a fantastic flick that everyone should see at LEAST once...if not for anything else, to see the best damn Elvis there has been...except for the real one that is.

And since Elvis did say "Viva Las Vegas", check out this list of The Best and Worst of Horror Films Set in Las Vegas from casinotoplists.com!

DBH Redbox Theatre:Smiley(2012)

2013-04-18T12:59:00.001-05:00

By Eric Polk-
It's been awhile since I've written an actual movie review, let's see if I can remember the beats. As you may or may not know, one of my two favorite sub-genres of horror is the slasher. Yes, it's very formulaic and at times silly but as my dad once said, "If you've got ten bucks and you're going to the titty bar, you'd better get the most bang for your buck." One of the old man's best bon mots. Anyway, it is true the majority of slashers I've watched over the years have disappointed me, but once in a great while, you find that muddy diamond in the toxic waste of celluloid. This is the case of last year's Smiley.

This movie takes the Candyman and Bloody Mary mythos and puts a modern-day spin on the tale. An urban legend about video chatting online and typing "I did it for the lulz" is told in the opening scene and comes to fruition for a poor bastard. Later on, a young, naive college student Ashley and roommate Proxy move into a house together. After getting acquainted they go to a party hosted by Zane, an internet hacker, and Binder. At the party Ashley hears the story of Smiley and doubts its reality. The next day Ashley and Proxy decide to try the Smiley test by typing "I did it for the lulz" three times in a video chat with a random user named Flasher, who is mysteriously murdered. The girls are terrified but decide not to report the incident to the police.

Days later, Proxy and Ashley attend another party and Ashley asks for more information about Smiley. Intoxicated, she runs into Smiley, who teases her and rips her shirt. She wakes up the next morning in her bed. She tells Proxy what happened, but Proxy dismisses it as a dream. They visit Zane, who tells them that, despite his ability to retrieve most information on the web he has no clue as to what's happening. She decides to leave, but while walking home Zane pulls her away and confronts her about what she did.

Terrified and paranoid, Ashley tries to convince Proxy of what is happening, but her roommate leaves. She goes to one of her college professors, Clayton, who scares her further. She tries to get help from a cop, Diamond, who thinks she's crazy and shrugs her off. She goes to Zane’s house and is shocked to find him dead. Ashley grabs Zane's gun just as Smiley appears and chases her until Smiley loses track of Ashley.

There is a really great twist ending that of course I will not give away but it is a jaw-dropping moment. While many critics drubbed this movie, dismissing it as a Candyman rip-off, I'm on the other side of this opinion. Yes, it's not a very innovative film but few slashers are. The movie is well-acted for a low-budget film and rather suspenseful. Next, there is a rich psychological depth to this film that is rarely seen in other films. It is great to see Ashley start out as this college girl ignorant of the ways of the world then slowly and surely going nuts. Third, it's fun to watch. The mark of any good slasher, imo, is 'Will I enjoy this?'. You will with this movie. Think of it in terms of your favorite 80s dormitory slasher and you're good!

DBH Review:Hannibal-Episode 2 "Amuse-Bouche"

2013-04-17T13:01:00.000-05:00

By Eric Polk-
When watching a new t.v. show, the second episode of the series always worries me in terms of quality. You start off with a whiz, bang, and pow followed by what? In alot of cases, the creative well is emptier than Michael Myer's childhood mind. Having said this, this week's episode of Hannibal certainly did not have the second show blues.

In Amuse-Bouche, Will Graham helps to find a murderer who uses his victims as fertilizer to grow mushrooms..Yes, fungi. Yes, it is scientifically plausible. Yes, it is wicked sick! Meanwhile, during the investigation we are introduced to tabloid journalist Freddie Lounds(thinking a much more attractive version of Jack McGhee from the old Incredible Hulk series)snooping around the crime scene followed by a nosy scan of Dr. Lecter's office in order to write a piece of Will Graham for her crime blog.

Thanks to this, the killer stays one step ahead of the FBI. While this is taking place, Graham and Lecter take on a mutual responsibility for Abigail Hobbs(the survivor for the first episode).

Mushrooms! What a creative way to off people. Kudos to the writers for coming up with this little nugget of ingenuity. Closest I've seen to this kind of scene was in Motel Hell, though it is played more for laughs. Overall, a fantastic episode in which we see more Will and less Hannibal, making this show a darker version of a CSI show. We see more of the overall storyline unfold as it appears Graham is opening up to Dr. Lecter. Plus, a lot questions such as what is going to be the fate of Ms. Lounds(I say it's going to be a bleak one), how far does Will descend into his own private hell, and what kind of loin was Dr. Lecter serving Jack Crawford? It's gonna to be interesting!

The Killjoy Collection DVD Winner Is...

2013-04-16T05:21:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Amber Terry, the winner of the Killjoy DVD collection! Sorry for the late announcement but the next contest will be up Monday!

DBH Review:Hannibal, Episode I-"Apéritif"

2013-04-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

By Eric Polk-
For me, there is a dark void, spaced between the end of The Walking Dead and the beginning of my favorite summer show, Falling Skies when it comes to my t.v. viewing. I don't watch alot of shows but when I like a show, it's rather painful to wait until your replacement rolls its HD head around to your screen. This year, I have a potential bridge based on perhaps one of the most-beloved characters in horror history. With the disaster that was the Walking Dead season finale, Hannibal couldn't have dropped soon enough.

