Mandy's Morgue of Horror

The Walking Dead Finds A Governor

2012-02-25T12:23:00.001-08:00

Even though season 2 of AMC's The Walking Dead got off to a slow start, the second half of the season seems to be taking off and is headed in the right direction. Now, things look like they are only going to get better with the next season and the hit zombie-drama has just cast British actor, David Morrissey, to star as fan-favorite, The Governor.

Deadline reports that Morrissey will play The Governor of a small survivor establishment called Woodbury, where he will serve as an antagonist to the lovely Mr. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in season 3 of the hit series. I'm hoping that this mention of the governor only means that the next season will take place at the prison!

Prison+Zombies=amazing.

Do you think that Morrissey is the right fit to play the sadistic power-hungry bastard who causes so much trouble in the books? Probably. I'm more excited to see what AMC is going to allow to be shown next season because The Governor did some pretty R-rated things to Kirkman's characters.

Um, can this season just hurry up, kill Shane, and make their way to the prison already?! Thanks.

The Night Stalker to Write Again!

2012-02-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp will soon be stepping into the shoes of the supernatural sleuth, Carl Kolchak, in Disney's reboot of The Night Stalker. The film has just scored director, Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), to help bring the dark and dangerous world to life.

Deadline reports that Wright has signed onto the project, produced by Depp and his Infinitum Nihil partner, Christi Dembroski, before Disney has hired a writer for the script. The idea for a remake of the ABC film and series came from a meeting between Depp and Dembroski where the pair shared their passion for the project. Along with Depp and his partner, Wright will create the structure of the story from the ground up, having creative control over how to present their version of the film.

The film will also be made to fit Disney's standards, most likely resulting with a PG-13 rating. Ugh, that kind of stinks because Wright and Depp totally could have made this version of Kolchak much more dark and adult. However, I have faith that they can pull the film off without making it too toned down for the kiddies.

Darren McGavin starred in the 1974 television series about a Chicago news reporter who investigated suspicious crimes that usually involved supernatural forces. The series also included two TV movies; The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler. The series was then resurrected in 2005 and starred Stuart Townsend and Gabrielle Union.

I'm pretty excited about this because I love both Depp and Wright and pretty much all that they do. Also, although I never saw the original series, I did enjoy the remake whenever it aired on Syfy. The original series only lasted a season, however, it received a lot of praise from fans and was apparently responsible for the creation of The X-Files.

This definitely seems like a project to keep tabs on. Who doesn't love a good mystery involving some vampires, werewolves, and all kinds of supernatural forces? Count me in.

Playback Movie Review

2012-02-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

Some Native American superstitions believe that a photo can capture your soul. What if the same happened with a video recording? The horror, Playback, directed by Michael Nickles, explores this idea but with a supernatural twist. Now, imagine if the devil could capture your soul just by making you look into a camera. All of Hollywood would be screwed.

The thriller opens up in similar found-footage fashion, in the midst of a murder spree being committed by Harlan Diehl. The crazed Diehl seems possessed as he carelessly murders his parents and sister, leaving a crying baby behind, but not before filming it with his cam corder! Time flashes to present day and the audience is introduced to the horror-obsessed filmmaker, Julian, as he and his teenage friends attempt to recreate the famous murders for a school project.

The cast includes the stereotypical group of kids: the hornball best friend, the whorebag bestie, the good girl, the supportive girlfriend who is SUPER cool with everyone, the druggie loner, and of course, the amazing creative and sensitive boyfriend who just wants to solve the ongoing murder-mystery.

As Julian and his girlfriend Riley delve deeper into their town's mysterious past, trying to dig up more info for their project, they realize that the situation isn't everything that it appears to be. The pair learn that Diehl was the descendant of the famous Louis Le Prince, said to be the father of films and oh yeah, the devil incarnate.

Supposedly, Mr. Le Prince liked to film people in order to capture their souls and the easiest way for him to do so was to film his own son, who in turn did the same to his son, and so on. The couple learn that all of the individuals that appeared in Le Prince's film died shortly after, furthering their suspicions.

Meanwhile, Julian's drugged out creepfest for a friend, Quinn, who happens to work at the local news station, decides to look up the case at Julian's request. This results in Quinn watching the original murder video and becoming possessed. Uh, don't understand how but ok, I'll let this one slide.

So, Quinn becomes possessed and he starts planting video recording devices in various areas, possessing the group of friends one by one, and in turn, making them do whatever he wants. During all of the shenanigans, the mighty fine Christian Slater is the town cop with a dark secret: he likes to watch teenage girls. So? If Christian Slater wanted to watch me get undressed, I am not ashamed to say that I would GLADLY let him. So. Hot.

Anyway, Slater's character, Frank Lyons, is kind of exploring the disappearances of some of the teenagers and interacting with Quinn in order to get his recording fix on the least appealing girl of the group, Dee Dee. REALLY?! Christian Slater is obsessed with her?! Her face is fine but her bod is the equivalent to an 8 year-old boy's, i.e. IT DOESN'T EXIST!

Sorry, but this angered me. If she's going to give him a lap dance, please actually give him one and please actually wear a sexy outfit and actually have a body. AHHH, I digress and I'm sorry but this was the biggest problem that I had with the entire movie. Who cares about the story when I just want to see Slater naked?!Kidding...I guess.

