Dollar Bin Horror

DBH Review:Zombie Lake(1981)

2013-06-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

By Eric Polk-
Before you read this review(or should I say trashing), get a good long look at the cover. Go ahead, I can wait.

Done? Cool. I asked you to give this cover a meaningful stare because this is pretty much the best thing about this movie(ok, there's full frontal female nudity but you can watch any movie on Cinemax late at night and still get the same effect). What is the deal with bad Zombie Nazi films? The concept, in theory, is great. One of the most reviled groups of the 20th Century, if not THE most reviled group of all-time coming back from the dead? What's not to like about it? Well, there is a little thing called execution of concept. In movies such as Shockwaves and Oasis of the Zombies, the execution is..well...bad! It took until Dead Snow for there to be a great Nazi Zombie film but before then, we got stuck with crap. Zombie Lake is no exception.

It's 1954 and in a small village, somewhere in France, German soldiers, killed and thrown into the lake by the Resistance during WW II, come back to apparently challenge a girls volleyball team to a lethal game of Marco Polo(?). Actually, there's another reason. One that is an embodiment of a plot hole. Go ahead and look at the cover again before I drop the spoiler alert.

Done? Good.

The leader of the Nazi squadron fathered a daughter ten years previous. The last time he saw her was when she was a newborn. So, he dies, come backs FROM THE DEAD and recognizes his now ten-year old daughter! BUT HE'S BEEN DEAD. HOW THE FUCK CAN THE ZOMBIE RECOGNIZE HIS DAUGHTER WHEN HE'S BEEN DEAD FOR TEN YEARS! It is NOT explained how he can do that! There is no scene in this movie where he or his fellow solders are engaged in some kind of reincarnation ritual.This is not Star Wars, he is not divined by The Force Hell, even Shocker gave at least a half-assed plausible reason for Horace Pinker's return from The Choir Invisible.

That is just one of the myriad of reasons why this movie is bad. They can show throats being ripped in one scene, but cutaway the next. Who did the editing? Someone with a schizo problem? The shooting? The French village must not have known to shoot them in the head. Ugh, this movie is giving me a headache. At least they had the good sense to use subtitles in this one as opposed to poorly synced dubbing. As I've said before, I love low-budget films but it's no excuse as why it's bad when it's bad and this is AWFUL! Only watch if you'd like to see for yourself.

Zombie Gnome Contest Winner

2013-06-14T08:21:00.002-05:00

The winner of a beautiful Zombie Gnome from http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChrisandJanesPlace is Amber Terry!!! Congrats!!! I will be sending you an email in a few moments to get some information so Chris and Jane can send you your prize!!! Look out for a new contest Monday!!!

On the Next Episode of DBHR....

2013-06-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Get ready for a major dose of current horror topics on this week's show. From the revival of the Friday the 13th franchise, the new Stephen King mini-series Under the Dome, and a review of The Purge, Eric and Rhonda will be covering it all. Plus, we take a look at the 10 most influential horror films of the last 15 years. And as always, we'll be bumping some great horror-themed music and taking your calls at 1-877-552-4073. Join us at 7 pm EST this Sunday!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ericdescent/2013/06/16/dollar-bin-horror-radioepisode-xciv-under-the-influence

Dollar Bin Horror Review:"Blackenstein a.k.a. Black Frankenstein"(1973)

2013-06-12T12:28:00.002-05:00

By Eric Polk-
For film buffs, critics, actors/actress, and directors, the 1970s are generally regarded as the best decade of movies. It's hard not argue this point. The litany is long and distinguished. The Godfather, Star Wars, Taxi Driver, Rocky, Dirty Harry on the mainstream side. For us horror lovers, there's The Exorcist, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead, Suspiria(had to throw in an Italian horror film). One of my favorite sub genres of the decade are the blaxplotation films. Like any other genre, you had the classics: Shaft, Foxy Brown(I have a major crush on Pam Grier), Super Fly. For horror fans, we had the classic Blackula. Which bring us to my review of this movie dvr'ed off of the Epix drive-in channel.

Looking to milk...errr...cash in on the success of Blackula, a few geniuses got to together and came up with a rehash of Frankenstein. Eddie Turner stepped on a land mine in Vietnam and lost all his limbs. His fiancee, Doctor Winifred Walker , thinks she's found help for him in her former teacher and colleague Doctor Stein, who has recently won a Nobel Peace Prize for "solving the DNA genetic code".In a tour of Doctor Stein's home-slash-laboratory, Doctor Walker is introduced to his other patients: a ninety-year-old woman with the appearance of a fifty-year-old woman, and a Frenchman whose lower legs have been successfully re-attached with the help of Doctor Stein's "DNA solution". Doctor Walker is startled when she sees one of the Frenchman's legs is tiger-striped, which Doctor Stein attributes to "an unknown RNA problem" which he hopes to correct during the course of treatment.