Drawing from Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel, Hannibal focuses its sinister energy on Will Graham, a criminal profiler on the hunt for a serial killer. Graham has a unique way of thinking which gives him the ability to understand and empathize with the psychopaths he hunts. But when the mind of the twisted killer he's pursuing is too complicated for even him to understand, he enlists the help of one of the premier psychiatrists in the country, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Together they form a partnership to assist the FBI in hunting serial killers. But little does Graham know, Lecter's true nature has yet to be revealed.

In Apéritif, we are introduced to the socially-isolated yet extremely lucid Will Graham who is recruited by FBI Special Agent Jack Crawford to investigate a series of missing college girls. As mentioned previously, the mind of the killer he's tracking becomes too much for him thus enter one Dr. Hannibal Lecter for whom he senses in Will a kindred spirit.

If the first episode is any indication, this looks to be a promising series. I really enjoy Will Graham's character, a man one step away from falling into insanity. Dr. Lecter is, of course, Dr. Lecter, a man who manipulates for his own gain. The episode itself is pretty good, setting things up for what we may see in the interim. There is surprisingly a good amount of graphic violence for a network t.v. show. Blood, girl impaled on deer antlers, and Dr. Lecter doing what he does best. Looking forward to the next episode.

R.I.P. Richard Brooker 1954-2013

2013-04-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

By Eric Polk-
Initially, I'd planned on writing up a review of the debut episode of Hannibal, however, discovering this sad piece of news changed the course of today's post.

We here at Dollar Bin Horror are saddened by the loss of the man who first donned the most definitive image of the horror genre. Richard Brooker was, of course, the man behind the mask for Friday the 13th, Part III and his contribution to the series will never be forgotten by the appreciative horror community. May he rest in peace. Coincidentally, he passed away on the day the most popular Jason actor, Kane Hodder, turned 58.

Help em out folks! Revenge of the Spacemen needs your funding!

2013-04-08T12:47:00.000-05:00

Indie horror is something to cherish...Local indie horror is even better! Revenge of the Spacemen is "a sequel and tribute to the 1950's drive-in classic alien invasion B-movie" (from their facebook). I was lucky enough to talk to Jay Summers, the producer and director, about the film at Cinema Wasteland yesterday (which I cannot wait to tell you all about this week!!!) and I was excited to learn it will all be shot right here in Northeast Ohio! I even got to see the masks that will be used in the film (hand made by Jay).

What the film needs is your help! They've just started an Indiegogo campaign to help raise the funds they need and you can help by donating what you can and spreading the word. I really think this is a cool project and I really wanna see it succeed so head on over to http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/revenge-of-the-spacemen, give what you can and share the link with your friends! Local horror is something I love and I really hope you can take the time to give Revenge of the Spacemen some love :) Also, like em on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Revenge-of-the-Spacemen/152356638258917

Dollar Bin Horror Giveaway - The Killjoy Collection

2013-03-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

Do you like clowns? Do you like psychopathic killers out for revenge? Do you like really bad/cheesy horror? Well shit, this is right up your alley! Up for grabs this time around is the Killjoy collection DVD, which includes parts 1, 2 & 3 of this odd, bad, and funny (in a fucked up way) film series.

Here's a little info on the films for those who haven't seen em yet.

If you wanna win this set, all you have to do is leave a comment to THIS POST with your NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS and a random winner will be chosen on April 12th and will be announced here on the site. It's just that easy to get free shit around here (we're kinda easy...get it)! One comment per person and PLEASE leave an email address or you will NOT be entered (I have to be able to contact you and I'm not hunting you down...Killjoy might, but I won't)! So get entering, share this post, and good luck!!!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - The Evil Dead (2013)

2013-03-21T09:54:00.001-05:00

Five friends become holed up in a remote cabin when they discover the "Naturon Demonto" and unwittingly awaken a dormant demonic presence living in the nearby woods. Soon after, the demons possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.

Thanks to the fine folks at Oldschool Sinema, I received a screening pass to see this film a little more than 2 weeks early, so I will try to do a review that is as spoiler free as humanly possible. Also, what better film to review for our 1,000th post here on DBH!