As for the rest of the movie...I didn't exactly hate it.

Nickles used an interesting idea, mixing the found-footage element with regular directing and I liked the myth of Louis Le Prince. However, I didn't enjoy how Quinn actually got possessed; I didn't really understand how he became possessed. He wasn't being filmed at the time, nor did he have a recording device on him at the moment, which is how the possessions occurred to the other characters, so...how the hell did he get possessed just by watching the tape? Was I missing something?

I did enjoy Toby Hemingway as Quinn, though. Not only is he good looking, in an unexplainable way, but I think he's a pretty decent actor and he played the shitfaced asshole to a tee. I found myself feeling shitfaced while watching his performance and he just seemed SICK and demented; in turn, his performance made me sick. Or...maybe I just wasn't feeling good that night, I don't know. Either way, I liked him in the movie.

Other than Jennifer Missoni, who played Dee Dee, I thought that the rest of the cast was actually pretty good and their dialogue flowed naturally. Missoni is actually a really pretty girl but I didn't find her to be obsessive-worthy in the film and she can't act for crap. Why couldn't Nickles have cast me in this role so I could have Christian Slater fawn over me? Better yet, why couldn't it have been Alessandra Torresani who would have been much more believable.

There was an interesting twist on the audience, misleading you to think that one character was the baby from the beginning when it actually turned out to be a character we weren't expecting at all. At least, I wasn't expecting it. I enjoyed that part but the rest of the movie was sort of predictable, especially the ending.

I know I have already talked about Slater too much in this post but he was the sole reason that I wanted to see this movie and his character and performance were the best things about it. BUT, he's hardly in the movie! Nickles totally underused him in the film and if he had used his character more, I think that the movie would have been a whole lot more interesting. There is also a brief appearance by Daryl Mitchell as Julian's boss that I enjoyed and I would have enjoyed seeing him more in the movie as well.

As I said, I didn't completely hate this film but I wouldn't say that it was the best horror of 2012 either. I liked the music and the directing style and there were some enjoyable gory scenes thrown in the mix as well. The spin on the Native American legend, making the supernatural force the devil, was an interesting element for a storyline, however, I didn't enjoy how the characters actually became possessed; the way that they became possessed was a little corny and stupid in my opinion.

Toby Hemingway's "O" face

And if you go into this movie thinking that you are going to see a lot of Christian Slater action, be warned--you will not get it.

I'd say see this movie when it comes out on DVD. Don't spend the 10 bucks to rent it VOD because I think it can wait. If you go into the film with high expectations, you will be let down. However, I think if you go into it with an open mind, you may actually have some fun with it, especially when the exploding head shots come up on the screen.

Happy Mother's Day!

2012-02-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing that I've learned from my obsession with horror movies, it's this: ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOORS! Oh, and buy a gun because you never know when some crazy mofos are going to come waltzing into your humble abode and start torturing you. And in the remake of the 1980 Troma classic, Mother's Day, a group of friends find themselves in that very situation. Does no one pay attention to movies or watch enough episodes of I Survived...?!

The Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II,III, and IV) directed horror has finally received a U.S. release date of May 8! It's not exactly Mother's Day but it's close enough, right? Anchor Bay films will bring the lovely family horror to audiences via DVD and Blu-Ray and will have a limited theatrical release in New York, LA, and Chicago on May 4th.

Mother's Day is the graphic retelling of an already graphic film which revolves around a group of people who just so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The film follows three criminal broskis who fail at robbing a bank and seek refuge at their mother's house. Problem is, mommy never told her boys that she lost the house and it was resold. Whoopsies. Looks like the new owners are in for a surprise of their lives when the fugitives show up on their doorstep demanding money and probably a whole bunch of other fun stuff!

To make the crazy situation ten times crazier...the mother of all crazy shows up to help her children take care of bidness (business but with a ghetto slang to it).

The torture-porntastic remake stars, Jaime King (My Bloody Valentine 3D), Shawn Ashmore (Frozen), Frank Grillo (The Grey), Brianna Evigan (Sorority Row), Deborah Ann Wohl (True Blood), and the bitchiest bitch of them all, Rebecca De Mornay, as mommy dearest.

It's kind of sweet when you think about it, really. Would your mother kill for you?

Get Ready for "Detention"

2012-02-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

Ugh, high school was HELL and I'm so glad that I'm over that crap. For those of you who need a reminder of the horrible wasteland, Joseph Kahn's horror, Detention, is sure to be the perfect recap to your teenage years, just with a slasher serial killer added to the mix. The horror-comedy has just received a release date of April 13, 2012.

The film, which premiered at SXSW, is set for a limited release confirmed for Atlanta, Boston (woohoo!), Chicago, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and Halifax.

The horror love note to John Hughes' The Breakfast club, Detention follows the story of Riley Jones who must endure a painful night of detention with her fellow classmates on prom night. The night gets a whole lot worse when the teens must face a serial killer reminiscent of ghostface from Scream!

Take a look at the trailer below! I'm actually looking forward to this film--are you?

Beware "The Prospector's Curse"

2012-02-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you and your fugitive buddy find a dying prospector on Indian soil, you couldn't help but want to rob him, right? After all, he won't need his money where he's headed. However, in the land of horror movies, audiences know that situations like that aren't so simple. In the western dark comedy short, The Prospector's Curse, two criminals realize that they have robbed the wrong corpse and soon find themselves trying to escape his wrath.