Doctor Stein gives Eddie new replacement arms using his trademark "DNA solution", and Eddie seems to be recovering well. Malcomb confesses his attraction to Doctor Walker, who explains she intends to marry Eddie as soon as the surgeries are complete. Malcomb's acceptance of her statement has sinister overtones, and he later sabotages the "DNA solution" used during Eddie's leg surgeries. As a result, Eddie becomes a moaning, shambling monster reminiscent of Boris Karloff's Frankenstein. He is compelled to leave the house to kill, though he returns in time for his ongoing schedule of "DNA solution" injections.

Oy! Where to begin. It's cheap which I have no problem with. But just because it's cheap doesn't mean you shouldn't put effort into it. The acting is bad, the pacing is slow. I do give props for the Frankenstein makeup and gore but that's really all. Watch this if you really, really want to see a bad movie, otherwise you can safely skip.

Dollar Bin(Not So)Splurge of the Week:The Purge(2013)

2013-06-10T02:56:00.003-05:00

By Eric Polk-
Ahh, haven't done one of these in a month of Sundays-an actual movie review!I'm a big fan of dystopia, be it movies such as Soylent Green, original Planet of the Apes, Hardware or books including three of my personal favorites 1984, Brave New World, and It Can't Happen Here. Needless to say when I saw a preview for this IN THE FUTURE movie and realizing there were enough elements of horror that can justify this review on DBH, the Mrs. and I went to the drive-in.

It's the year 2022. The good ol' United States has become "a nation reborn", with crime and unemployment rates hitting an all-time low. To keep these rates low, the government has instated an annual 12-hour time period called "The Purge", during which people can vent their negative emotions because all crime (including murder) is legal and emergency services are suspended.(Btw, what's so new about that? Happens on the net all the time).

The movie focuses on James Sandin(played by Ethan Hawke) a wealthy home security developer. At home, mother and wife Mary Sandin struggles with her two children: teenage Zoey who is dating an older boy named Henry, while Charlie questions the need for the Purge.(Here comes the predictability). Beforehand,Mary speaks to her excitable neighbor, Grace, who explains that they aren't having their annual "purge party". When James arrives home, the family discusses why the Purge is an important part of society. So THE PURGE begins at 7 pm(I'm assuming it starts at 4 pm on the West Coast since this movie takes place in Virginia) and all is well in big, comfy suburbia when an injured homeless man runs down the street begging for help.

Guess who lets him in?!(Hint:it's the one who questions the need for THE PURGE). Needless to say, it pisses old papa off something fierce. As he searches for the man, it's revealed that(to my surprise) Henry is still in the house(gasp!). Papa finds and holds the stranger at gunpoint, and at the same time Henry reveals himself and attempts to shoot James in order to maintain his relationship with Zoey. And(blah blah blah), stranger is shot.

Minutes later, a group of masked college students arrive up the street trace the stranger to the Sandin's home and address an ultimatum to the family through the surveillance system: hand the stranger over, their target, within the hour or they will break into the house and murder everyone inside.(Oh please don't succeed, that would really kill this by-the-numbers motif).

Well, as you can probably assume, this movie is predictable. From the moment the homeless man runs down the street to the twist(Hint:there's a reason why Grace didn't have a purge party), it's just one big whoopie-do. In addition, there is an underlying tension and suspense which goes out the window when the strangers attack. Don't get me wrong, the theme of haves and have-nots is rather solid. I wouldn't be surprised if Rush Limbaugh declares The Purge as a war on conservatives(I'd be even more surprised if El Rushbo declares his radio show as a war against intelligence). Anyway, this movie does bring up the idea of what if we could trade liberty for comfort and safety. In today's world, it's becoming more and more of a possibility.

Guest Review of Hemlock Grove by Kate Horvat

2013-06-06T14:29:00.002-05:00

Review: Hemlock Grove

Written by Kate Horvat from HalloweenCostumes.com

Hemlock Grove is Netflix’s next successor in its new empire of original series. After its successful launch of House of Cards, Netflix is doing a great job of producing binge-worthy original content. Over the span of two days, I devoured the entire 13-episode first season. And I can honestly say I am hungry for more.

From executive produce Eli Roth, of Hostel and Cabin Fever fame, Hemlock Grove is being touted as a cross between Twin Peaks and True Blood. With its peculiar characters, murder mystery and a tantalizing slow reveal - it certainly is living up to the hype. And with a healthy dose of sex, murder and gore, we are quickly reminded that this isn’t your grandmother’s typical network programing.