Now as many of you know, I friggin HATE remakes...that being said, this is not really a remake, but more like a new story in the Evil Dead line. Yes, it definitely has some of the parts of the original (the tree scene is in there...but is definitely different), but the main story itself and a lot of the events and occurrences are completely new and fresh. Its kinda a curse to have seen it so early cause I loved this film so much I just wanna scream what happens! The script is really good and the characters are believable. The only one I didn't like at first was the "teacher", but even he becomes somewhat likable in a stupid way as the film progresses, even though you're still pissed at him (must...not...spoil...). One thing I definitely can say is this is NOT for the kiddies. You will gag. I don't care how strong of a stomach you have, this movie will make you uncomfortable in the best way possible (I went with a friend who like never reacts to stuff...even he was like "OOOOOOH" at certain points). The director, Fede Alvarez, stated in an interview that all of the effects were actually done and no major CGI was used (only a few touch-ups). I discussed this with another friend who saw the film. She was a bit skeptical of this on two scenes, but after seeing the film myself I honestly believe they were not CGI (although I would LOVE if when this comes out on DVD they have some sort of Behind the FX featurette to I can see how the hell they did those two parts!). I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the the effects in this film have been the best I've seen in YEARS and it makes me so happy to see REAL FX and know it can be done this good without so much damn CGI (take a hint future horror films!). There is also a fantastic twist at the end that I did not see coming at all (and I can't even say it! DAMMIT!). Basically, this is so far my BEST horror film of 2013 and I just cannot see one coming out in the near future that will beat it. Even if you hate the remake craze, like me, you MUST see this as it is not a true remake and is actually something fresh and new instead of just a re-hash. The film will hit theaters nationwide on April 5th and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU better be there!!! If you want more good horror with ACTUAL FX, you have to show you want it!

Redband Trailer:
ALSO, DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE CREDITS ARE OVER!!! Half of the people at the screening did and missed out...it was only a quick little bit, but let's just say those who did stay were all on their feet fist pumping and saying "Hell yeah!" so please don't go!!!

Whew! Ok, I think I didn't spoil anything...my job is done here...

News (And FREE STUFF) From Our Dear Friends, Red Moon Features!!!

2013-03-14T22:13:00.002-05:00

FREE COMICS FROM REDMOON FEATURES!!!!

Red Moon Features will be printing our June dated comics soon - "The Mechanicals, Giant Size Short Shockers" and "Dead Planet Stories".
In addition, we are very excited about the vintage style chap book with stories by Melissa Romero with a lead story, "Killer in Me".
In the past, Dollar Bin Horror has been generous and allowed us to run a few giveaway contests.
If you have not won a giveaway from us in the past year, you just have to be one of the first four Dollar Bin Horror fans to request a copy of said comics and they will be mailed out at press time!
Just send request to: redmoonfeatures@gmail.com with the subject line DBH FAN FOR RED MOON COMICS
And...if you are not one of the first four we will send posters and older books until we run out!

Thanks,
James if Red Moon Features

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas

2013-03-02T17:09:00.000-06:00

With the holiday season approaching, Caesar and Otto find themselves employed at Xmas Enterprises Inc., where a disgruntled employee wearing a Santa suit has begun a killing spree and has appeared to have found himself the perfect patsies.

David Campfield is at it again. His perfectly imperfect duo, Caesar and Otto, are back with another trip into the bizarre with a Christmas twist. The film begins with Caesar about to throw his annual Thanksgiving "dinner" when low and behold, everyone on his invite list calls and cancels (not a big surprise after viewing the menu). When all looks like it'll be another crappy holiday, his agent, played by just one of the fabulous guest stars Linnea Quigley, calls him with a job offer...playing a Santa Claus for a company called Xmas Enterprise (no, not "Christmas", Xmas...watch the film, you'll get it). Turns out Caesar, who as his agent states never turns down a job, is terrified of the old jolly red man due to a truly fucked up tale of what Santa does to the naughty kids (men will wince), told to him by insanely awesome guest star #2 Lloyd Kaufman. After a talk with his half-brother Otto, they decide to audition together and Otto gets the Santa while Caesar is his elf. Deron Miller (of CKY fame) returns as well, this time as a Santa with a bad case of the murders. He decides to take this list of people who cancelled on Caesar's dinner and turns it into a list of soon-to-be victims in a hilarious and bloody roller coaster ride filled with plenty of homages to the 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' films. As with David's previous Caesar and Otto films, this one is super low budget, filled with plenty of cheap effects and blood, and has the funniest and wittiest banter between the sweet yet gullible Otto and the flamboyantly arogant and mean (in a funny way) Caesar (the two even make an appearance on the "Dr. Pheel" show discussing their issues...and the Doc seems to have a few issues of his own). The film has some side stories to add to the mix as well as an ending that...well I'm not gonna spoil to much, but let's just say another dude with a lot of "red" in his history is fueling the crazy happenings in the film (again, watch the movie, you'll get it...I think). And as David warned me before watching, stay in your seats for the credits! Another wonderful ode to Silent Night, Deadly Night that will leave you in stitches awaits those who do. To sum it up, Deadly Xmas is a fantastic addition to the Caesar & Otto films. While low in budget, it's high in laughs and is absolutely worth a viewing (or two). Take a peek at the trailer and head over to facebook.com/deadlyxmas to learn more.

DBH Article:Tea and an Ode to Nancy

2013-03-01T14:56:00.000-06:00

By Eric Polk-
Sup Reaps! Eric here, back and ready to rock once again on this glorious blog site known as Dollar Bin Horror. Feels like a month of Sundays since I lasted posted on this fine site. For you new readers, let me give you a brief rundown on what I bring to this 4X Rondo Award-nominated site. While Rhonda, our founder and co-conspirator, brings you the world of the modern day horror warrior, I'm the retro guy, the one who grew up in the 1980s and privileged to have witnessed perhaps horror's truly last golden age(up for debate, of course)firsthand. Thus, I bring some old-school sensibility to the brand. And with that,here goes an article regarding my favorite horror scream queen.