The horror short, which just finished production in Pontypool, Ontario, is set during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890's. The film is written and directed by Josh Heisie and produced by Bruno Marino.

The film follows Theodore “Tubby” Ellsworth and Jack Smith, two criminals on the run, lost in the untamed wilderness. When they stumble across a mutilated Prospector, dying on Indian ground, they promise to give him a Christian burial. The fugitives break their oath and steal the old man’s gold…but that night, the Prospector’s corpse returns to make them pay!

The western horror stars, Robert Nolan (Worm, Familiar), David Roberts (Curious and Unusual Deaths), Johnny Quinn (Mind's Eye: The Series), and Amanda Ives (I Hate Toronto: A Love Story).

Be sure to keep an eye out for the dark comedy when it debuts in May, 2012.

Familiar Movie Review

2012-02-18T16:39:00.000-08:00

Do you ever find yourself questioning your life and how you got to that point? The mundane everyday tasks can become repetitive and make you miserable to the point where you may just lose your mind and snap. In the horror short, Familiar, John Dodd comes to his breaking point but he soon realizes that his evil thoughts may not be his own.

Familiar follows the lives of John Dodd (Robert Nolan), his wife Charlotte (Astrida Auza), and their daughter Jordan (Cathryn Hostick) as they painfully trek along. The film mainly focuses on John's angry thoughts regarding his pathetic life and his hatred for his wife.

John is miserable with what he is has to deal with and is unhappy in his marriage, however, he doesn't ever express his feelings vocally; he keeps all of his emotions bottled up inside of him, letting them build and grow stronger.

When his wife becomes pregnant, he lets his evil thoughts coerce him into buying a medication to abort the situation, without telling his wife, of course. This later results in a worse situation for John, who must now deal with a depressed wife who just wants to try again for another baby. The pathetic sap doesn't want to have another child and he knows that his wife will never stop until she gets what she wants. He realizes that there's only one way to deal with the situation and make the problem go away for good.

John's mind insists that the only way out is to murder his wife but when he actually tries to do it, he can't. This results in his mind--which is filled with evil thoughts---to try to break away from his body completely. To his dismay, John wakes up one morning and finds that there's an evil growing inside of him, trying to get out and that only he can stop it.

I'm not particularly a fan of short films because I find that they are hard to get into and usually there isn't enough time for character development, so the audience doesn't get to know who they are watching. However, that wasn't the case with Familiar, which was extremely well done and enjoyable.

The protagonist, although slightly crazy, was very likeable and intriguing. I found him to have similar qualities to the character of Jack Torrance in The Shining and I couldn't look away from him while he was on the screen. The director and writer did a great job at creating sympathy for his character, feeling the pain he was going through, and I found myself rooting for him to get rid of his annoying wife!

I enjoyed the creativeness in the idea that the evil within John was actually a separate entity and it was fighting to get out. The final scenes where he takes action to remove the evil were super creepy and cringe-worthy.

The message I got from the whole film was that if you just sit there and let your anger build, without ever talking about your problems or taking legitimate (and legal) actions to fix them, then they're only going to build and become a lot worse. In John's case, he dug himself into a deep whole and couldn't get himself out because he let his anger pretty much get the best of him.

The performance by Robert Nolan was praiseworthy; he barely spoke on screen but he conveyed so much anger and resentment through his eyes to the point where you could see just how unhappy he was. His voice, which is mainly heard through his thoughts, was also very alluring as well. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing him in more films in the future.

I was pleasantly surprised by this film, which didn't feel like a short film to me. The only problem that I had was that it wasn't a full length feature, because I would have enjoyed seeing the story fleshed out more and see just how far John was going to go. This 20 minute horror short is definitely worth a watch for a horror fans.

I Am Legend Sequel in the Works

2012-02-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

Light up the darkness. That's exactly what Will Smith's character, Dr. Robert Neville, did in the post-apocalyptic vampire/zombie drama, I am Legend. After the success of the 2007 film, Warner Brothers has finally decided to move forward with a sequel, and producers plan for the film to again follow Smith's character around. Uh, did they not see how the first film ended?

Deadline reports that Warner Brothers has just closed deals with Akiva Goldsman and Overbrook Entertainment to produce another installment of I Am Legend. Arash Amel has also signed on to write the script.

The movie is not being called a prequel, which was the original rumor going around Hollywood over the past several years. The original film, based on Richard Matheson's novel of the same name, grossed $584 million worldwide during it's release, so it only makes sense for Warner Brothers to want to make a sequel. However, considering what happens to Smith's character in the first film, it's questionable how the movie will follow his character in a sequel.

There aren't much details about the film in regards to storyline and cast, but I am eager to learn more. I really enjoyed the first film and I liked how it ended. I would like to see the film follow where it left off, exploring Anna and the colony she discovered, along with the antidote that Dr. Neville created for the virus.

Are you excited for an I Am Legend sequel?

Details About the New Evil Dead

2012-02-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading my previous posts in regard to remakes, then you already know that the idea of an Ash-less Evil Dead reboot makes me want to vomit all over the computer screen and hurt the people who are in charge of making it. Now the film's star, Jane Levy, and the original Ash, Bruce Campbell, have given a bit of information as to what fans can expect to see in the new version of the horror classic.