Upon a voyeuristic presentation of the town and the people, we are suddenly grounded into the story when high school student, Brooke Bluebell, is horrifically murdered by an unseen beast. We are introduced to the characters of this world through their reactions to the mounting stress of confronting a grisly murder.

The Godfrey’s are unofficial royalty, residing in a white castle-like mansion overlooking Hemlock Grove. With the wealth from its, now closed, steel mill factory, the Godfrey’s fund a super-secretive biotech facility, The Godfrey Institute. Effervescent and mysterious, Olivia (Famke Janssen) is a strong matriarchal character hiding many secrets. She adores her 17-year-old son, Roman (Bill Skarsgard); to the point of being smothering and controlling. Roman resents this behavior and tries desperately to rebel against it; although he is unaware, along with the audience, as to what his true nature is.

The Romancek’s are transient gypsies new to town. Peter (Landon Liboiron), also 17-years-old, is clearly a werewolf and fully aware of his supernatural nature, as well as other supernaturals in this world. One of the most amazing and talked about werewolf transformations happens in the second episode. His mother, Lynda, is a supporting character that gently guides and encourages Peter. The relationship between this mother and son set is a stark contrast to their wealthy counterparts, the Godfrey’s.

The most intriguing storyline in Hemlock Grove is of the Godfrey Institute and the Frankenstein’s monster inspired character, Shelley Godfrey; her name being an obvious nod to Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Shelley is abnormally large with a deformed face that glows blue when touched. And although she is the most compassionate and intelligent of all the characters, she is hindered by muteness, forcing her to watch the world unfold around her. There is also an unknown quality about her that makes her existence very important to the work being done at The Godfrey Institute.

Rounding out the cast is Dougray Scott as Roman’s Uncle Norman, Penelope Mitchell as his cousin Letha and Freya Tingley as shy wannabe novelist Christina, who seems to always get in the middle of things.

The complexity and depth to the story and its characters quickly sucks you in. And unlike many other werewolf/vampire cable programming, the dilemma of these characters is not that they are supernatural, but that they are supernatural beings reacting to life around them.

Kate Horvat

DBH Book Review:Carrion Comfort(1989)

2013-06-03T00:48:00.001-05:00

By Eric Polk-
"'Carrion Comfort' is one of three greatest horror novels of the twentieth century. Simple as that."- Stephen King.

When you get that sort of endorsement from the master, you have to read! Anyway, be warned, if you're going to go into this Dan Simmons-penned adventure in patience and, at times, self-indulgence, you'd better have the appropriate dose of caffeine because this is a rather long book at 767 pages.

From the book description: The past: Caught behind the lines of Hitler’s Final Solution, Saul Laski is one of the multitudes destined to die in the notorious Chelmno extermination camp. But he will soon fall into the clutches of an evil far older and greater than the Nazis themselves. The present: A rare few individuals have the Ability - the psychic power to influence the minds of others. Each year they meet to discuss their ongoing campaign of debauchery and slaughter. But this year things are not going according to plan ... The story that follows spans decades and continents and penetrates the darkest recesses of the 20th century, as one man seeks to justify his belief that a secret society of powerful beings is behind many of the world’s most horrific catastrophes. As well as ranking among the greatest reinventions of the vampire legend, Carrion Comfort explores humanity’s attraction to violence and what it means for our future.

In an era where books are drenched in stupid, false teen angst and 50 Shades of Nothing, it's always good to go back a few years before any of this published nonsense existed. And the premise of the story is fantastic. You're dealing with the genuine consequences created by an actual war, there's a society that doesn't give a rats heine if vampires can sparkle or if teenage zombies can be converted. It just wants to take over the world(at least until you get towards the end), there are a small group of people of different races, religions, and ideals that want to stop these hideous folk from carrying out their plans. Mind vampires...an accurate term for the baddies.

Sadly, in the face of this expectation, I'm left feeling somewhat disappointed. While a few of the characters drew my ire(a good sign), others where just one-dimensional cardboard caricatures that clearly demonstrate that Dan Simmons has only a media-based idea on how some societies in America operate. Another fault is when the baddies change their overall plans. You've got to be kidding me! Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant, scary moments that made me cringe in literary delight(in particular, a game of human chess). And then we come to his self-indulgence, the main one that is ingrained in every writer, including myself:Dan Simmons just goes way too long with the story. He could have easily have made this 500 pages and the novel would have had a better impact on me. In essence, he chose quantity of words as opposed to quality. I've said it before and I'll say it again: unless you're from Maine and wrote under the name of Richard Bachman once upon a time, your epic had better be close to perfect.