These telemarketers are getting really tough

Certainly the world of horror has given us fans a plethora of beauties as far back as one can remember. Janet Leigh,Fay Wray, Barbara Steele, Karen Black, Jamie Lee Curtis(yes, the one who plugs poop yogurt these days), Neve Campbell, Betsy Russell to name a few. However, when asked who my favorite lady of my favorite genre is, I reply Heather Langenkamp.

...and then this freaky fat guy who writes for a dollar bin blog told me I was his favorite....

Ah yes, while Mrs. Langenkamp may not fit the blond haired, big-breasted cliched horror movie gal, it is actually one of the reasons why I like her as much as I do. Let's face it, when you're taking on a monster as omnipotent as the Razored One, you going to need all of your wits(I said WITS, you pervs, lol). You'll need to forget about everything you were brought up to believe about reality and the bogeyman and, sadly, you'll probably have to go cuckoo for Coco Puffs in the bargain. Defeating Freddy Krueger for the first time required her to have a lot of wisdom in her arsenal, and she had this in spades. As her mother put it(and I'm paraphrasing), her strength was her gift.


NOW WITH LESS METH

One reason she may have survived her nightmares?Unlike many horror movies queens(character-wise), she didn't have a lot of demons to carry in her psyche. Sure, her mom, an alcoholic, and dad are divorced, but you hardly see any angst from this. She didn't partake in the 'sin factor' and she carried the All-American Girl quality I find intriguing. To put it another way, she is everything one hopes a teenager can be.Thus, when Freddy came a-calling in the final battle, she beat him.

Of course, she'd reappear in NOES 3 and Wes Craven's New Nightmare and while the impact she has on me isn't quite the same in these movies, I still grin every time I see her on screen.

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to thank the folks involved in the Rondo Awards for nominating DBH once again in the category of Best Blog. I'm extremely honored and flattered that our work continues to be recognized. When I get involved on this blog back in 2009, I didn't go into this seeking internet fame or fortune. I did this(and continue still)because I've loved this genre of movies and culture ever since the days of rented vcrs and trips to the horror section of the mom and pop video store with my dad when I was around 8. For those who enjoy mine and Rhonda's posts, thank you. We will continue to do the best work we possibly can. Thanks again!

Dollar Bin Horror has been nominated for a Rondo for the FOURTH year in a row!

2013-02-26T22:11:00.000-06:00

I know we've been a bit slow on the posts around here lately with me working, Eric just having bought a house, and Brandon off living the dream making horror films, but to be nominated again for such an amazing award (especially 4 YEARS in a row) really makes us loved and we thank you all for your continued support. It is an honor to be included in a list of blogs who are all so damn incredible and we really hope you take the time to vote for your favorite (a vote for DBH would be awesome, but I can't twist your arm...or can I...no, no I can't). All you have to do is go to http://www.rondoaward.com/rondo/rondos.html and follow the directions to vote by email. Here's a list of all the blogs nominated:

-- Blood Curdling Blog of Monster Masks. A peek behind decades of masks.

-- Cinema Suicide A celebration of cheap thrills
-- Cinema Dave A journal of horror and film.

-- Classic Movie Monsters Photos, art and covers from the past.

-- Collinsport Historical Society All the comings and goings in Barnabas' home town.
-- Cyberschizoid Latest monster magazines and cult updates.
-- Day of the Woman 'A blog for the feminne side of fear.'

-- Dollar Bin Horror For monster fans on a budget.

-- Fascination with Fear Horror from a female point of view.
-- Final Girl Stacie Ponder survives to have the last, bloody but often essential word.

-- First Person Monster Blog Shannon Shea takes a personal approach to movies, models and monsters.

-- Four-Color Shadows Horror, thrills, mystery from comic pages of the past.

-- Frankensteinia Fun, smart and essential as it keeps the Monster alive.

-- Freddy in Space Edgy horror but with a sense of fun.
-- From Midnight, With Love A cult movie reverie with an edge.
-- The Good, the Bad and the Godzilla August Ragone's G-blog is wise among giant monsters.

-- Gorilla Men Honoring the men in the suits.

-- Groovy Age of Horror Fearless and unexpected.

-- Hayes Hudson's House of Horror A friendly and smart mix of horrors old and new.
-- The Horrors of it All When horror corrupted more than the comics.

-- Igor's Lab Podcasts, trailers, interviews, all with a touch of strange. What hump?

-- Kindertrauma Your childhood ends (or starts), here.
-- Monster Magazine World A digital home for monster magazines past, present and hopefully future.

-- Monstermoviemusic The soundtracks of our horror lives.

-- Pause. Rewind. Obsess. The 2012 screening diary of Video Watchdog editor Tim Lucas.

-- Radiation-Scarred Reviews Bill Adcock takes on the mutants of film, no matter the era.

-- Secret Fun Blog All about the stuff that really mattered.
-- Shloggs Horror Blog Modern horror talk, with a classic sensibility.
-- Sicko-Psychotic Smarter than it sounds, from silents to today.

-- Terror from Beyond the Daves An essential, home of the weekend horror host report.