In an interview with The Insider, Levy, who will be playing the new "Ash" character in the film, described that the movie will be very serious and dark. She stated, "I'm a big fan of the original. To me it's the scariest movie, ever. But this one is really different. They've changed it a lot, but it's still a pretty gory movie. My mom probably can't see it."

Levy continued, "I think the humor in the first one came from the special effects of the time. I don't know that they meant it to be funny ... this one is not funny. It's definitely dark."

Umm, I haven't seen the original Evil Dead in quite some time but I do remember the rest of the series being campy and funny, especially Army of Darkness, so I'm not sure what she's talking about. I didn't think the special effects were that bad for the time; they certainly didn't make me roll over in a fit of laughter. But anyways...

The Insider also spoke with the king of camp, Mr. Campbell, who also stated that the remake would be very scary. The star stated, "You can expect to have a damn scary horror movie. There's no Ash character -- The Evil Book is going to torment a new set of kids, so it's a remake, or a re-imagining or ... a re-whatever word you want to use. It's going to be re-scary."

Of course he's going to say that; why would he bash his own movie? But, I'm going to trust you on this one, Bruce, so you better deliver.

The "remake" is going to involve a whole new set of characters and follow a completely new storyline, essentially making it a completely different movie but with the same title. However, the one thing that fans of the series will recognize, besides the book of the dead, are the evil trees which played a big part in the original. Campbell joked, "They're not terribly well-behaved this time either."

I'm actually happy with Levy as the lead but I am still hesitant to the film. Evil Dead also stars Shiloh Fernandez and Lou Taylor Pucci and is directed by Fede Alvaraez. Audiences can expect to see the supposedly scary remake, April 12, 2013.

Jacob Hopkins Cast in True Blood

2012-02-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

For some reason movies and television shows like to cast young children for roles which place them in an area of high power and rank. HBO's blood-sucking drama, True Blood, is no different; the show has just cast the very young and adorable, Jacob Hopkins, to star as the final member of the Vampire Authority.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the baby-faced actor will play Alexander Drew, a vampire who was turned at the age of 9. Drew is basically described as an evil bastard who likes to torture and mess with anyone he comes into contact with.

Hopkins joins Christopher Meloni (Law and Order: SVU), Peter Mensah (Sparticus), and Carolyn Henessy (Cougar Town) as a part of the highest vampire governing body.

The 5th season of True Blood is currently in production and will air this Summer on HBO. Hopefully, it won't suck as bad as the last season did.

Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Zegers to Join "The Colony"

2012-02-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing that Hollywood is currently lacking, it's zombie films. Kidding (Obviously)--and I'm not complaining. The newest addition to the zombie/cannibal craze is the Sci-Fi thriller, The Colony, which is currently in negotiations to cast Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Zegers.

The Hollywood Reporter broke news that the Canadian thriller, which will follow a group of individuals who survive a second Ice Age and must face cannibalistic humans, is in the final stages of casting The Matrix star and Frozen star, respectively. So, it's not exactly a zombie movie but it's close enough, right?

The $16 million indie film, which will shoot in Toronto through the end of March, will be directed by Jeff Renfroe, who also co-wrote the script along with Patrick Tarr, Pascal Trottier, and Svet Rouskov.

So far, Fishburne and Zegers are the only names that have been revealed; producers are trying to keep the rest of the cast list under lock and key until the film begins production on February 22.

All I know is this: there's nothing more exciting and terrifying than a bunch of people trying to each a bunch of people. I'm sold, automatically, thank you. Plus, I've been a fan of Zegers ever since the moment he appeared with the basketball-playing Golden Retriever in Air Bud. How can you not love that movie?! It's a dog.Who plays. Basketball. Movie gold.

First Promo for Fearnet's "Holliston"

2012-02-16T14:16:00.000-08:00

The New England area has become a big place for film productions as of late, and now horror fans can expect to see a bit of the North East on the small screen with the new Fearnet sitcom, Holliston. The half-hour comedy series, created by horror alums, Adam Green (Hatchet) and Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2), stars Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Corri English (Unrest), and Laura Ortiz (The Hills Have Eyes).

The series, based in Green's hometown of Holliston, Massachusetts, follows two best friends, Green and Lynch, as they struggle to maintain their chaotic lives while trying to make it big as filmmakers.

The campy series will follow Green and Lynch, who play younger versions of themselves. Green told the Boston Globe, "The best way to describe it is ‘The Big Bang Theory’ meets ‘Evil Dead II." The 6-episode series will follow the traditional sitcom setup and will include a laugh track.

The first official promo for the series was released online yesterday and you can check it out below. Being a fan of Green and also being from Boston, I'm super excited about this series. It looks like it's going to be a silly and funny escape for my Tuesday nights in April.

What are your thoughts on the new horror sitcom?

Grant Wilson Exits Ghost Hunters

2012-02-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

Ghost hunting aficionados get your tissues ready: Grant Wilson, co-founder of TAPS and star of the long-running paranormal Syfy reality series, Ghost Hunters, announced on last nights episode that he will no longer be participating in the series.

Wilson stated, "It is with mixed emotion that I am announcing my departure from the cast of Ghost Hunters. While paranormal investigating has always been and will remain a passion for me, after enjoying nearly eight successful seasons on television, I have made the decision to leave the series in order to focus on other aspects of my personal life.”