Overall, the novel isn't terrible. It has its great scenes. However, I think Mr. King was a bit presumptuous when he declared Carrion Comfort a great story for the 20th Century. Simple as that.

First Look At Curse of Chucky!

2013-06-02T19:19:00.001-05:00

Chucky is back and he's lookin old school in this first image from what is believed to be a soundtrack for the upcoming 6th installment of the Child's Play franchise, Curse of Chucky! This pic was released from Brad Dourif's own twitter and I for one am excited (I'm sorry, it's a doll thing!). This will be a straight to video sequel, but Brad is back as the voice of Chucky and the film is going back to it's roots. Here's a synopsis :

“Nica (Fiona Dourif) is grieving over the gruesome suicide of her mother when her domineering older sister Barb (Danielle Bisutti) arrives with her young family in tow to help settle their mother’s affairs. As the sisters butt heads over Nica’s plans for the future, Barb’s young daughter comforts herself with a grinning, red-haired talking doll named Chucky (voiced again by Brad Dourif) that recently arrived mysteriously in the mail. But as a string of brutal murders begins to terrorize the household, Nica suspects the doll may hold the key to the bloodshed. What she doesn’t know is that Chucky has a personal score to settle. He’s determined to finish a job he started more than 20 years earlier, and this time he’s going to see it through to the bloody and shocking end.“

So what do you think? Let us know how you're liking (or not) the new Chucky!

Happy Birthday to The Reaper!!!

2013-06-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

That's right, Reaplings!!! Today it's the birthday of the progenitor of this lovely blogsite and co-host of Dollar Bin Horror Radio. Happy Birthday Ms. Rhonny Reaper!

Win a Zombie Gnome from Chris and Jane's Place!!!

2013-05-31T17:01:00.000-05:00

THIS is the gnome the winner will receive! Isn't he just darlin'?

If you're on facebook (and who isn't), you may have seen a pic of zombie gnomes eating a flamingo floating around on a few of the horror themed pages (if not, look below). If so, then you've already seen the stunning work of artists Chris Stever and Jane DeRosa of the Etsy shop ChrisandJanesPlace.

This takes lawn decoration to a whole new level. Who need pink flamingos and toadstools when you could have the goriest garden on the block! These gorgeous sculptures are hand painted and hand cast using a proprietary cement blend and sealed with all purpose outdoor weather sealer to protect their glorious paint job. Their shop has beautifully detailed zombie gnomes that are both very well made and affordable (with a wonderfully detailed zombie gnome head ornament selling for just $10.99!). Plus, if you live in the US, shipping is FREE on all orders! Can't get very much better than that. Each one is really a work of horror art that everyone should check out...which brings me to the giveaway!

Another image of the prize this time around

So what is the prize for this giveaway? Well Jane and Chris have graciously given one lucky DBH reader the chance to win one of their Patient ZERO.5 zombie gnomes (as seen pictured above with the caption)! This gnome stands at 10 1/2 inches and is perfect for the flower garden (and even better at keeping annoying and prying neighbors at bay)! Like all of their gnomes, it is hand cast and painted and sealed to protect it's color. The detail in it's missing eye and severed arm makes this little beauty both charming and disgusting all at the same time. If you wanna take this little friend home, all you have to do is go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChrisandJanesPlace and them come back to THIS POST and leave a comment below, with your name and email address, telling me which of the 19 zombie gnomes is your favorite! The winner will be randomly chosen (names out of a hat) 2 weeks from today (June 14th) and announced here on the site. Seriously folks, it's THAT easy...AND we have chances for EXTRA ENTRIES!!! You get 1 extra entry (your name in the hat again) each for liking Chris and Jane's Place's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ZombieGnomes) and following them on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ZombieGnomes)! So you could have a total of 3 entries just by clicking your mouse around and leaving a comment!!! Again, the winner is chosen and announced on June 14th so hurry and enter before someone else wins! Good Luck!!!

On the Next Episode of DBHR....

2013-05-31T13:39:00.001-05:00

It's an awakening from a long winter's nap as Dollar Bin Horror Radio returns this week with the huge 2013 Halloween Horror Movie Madness Marathon Announcement. What will this year's theme be? Who are the judges? What is all the buzz about? Tune in this Sunday at 7pm EST to find out. Rock-N-Roll Horror Radio at 7 pm, the ANNOUNCEMENT show with The Head Hauntress, Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, at 7:30 pm EST. Join Ms. Rhonny Reaper and Eric Polk as we awaken the vicious digital hellbeast once again.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ericdescent/2013/06/02/the-announcementmadness-style

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.