-- Unimonster's Crypt Musings on the status of monstrous media.

-- Vampire Over London: The Bela Lugosi Blog. Frank dello Stritto's undying research.
-- Zombos Closet All manners of horrors pour out.

We all here feel so honored and privileged to be a part of this fantastic group once again and I promise to work harder to deserve it. Thank you so much for the support over the last 4 years and I hope you all continue to read DBH!

An Ode to an Obsession: Living Dead Dolls

2013-02-04T11:31:00.000-06:00

As horror fans, we all have our favorite little piece of the horror pie that we obsess over more than the others. For me, that little piece is scary dolls. Since I was 15, I have been collection any kind of doll that "normal" people think are strange, unusual, creepy, or just plain scary (they actually called me Mary Shaw in highschool). My first horror dolls were the Chucky family that I had gotten when I was 15 for Christmas.
My first living dead dolls came almost 6 months later, a week before I had turned 16. They were Jubilee and Killbaby (The two in the center), two dolls that I still have in my collection to this day (albeit their boxes and accessories have long since been lost).

Over the years, I would say I've owned over 40 different dolls, but sadly I had to sell a lot of them when the economy went into the shiter and we needed bill money. I now have some sort of day job and have been working on reclaiming my collection (I'm back up to around 28 dolls including 8 minis).

A lot of my friends ask me the same questions...Why on earth would you collect those things? Isn't it creepy sleeping with all those dolls in your room? Well the second one is easy...no. I'm more afraid of Barbies than I am of a doll whose skull is split wide open and blood is oozing out (I'm a strange one I guess). The first one is a bit more complicated. I love horror of course, but my obsession with horror dolls is...well I don't exactly know. All I know is I love them and Living Dead Dolls is my all time favorite type or brand to collect. There's just something about the creativity and effort put into making each doll its own character that makes having a bunch of them exciting. Any collector of anything will tell you there's some kind of thrill that comes along with getting a new item and adding it to their collection. Be it horror movies, stamps, pennies, or dolls that make it impossible for friends to come over, collecting is an addiction and Living Dead Dolls are my drug of choice.

Let me tell you a bit about them so you can see how they've endured through the years and what makes them the top dog of the spooky doll world. The first living dead dolls sold in the US were all handmade by the creators, Ed Long and Damien Glonek (I would literally kill to have a handmade eggzorcist...that's the one in the middle). They were exclusive to Glonek's company Unearthly Possessions and at horror conventions along the East Coast. At one of these conventions, Mike "Mez" Markowitz, the founder of Mezco Toyz, bought one and Mezco contacted the two about manufacturing and distributing the dolls commercially (info from Wiki and the LDD site).

Image from google, I wish they were mine!

The first commercial line of dolls were sold in 2001 and the dolls have been going strong ever since. Each doll comes with its own coffin and death certificate, which tells the story of how each one died. This seemingly small touch is why I love this company to death! It makes each and every doll an individual with its own story to tell. Each one has a name and for some reason, having an identity makes you love them each even more. And even among the readers of DBH, I'm not alone! Reader Queenie Thayer-Tirone sent in a few pics of her little babies too!

These are the new figurines...which I still need to get some!

The company also offers dolls themed from horror films and pop culture (most recently, Frankenstein and his Bride, which I have in the photos above and are probably my favorite dolls beside Eggzorcist). Brand new, the dolls are around $25 to $35 (for special ones) per doll (which compared to a lot of horror collectibles is a steal). The dolls can also be found on Ebay, but be warned that when a doll becomes rare and sells out in the stores, they can fetch a real pretty penny...
Maybe it's just me, but I like to think every horror fan should have at least one doll (two is better, twenty is don't give me your address or I'm jacking you). I seriously could ramble on even more, but this post is long enough so I shall leave you with a few places you MUST check out to get a better feel for these magnificent creatures of disgust and delight.

The Official website - http://www.livingdeaddolls.com/
Were you can get some at Mezco - www.mezcotoyz.com/brands/living-dead-dolls

Seriously, go check them out!!! Like NOW!

ALSO If the LDD creators ever read this, I have ONE small suggestion...Nazgul doll!!!!! That's all I'm sayin...

A few videos you should check out

2013-01-15T11:26:00.003-06:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts as of late. With Eric still settling down in his new home and me working till 11pm, it's been a little rough keeping up with shit on the site. But never fear, I got some reviews lined up for the coming weeks and today, I thought I'd take a moment to share a few videos that I think are work a look.

The first is a sneak peak at the Maniac remake (yes, I know, ANOTHER remake...but seriously, as fucked up as it may seem I am behind this one 100%). This is the first 6 minutes of the film. It definitely has a different feel from the original and so far I really like what I'm seeing (and not just because I have a fascination with Elijah Wood that requires therapy and a restraining order). It's not as "dirty" or "greasy" feeling, but it feels dark as hell and after I saw it, I was pissed that there wasn't more! The film is released in France now but a US date has yet to be announced (IFC I believe has the DVD rights, but hasn't said when yet, or at least I have not read it...GOD DAMMIT GET ON IT!) And from the review from Bloody-Disgusting.com (click HERE), it seems to be as good as I imagined (I NEED TO SEE THIS FILM NOW!)