Like what? Your budding music career? Clearly the guy has made an insane amount of money over the past 8 years and doesn't have to lift a finger again or pretend to do plumbing for Roto-Rooter.

The ghost hunter continued, "I will deeply miss working with [co-investigator] Jason [Hawes] and the rest of the dedicated investigators and crew that have become like family, and I wish them all the best as they continue to follow their passion and realize the vision of TAPS. I will also miss interacting with our wonderful fans worldwide. You are all at the heart of what we do on Ghost Hunters, and I’m grateful to have gotten to know many of you over the years.”

In response to his long-time pal's sudden departure, TAPS founder Jason Hawes stated, “I will miss working with Grant on a daily basis, and am indebted to the level of dedication and expertise he has brought to our field. I can’t imagine having a better partner through it all — both on the show and off. Grant and I, along with our spouses and children, are all like one big family. While I fully support his decision to move on from the series, this longtime friendship — as well as our business partnership — will continue off-camera for years to come.”

This makes me really sad because with one of the original founders of TAPS missing from the series, it will feel incomplete. I used to be overly obsessed with Ghost Hunters because it was fun to watch and different at the time of its initial premiere. However, in recent times, with many cast members exiting the series and strategically placed advertisements in the show's live investigations, the show has become boring and too staged for my liking.

I did enjoy watching the two friends work together and I think that if Wilson has decided to leave, the show should come to a close soon, especially since it has lost the spark that it once had.

Fans of the show will miss you dearly, Mr. Wilson. I wish you the best but I know you're probably going to spend your free time swimming in your money pit back at home.

Wilson's final episode of Ghost Hunters will air when the show returns, Wednesday, May 16, at 9pm on Syfy.

Jack Torrance, Will You Be My Valentine?

2012-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

Man, oh man, nothing turns me on more than a guy who knows how to wield an axe. Am I right ladies? In the 1980 Stanley Kubrick classic, The Shining, Jack Nicholson is the epitome of the character you love to hate. And even after all of his crazy talk and attempts to murder his wife and son, I still really didn't hate him. I loved him actually, and that is why I am writing this little love note to the pointy-eyebrowed lunatic who captured my heart.

Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, the tragic character who slowly loses his mind while watching over the Overlook Hotel during winter. The audience sees things as Jack sees them and at first, we aren't too sure if what is happening is real or not. However, once Wendy discovers his manuscript and witnesses his psychotic episode, we clearly know that the dude has lost his mind for sure.

Kubrick makes it difficult to fully hate Torrance because for one, he cast the insanely charismatic and undeniably charming Hollywood playboy, Jack Nicholson, in the role and secondly, the audience sees the protagonist as the everyday man who is honestly trying to make ends meet for his family. And who doesn't love a guy who takes care of his family? Technically, it wasn't his fault he got talked into killing them in the end.

The poor guy just couldn't catch a break. One little drunken mistake where he accidentally broke his 6 year-old's arm and he's labeled a bad guy for life. The pressures that the slightly annoying Wendy placed on her husband only made him want to pick up the bottle even more and when you're that vulnerable, it's insanely easy for a ghost to get into your head. At least, that's what I am told. And, Wendy, I didn't see you trying to get a job and support your family. Get with the times woman!

Jack just wanted to have a good time! He wanted to relieve the tension that was building up inside of him over the previous months, and what better way to do that than to chase your wife and son with an axe? The man was a novelist and knew exactly the right things to say. Oh, Jack, you had me at, "Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life. I'm not gonna hurt ya. You didn't let me finish my sentence. I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in."

How can one not love a real Romeo like that?

Anyone who has ever argued that anyone other than Jack Nicholson would have been perfect for the role of Jack Torrance is completely wrong in every which way. There is no one and there never will be anyone better than Nicholson to play that character because he totally emulated everything that Torrance was supposed to be. He made the pathetic and boring Stephen King character actually likeable, despite his faults and evilness, and for that, I praise him.

Jack Torrance was just a hardworking guy at heart who got mixed up in some bad things and made some bad decisions. It's okay, Jacky boy; I still love you and this year, you are my Valentine.

Best Horror Couples

2012-02-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Nothing brings a couple closer than hacking off limbs, shooting zombies in the head, and being possessed by demons and or ghosts. Ahh, horror movies: a place where couples go through hell and usually always come out of the situation even stronger. In honor of the lovely Hallmark holiday, Valentine's Day, I have decided to compile a list of my favorite horror movie couples. Are yours on the list?

1.) Oskar and Eli: Let the Right One In

Being young and in school can be hard, especially if a bunch of assholes are constantly bullying you. Not to mention, your parents are divorced and barely care about you. For the friendless and weak Oskar, his life changes for the better when he meets his mysterious new neighbor, Eli, who only comes out at night. Quickly, the pair become good friends and Oskar soon learns Eli's dark secret--she's a vampire. Later, he also learns an even bigger secret regarding his new friend's identity--but I won't spoil that one for you! This couple has to be one of my favorites because they are perfect for each other. The heartbreaking story of Oskar makes the audience really feel for the poor and lonely guy and when he meets Eli, she helps him to become stronger and stand up for himself. Not to mention, Oskar helps Eli when she needs it the most too. I wish I had a vampire to kill anyone who ever messed with me!

2.)Nancy and Freddy: A Nightmare on Elm Street

Although this relationship was never actually consensual (Freddy is a child-molesting perv), you can't help but love seeing this pair together. Nancy, the strong-willed final girl of A Nightmare on Elm Street is the perfect match for the shit-talking sadist dream rapist, Fred Krueger. Nancy was never afraid to back down from the burned pedophile with knives for fingers and audiences couldn't help but notice that it only turned Mr. Krueger on even more. The best in the Nightmare series were the entries that featured Miss Thompson as she battled everybody's favorite bad guy. Too bad these two could never get along!

3.) Sam and Dean: Supernatural

Family is forever and the demon hunting Winchester brothers prove that to be true, never actually turning their backs on each other and always fighting by each others sides. The chemistry between Sam and Dean is undeniable and their bond is unbreakable. The pair has battled a yellow-eyed demon who murdered their mother, fought God's soldiers, defeated Lucifer, and literally went to hell and back. The tough and resilient brothers prove that nothing is a match for them or their hearts and the two will never lose sight of what is most important in life: your family. If only these two actually existed (Sigh).

4.) Otis and Baby: The Devil's Rejects

Despite the fact that the next two siblings on my list are ruthless serial killers on a murdering spree, you can't help but actually root for them and feel the love between the two. Similar to the Winchester brothers, Otis and Baby Firefly are suckers for family and they're just trying to stay together while murdering people a long their great escape. If the police never came and busted their cannibalistic, skin-wearing, devil's den in the first place, none of the further killings would have actually happened. So, it's all the police department's fault. Tutti fuckin' fruity.

5.) George and Kathy Lutz: The Amityville Horror

Note to new homeowners: you might want to check out your new home's past history before moving your unsuspecting family in. If you don't, you could end up getting possessed by the devilish spirit who possessed the past residents and end up wanting to kill your family. Even after George gets possessed and starts acting crazy, Kathy never gives up hope on her husband. Through thick and thin, the terrified mother of three protects her children while simultaneously trying to save her husband from evil's grip. Love conquers all in the end: Kathy gets her good ol' Georgie back and the family flees the house before it can swallow them whole. Now, here's a couple who really takes their vows seriously.
6.) David and Judy: The Crazies

Imagine finally becoming pregnant from the man that you love, in the town that you both love, only to realize that your world is quickly burning down around you. When an accident causes the residents of Ogden Marsh to become infected and turn crazy, it's up to the local Sheriff, David, to get his wife,Judy, and friends out alive. The job isn't that easy when, on top of the murderous townsfolk, the military swoops in to quarantine and kill everyone. Despite the disaster and chaos occurring around them, David and Judy stick by each other, even when David has a chance to get away but chooses to go back and rescue his baby mama instead. The young couple manage to still talk and listen to each other despite the stressful situation they are forced to deal with. They are the picture of perfection. Then again, if Timothy Olyphant was my husband, I would never argue with him either.

7.) Micah and Katie: Paranormal Activity

Katie and Micah seem to be the perfect couple on the outside. However, a dark evil lurks around the vulnerable Katie and threatens to destroy both their lives. Even after the super adorable boyfriend catches weird activity on film, and watches his girlfriend get pulled down a hallway by something that isn't there, he decides to stay by her side and fight rather than run away, which would have been the smarter thing to do. Sadly, Micah's love for Katie isn't strong enough to stand up to the demon who is intent on having the young woman as his own. But they were cute while they lasted!

8.)Ichabod Crane and Katrin Van Tassel: Sleepy Hollow

The timid and shy Ichabod Crane is terrified of pretty much everything. He is sent to the town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate mysterious murders where villagers are losing their heads. While there, he meets the beautiful daughter of the town's richest family, Katrina Van Tassel, and the two quickly fall for each other. With the help of the strong-willed Katrina by his side, Ichabod stands up to the evil terrorizing the town and he saves the day. The young woman brings out the best in Ichabod and as the old saying goes, opposites attract, which is true in this case. But in all honesty, who wouldn't be attracted to Johnny Depp?

9.) James and Kristen: The Strangers

That awkward moment when your long-time girlfriend turns down you marriage proposal and the two of you are supposed to spend the weekend together? I hate when that happens. Only, in the case of James and Kristen, the awfulness of their night doesn't end there. When three strangers come knocking on their door and decide to terrorize the couple, simply for the reason that they were home, their night gets a whole lot worse. Despite going through a rough patch in their relationship, the couple stand by each other and try their best to fight the situation. However, the outcome isn't exactly ideal. But, the couple never wavered from each other and the one true thing by the end of the night is: they did really love each other. And, don't answer the door to strangers because they will ALWAYS kill you.

10.) Jack and Wendy: The Shining

Now, I didn't say that my favorite couples on this list actually had to be good for each other, and in the case of Wendy and Jack Torrance--they are far from the perfect couple. When Jack slowly spirals out of control mentally, Wendy must make the tough decision to turn on her husband to keep her son alive and out of harms way. Although the pair are literally at each others throats, there is an undeniable chemistry between the two, even if it is compressed of fear. "Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life. I'm not gonna hurt ya. You didn't let me finish my sentence. I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in!" I mean, come on, who wouldn't love for a man to say those things to her?! What a sweetheart.