The second is the trailer for Warm Bodies. Now, over the last few weeks, I have stated we don't need a fucking zombie Twilight...but after watching the trailer (finally after being a stubborn jackass for a while), I admit I may have been wrong about the film. It actually looks good! It's not "Twilight" at all, but more of a comedy with some pretty funny lines. Yes, there is a love story between a Human and a Zombie, but after you watch the trailer, hopefully you'll see what I mean and understand why I have officially changed my mind and now plan to see the film (also, can't go wrong with John Malkovich as a zombie huntin' mofo...just saying).

The last video I wanna share is a little funny bit from the always fabulous David Campfield (of Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre). It's a cute little short about a giant fucking rodent on a murderous spree...and also a great little lead in to see what's coming up next for David (which I CANNOT wait to see, cause Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre was absolutely awesome and I've been waiting FOREVER to see more!). So just check this little video out and support some indie horror!

Alright, there you have it! Watch these videos, then go about your lives while I go see a doc as I hack out my lungs from Pneumonia or the Flu...Brutal!

The Crazy Fat Ethel Hall of Shame-Class of 2012

2012-12-31T01:24:00.002-06:00

By Eric Polk-
Every year, we as a horror society are inundated with best and worst lists for the year. While these are worthwhile endeavors, I feel that a spice needs to be thrown into the collective stew pot countdown. Hence, instead of counting down the worst horror movies I've seen this year, I thought "Why not induct them into a hall of shame?" 1)It limits the arguments. 2)Because these have to be special pieces of celluloid crap to be considered along side of the title of the worst horror movie ever made. So, without any more pretense, I induct the inaugural class of The Crazy Fat Ethel Hall of Shame. Bear in mind, to be considered for the year, I had to have seen it for the very first time during the year(i.e. It can be released during a previous year and still be eligible)

House at the End of the Street(2012)-The fact that this was the second of a drive-in double bill featuring the very good Sinister should have been my first clue as to how bad this movie was going to be. The secret-in-the-basement motif is on display and the secret should have stayed where it was. PG-13 horror is bad, PG-13 horror that is slow and not suspenseful gets an induction into the Hall of Shame. To quote my wife, "This is reminds me of a bad Lifetime movie." Well said, babe. Well said.

Jaws IV:The Revenge(1987)-Believe it or not, Reaplings, it took me 25 years to find out if the rumors that this movie sucked shark balls were true....Yes, they are..For those who are over the trauma of this...movie...Let me remind you, a shark is chasing a woman from New England to the Bahamas....One more time...A SHARK IS CHASING A WOMAN FROM NEW ENGLAND TO THE BAHAMAS!!!!

Hellraiser:Revelations(2011)-"I want to put on record that the flick out there using the word Hellraiser IS NO FUCKIN' CHILD OF MINE! have NOTHING to do with the fuckin' thing. If they claim its from the mind of Clive Barker, it's a lie. It's not even from my butt-hole."-Clive Barker
Amen, Mr. Barker.

Drag Me To Hell(2009)-Sam Raimi's big return to horror following his lucrative Spider Man run.....Not quite as good as your first trip into the genre, big boy. Where is the pure emotion in this? Remember the first scene? Medium tries to rescue a boy? Boy falls off staircase and apparently gets up almost fresh as a daisy? The initial clash between Christine and Mrs. Ganush? It may work in The Evil Dead but c'mon, you had a higher budget as evidenced by all the ridiculous CGI plastering this film. And to top that shit off..YOU KILLED A CAT!!!!

The Raven(2012)-You want to get my fellow DBHR co-hosts to fight? Just mention the decline of John Cusack's performances. Here, he makes Brandon's case that he has been terrible this past decade. The story idea is good. The execution is awful. The Pit and The Pendulum scene has to go down as the biggest disappointment in a movie for 2012.

The Possession(2012)-Sam Raimi gets another inductee sent to the Hall of Shame(he co-produced this garbage). Girl buys a cursed box. What comes out? Not Pinhead but what essentially becomes a Jewish version of The Exorcist. Yes, I probably shouldn't be comparing the two but it just couldn't be help. Oh, extra credit for the line, "I hate hospitals...People die here."

Midnight Mass(2003)-During the Halloween Horror Movie Marathon Madness contest over on Facebook, I really wanted to pan and scan for some lesser-known vampire movies. Be careful what you wish for. Ok gore is diluted by piss poor acting, continuity, and even more piss poor acting.

Howling Three:The Marsupials(1987)-1987 is one of my favorite years in my life. Sadly, I have to induct a second movie from that year that disgraces another horror movie classic that came before it. I switched between healthy doses of laughter and groans in this one. In my initial review, I said,
"Believe it or not, the first half-hour isn't too terrible. The acting is good but once the ballet rolls in, the movie just falls apart like a turkey in a cooking bag. I mean, bad transformations, bad makeup except for the birth, you just can't suspend your disbelief. And again, this is Howling III:The Marsupials...where in the hell are the killer koala bears and kangaroos???? Oh, this movie deserves to stand alone....in a dark alley awaiting Godzilla to take a giant dump on it!!!!" Still waiting for that crap shoot, Mr. 'Zilla.