Movie Review: Mulberry Street

2012-02-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

I was recently given the awesome opportunity to write a movie review for the guys over at Edinburgh Horror Club. The movie of choice? The 2007 rat-filled zombie flick, Mulberry Street, which was featured as a part of After Dark Films Horrorfest. You can read my review here.

Zombies: From Undead Muscle to Brain-Eating Stars

2012-02-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

Indie publishers are slowly taking over the industry and newcomer, Marty Shaw, is taking full advantage of the situation with his newly published ebook, Dead Man Walking, which can be purchased on Amazon for just .99! After reading and enjoying his zombie short story, I asked Shaw if he would write a guest post, giving my readers a glimpse into his macabre mind and some insight on my favorite horror subgenre: ZOMBIES. Shaw kindly agreed and now you can enjoy what he has to say below and please check out Dead Man Walking!

Zombies: From Undead Muscle to Brain-Eating Stars

by Marty Shaw

I don’t know about you, but my childhood intro to the horror genre revolved around what I consider the icons of horror. Dracula introduced me to vampires, a cursed Lon Chaney Jr. showed me my first werewolf in the Wolf Man, and a guy named George A. Romero redefined zombies for me with Night of the Living Dead. I say redefine because Romero’s classic film wasn’t the first time moviegoers saw the walking dead, but his vision of zombies has endured to the point that his zombie are the first thing we think of when we hear the ‘Z’ word.

Before Romero came along, zombies were usually nothing more than people brought back from the dead to be used as slaves, like in the 1932 film, White Zombie, which is considered the first movie that actually used the word ‘zombie.’ There was no rotting flesh and certainly no brain-eating involved. Zombies were the lame ducks of the paranormal world, doing the grunt work that nobody else wanted to do. I don’t know what possessed Romero to put such a drastic spin on the character but I’m very glad he did because his vision completely changed the world of horror. Night of the Living Dead’s ghoulish army has affected everything from movies and TV to my own horror short story.

In Dead Man Walking, I stick with the tried-and-true version of zombies, but I give them a slight little twist. Oh yeah, I also put them behind bars. Why put zombies in prison? Two reasons. First, we always see zombies roaming the cities and countryside. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but it’s not an unusual thing. On the other hand, there aren’t too many books or movies that focus on a prison environment. My other reason for using a prison is that it allows me to borrow a bit from that old writing adage, ‘write what you know.’ Before turning to writing on a full-time basis, one of my jobs was that of a correctional officer. I’ve worn the uniform, walked the halls, and dealt with inmates of all shapes and sizes. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any zombies because I don’t know if I would have fared as well as the main character in the book. With my experience in that world behind razor wire, I believed I could create an environment that came across as believable, and we all know the more real a horror story is, the more believable the monsters will be. Did I succeed in bringing the world of prison and zombies to life? That’s for you to decide, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

If zombies aren’t your thing, then you’ll be happy to know that my next book, Little Demons, is completely zombie-free, but that doesn’t mean the situation is any better. As a matter of fact, the little town of Hale (pop. 666) offers plenty to be scared of. You can keep an eye on www.itsjustmarty.wordpress.com for the release date, which is expected to be later this month.

I’d like to give a huge shout-out to Mandy and thank her for inviting me to the morgue to hang with all of you. It’s been a blast. Feel free to look me up on Twitter at @ItsJustMarty if you’d like to stay in touch.

Robert Kirkman Gets Sued

2012-02-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the mid-season premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead, series creator, Robert Kirkman is being sued by childhood friend and collaborator who claims that he helped create the beloved comic series and is entitled to half of the proceeds made from its success.

The Hollywood Reporter states that comic book artist, Michael Anthony Moore, filed his claim with the LA Superior Court last Thursday. In his complaint, Moore insists that he unknowingly signed over his rights to Kirkman and was basically duped out of making the fortune that inevitably came from the series. Moore explains that he has not received much money for the comics and has failed to receive money for other projects developed from TWD.

The suit reads: "Each of these works was prepared by [Moore] and Kirkman with the intention that their contributions be merged into inseparable or independent parts of a unitary whole...[Moore] and Kirkman were thus joint authors and co-owners of the copyrights in these works."

Moore, who grew up with Kirkman, states that he was misled by Kirkman's agents in a fraudulent scheme to sign over copyrights, granting him 60 percent of Comic Publishing Net Proceeds in reference to TWD, 20 percent of motion picture net proceeds in regard to TWD, and 50 percent motion picture net proceeds regarding another project that the pair worked on together.

The comic artist says that in 2005, his friend informed him that he would not be able to make a TV deal for the series unless Moore signed over his rights, and in fear that the project would fall through, the artist obliged. Since this fateful day, TWD has become one of the highest rated shows on cable and Moore has yet to receive any of the royalties from the series.

The claim alleges cause of action for fraud, breach of written contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, money had an received and accounting.

Despite the case, Kirkman's attorney refuted claims and told THR that the case is, "totally frivolous. Mr. Moore is owed no money at all. And Mr. Moore's contract has an attorneys' fees clause in it so we will be going after him to collect attorneys' fees. We are taking this matter very seriously."

This news makes me sad and I really hope that it isn't true. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy my zombie fix through The Walking Dead, lawsuit and all.