Silent House(2011)-You thought you were soooooo clever, Chris Kentis and Laura Lau. Making a movie that mocks real-time. It worked in Open Water. Here, it works if you need a break from Sominex. And the ending was beyond hideous. Thanks for making me sick.

The Devil Inside(2012)- We conclude our inductions with the first horror movie I saw in the theatres this year. And is the WORST movie I've seen this year!!!! A misleading trailer followed by a couple of genuinely scary moments very intense, very real, but sandwiched inside those brief pieces of corned beef is rotting slabs of ancient potted meat. In between the good scenes are nothing more than History Channel documentary stuff that is just drab and uninspired.

Plus, without giving anything away....THE ENDING IS COMPLETE,UNADULTERATED BULLSHIT!!!!! Congrats, movie. You threw Ragu at your worthless prize! It didn't bother me this was yet another 'found footage' movie, what did bother me was just its inconsistency and the bullshit ending.

There you have it, Reaplings. The first class. They may or may not be the most memorable(time will answer that debate) but nevertheless, these ten unflushable nuggets will remain with me long after we've cared.

BTW, there are quite a few more stinkers worthy of induction but I'll save those for The Reapie Awards in March.

Dollar Bin Horror Giveaway - "Jason's Deli" T-Shirt from Tshirtbordello.com!!!

2012-12-29T21:02:00.000-06:00

Ok so for our next giveaway, we've teamed up once again with one of the most badass companies in the clothing biz, tshirtbordello.com! Their high quality shirts and unique designs have given them an edge in the highly competitive world of online clothing stores and they have graciously given DBH one of their fine works to pass on to a fan! This contest is for one of their newer designs, the "Jason's Deli" shirt! The winner will receive an XL t-shirt and winning couldn't be simpler! All you have to do is leave a comment with your name, email address and what you would order if you could actually visit Jason's Deli! The winner will be randomly chosen (from names out of a hat) on Jan.12th and announced on the DBH facebook page. An extra entry (your name in the hat twice) can be earned by sharing this contest on your FB (let me know you did in the comments) and/or by liking the T-shirt bordello FB page (Link HERE and let me know you did) and that makes 2 extra entries you can receive! It's that easy!!! So enter and good luck!

On the Next Episode of DBHR...

2012-12-27T12:27:00.004-06:00

Reunited and feeling good, join Rhonda, Brandon, and Eric as they discuss their best and worst horror movies of 2012. Plus, Eric will induct the inaugural class of The Crazy Fat Ethel Hall of Shame. Join us by calling 1-877-552-4073 starting tomorrow at 7pm EST. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ericdescent/2012/12/29/dollar-bin-horror-radioepisode-xcii-the-end-of-the-end

On The Next Episode of DBHR...

2012-12-20T11:31:00.000-06:00

Long ago, the stories of J.R.R. Tolkien stoked the imagination of the legendary Stephen King and on this week's special episode of DBHR, Rhonny Reaper, Special Guest Head Hauntress Elizabeth Gray, and Eric Polk journey to the land of the Shire to discuss the brave little hobbit that we all admire. Join the quest by calling 1-877-552-4073 starting tomorrow at 7pm EST.
(Show subject to the end of the world)

DBH Redbox Theatre:Apollo 18(2011)

2012-12-17T01:33:00.000-06:00

By Eric Polk-
Warning:Among some of the references I WILL NOT BE USING in this review are as follows...

Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album
Denny's Moon Over My Hammy
Moon Pies
Former WWE wrestler Max Moon
Former WWE/WCW One Man Gang's tagline
Christopher Cross' "Arthur's Theme"
Dean Martin's "That's Amore"

Anyhoo, last year the collective audience of this film found out why the United States never went back to the moon after 17 missions, and with good reasons that I shall get to in a moment. First, however, this is director Gonazlo Lopez-Gallego's first foray into English language films. For that I should recommend he watch something other than 50s B-movies, found-footage docos, and Alien homages such as Creature in his next endeavor.

The premise isn't bad... In a Department of Defense document uploaded by an Art Bell-approved website,it 's 1973, the height of the Cold War. The U.S. launches a top secret mission to the moon to place detectors just in case those darn ol' Ruskies wish to launch any ICBMs our way. Welp, during the procedure they encounter a lunar module handled by the boys from the CCCP along with one dead Cosmonaut(wonder he if knew how lucky he was back in the U.S.S., back in the U.S.S.R). Meanwhile, strange noises are occurring outside the ship. As a result of further investigation, a startling discovery is made!

Even though I'd did like the plot, I simply didn't like the execution. It's extremely slow in spots, predictable outcome(would have been much more interesting if the capsule made it back to Earth) and the protagonist is stock at best. I was waiting for one of the rock spiders to lay eggs in the astronaut's stomachs,lol. Acting is decent but the characters just weren't that engaging.

Overall, Apollo 18 plays out as a non-descript 50s sci-fi film wrapped inside a laborious found-footage film. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time to jam on some Bill Monroe...

(ok, it's Kurt Russell doing Elvis but unlike bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, he has a horror pedigree :-)

Dollar Bin Horror Named One Of The 5 Best Horror Blogs You Should be Reading

2012-12-15T14:59:00.000-06:00

The fantastical folks over at best-horror-movies.com scoured the interwebs to find 'The 5 Best Horror Blogs You Should be Reading'...and DBH is one of them! We here just want to take a moment to say thank you so very much to the folks who made this list and a huge congrats to the other 4 fantabulous blogs that made the list (which you should all check out, like, now!) They are:
The Jaded Viewer
Freddy In Space
Horror Movie A Day
The Vault of Horror

Again, a big thank you from the bottom of our hearts goes out to best-horror-movies.com! We are truly honored.

Sup Reaps! Mr. Eric here. I'd like to chime in to thank the good people over at best-horror-movies.com for naming us as one of the 5 Best Horror Blogs You Should Be Reading...I am flattered beyond The Gates of Hell. And most of all, I'd like to thank you, the readers, for enjoying what we do on this here site...It's your dedication that inspires me to this...Thanks again!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - The Dark Art of Mike Vanderhoof

2012-12-14T08:47:00.002-06:00

Mike Vanderhoof truly is a modern day jack of all trades. A tattoo artist, a musician, and an artist in every sense of the word, Mike has a long list of accomplishments and an even more impressive portfolio of paintings and art. His paintings use bold colors and vibrant detailing to capture the feel and horror of each piece. I had a lot of fun looking through his site at all of his work. He is simply talented beyond words and I was delighted to be able to as a few questions and to share a few pieces of his work with all of you.

What got you started in the art world?

I've literally been doing art since I could hold a pencil. When I was little I was a total "Monster-Kid" Horror fan. I was super into comics, and MAD Magazine and I would always copy the issues and my favorite characters. I guess that's where it kinda started. As a teen, I began painting a lot instead of drawing. I think I fell in love with that medium because you could do big, elaborate sizes and subject matter, as opposed to a sheet of paper. Then in my 20's, I started displaying my work in small galleries and coffee shops, and suddenly found I could sell my art. I opened my own Tattoo Parlor in 2000 in Fullerton, CA and once it became my job to Tattoo everyday, I found myself sort of uninspired to paint anymore when my work day was done, after having to constantly be creative everyday and think of new Tattoos for clients. When I closed my shop in 2010, a few months later I got the bug again, feeling the need to pick up a paint brush after a 10 year hiatus. I feel like in these last 2 years of painting, I've truly begun to find my style, and the work I've done in this time is definitely some of my best since I started. So as I accumulated a new body of work, I hit the gallery circuit again, mainly in Southern California., Arizona, and Las Vegas, and things have been going well, trying to get my art seen as much as possible.

Where do you get your inspiration and how long does it take to finish a piece?

I usually try to finish one new piece a week, always staying productive. Inspiration comes from everywhere. Horror films are a huge part. Also surfing the net checking out other artist's work is always inspiring. I started keeping a list recently of subject matter I want to paint at some point, because after I finish a piece I can never remember a cool idea I wanted to do next. Sometimes I have commissioned projects where I have to put my own stuff on hold, but there's always time to get back to it.

What is your medium of choice to work with?

I usually work with acrylics on canvas. That's my favorite. I like using bold, psychedelic colors and fighting them with lots of black. The contrast between the two is part of my little niche, which is ultimately what an artist is trying to do, find his "niche", to find and develop your own style which at some point can be identified upon sight. There's a lot of artists who have accomplished that, where as soon as you see a piece of art, you instantly know who did it without even seeing a signature.

Where do you see your artwork in 10 years?

Well I've been in the trenches doing as many gallery shows as I can. Paying my dues and trying to get as large of an audience as I can. Hopefully soon I can get an agent so I can get shown in the big galleries where there's a built-in clientele paying big bucks. That's the problem with art, it's subjective. So what might be worth $10 to one person can be worth $10,000 to someone else. The art world is a lot of hype. People are sometimes more interested in the artist doing it than what he is actually doing. Which is always weird to me. Hopefully in 10 years I can get to a level where I can make a living from doing what I love. I would love to work as a concept artist for a film studio or video game company. That would be awesome. I'm also currently working on a book of my art, which I hope to have published one day.

Do you do commissions?

All the time. I'm currently doing some portraits for clients, and I freelance a lot for CD Covers, and T-shirt jobs. I also do murals and a lot of graphic designing for people. Anyone can get a job quote by visiting my website http://kingmikev.com

What has been your favorite piece to illustrate?

I have quite a few that are my "babies" with sentimental value. I always like taking pop culture icons, that have no business being in horror, and bringing them into the world of horror. I frequently do this. Some examples I've done is a Zombie Pee Wee herman, Zombie Pawn Stars, Guy Fieri cooking with Hannibal Lechter, and I'm currently working on a piece where the Creature from the Black Lagoon doing some spring break boating with some "girls gone wild."

Where can we learn more and buy prints?

You can visit my website http://www.kingmikev.com and check out my art, music, videos, etc. At the top menu bar just click "buy prints" and it'll take you to my online store.

You can also listen to a few of his songs while you're checking out his work. Mike truly is multi-talented and everyone should give his site a look!