Legion Tv Series on the Way

2012-02-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

Fans of the 2010 supernatural thriller, Legion (Are there any? I don't think so), have some more of the story to look forward to. Syfy has just announced its plans to develop the thriller, which starred Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid, into a series for their network.

Deadline reports that the series will be written by Sons of Anarchy scribe, Vaun Wilmott, and it will be adapted by the film's original director, Scott Stewart. Sony Pictures TV is producing the new project.

The film follows archangel, Michael (Bettany) who falls to Earth and makes his way to a small diner which is occupied by a small group of people, one of whom is pregnant with a child that will save humanity. Michael stands beside the humans and offers his help against the legion of angels sent to Earth to begin the apocalypse.

No idea why the network chose this particular film to be made into a series but maybe it will be good if the guy behind SOA will be writing the script.

Autumn: Book Review

2012-02-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

An unstoppable virus. An unimaginable situation. David Moody's horror novel, Autumn, details the struggles a group of survivors must face following an unexplained zombie apocalypse in England. The novel succeeds at first with its fast-paced storyline but inevitably falls short due to lack of characterization and action in its final acts.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. It's zombie storyline is what initially drew me in and when I discovered the author's backstory, I was intrigued even more. Moody originally published Autumn online via his website and it eventually became a success after being downloaded a half a million times. About ten years later, he signed with St. Martin's Press and had his novels officially published.

The story is simple: a zombie virus breaks out, destroying most of the population, resulting in a struggle for the remaining survivors. The plot is a classic zombie scenario a la, Night of the Living Dead, and that's what I liked about it--at first. After continuous reading, I realized that not much more was going to happen with the story and I found myself bored.

The book starts off perfectly, in the middle of the action. The first page describes a man as he becomes infected with the unknown virus which results in his death. I enjoyed this brief scene because a lot of the time readers don't get to see the story from that perspective; author's usually only show a one-sided view of the zombie apocalypse--the survivor's. It would have been interesting if Moody stuck with this idea and continued to show the readers the story from the point-of-view of the infected, but he didn't.

After the reader is given a glimpse at the beginning stages of the virus, the story moves forward and introduces us to one of the protagonists as he realizes that something strange is happening. Soon, people all over the city begin dying unexpectedly, leaving a select few alive. Frightened and confused, the survivors make their way to a community center to take shelter, hoping to find answers as well.

The infected don't immediately rise after death, rather, the virus works in stages. The chosen individuals meet their deaths and stay dead for several days before rising again and when they do, they aren't violent. The group of survivors, who are slightly whiny and annoying, analyze the walking dead and conclude that they are blind and unintelligent.

I did enjoy Moody's take on the zombies because it was creative and different from a lot of zombie stories that are thrown at us. I found it cool that the virus worked in stages and as I read, I anxiously awaited the arrival of the violence that would soon arise within the dead. And the violence did come, resulting in the typical zombies that genre fans know and love.

Before things get worse, three of the survivors at the community center band together and decide to seek shelter out of the city, where they believe it will be safest. Michael, Emma, and Carl leave the city and seek refuge in a farmhouse in the countryside. Once the group was at the farm, I couldn't get George A. Romero's '68 classic out of my head.

I kept reading, hoping that once the group made it out of the city, the action would pick up. Except, it didn't. This would have been acceptable if Moody fleshed out his characters and made them stand out in their unique ways but I didn't get that feeling from reading. There were hardly any characteristics or traits that stuck out for each character and I realized that I didn't know much about any of them, and I didn't understand why this group of people decided to stick together.

Moody's characters weren't entirely dreadful but they weren't insanely likeable either. Towards the end of the story, I had no affection towards any of them and I couldn't care less if they died or not. In fact, I wanted someone to die a horrible death, just to see if I would feel anything.

I understand that Autumn's pace was the author's way of trying to make this story more about the struggles for humanity and show how the individuals were truly dealing with the situation. However, I don't think that he did it correctly. There wasn't much for the reader to go off of and the book became hard for me to finish.

There were particular scenes that had potential to be something more if Moody had just stuck with them longer and fleshed them out a bit, such as the group attempting to pillage a nearby grocery store, and a scene where they meet a nearby local.

Don't get me wrong, this story wasn't completely awful; it just wasn't for me. I love simple stories and even more so when they involve zombies but, I need to know who my characters are if you expect me to keep reading and invest in your story.

I did enjoy how the story was written; it read like a movie and I could picture everything playing out on the screen in my head. There was just something missing for me. If I was going to recommend a David Moody story for you it would have to be his other zombie-esque novel, Hater. Hater is a lot more creative than Autumn and more fun.

I hate to tell a person to skip reading a book because I like to support all authors and their work, no matter how much I may like or dislike it. Autumn didn't satiate my zombie appetite but it may be exactly what you are looking for in a story. I'm just warning you: the story is extremely slow, but if that tickles your pickle then go ahead and read it.

Japanese Horror Remake: The Wright Girls

2012-02-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

Who's excited for some girl-on-girl violence mixed with some weird sexual situations?! Uh, probably every guy with eyes. Especially if Megan Fox is one of those girls.

According to Bloody-Disgusting, Relativity Media is currently planning on a remake of the Japanese horror, 2LDK, which will be renamed, The Wright Girls. The first script for the film was written by Easy A scribe, Bert Royal, and word on the street is that Relativity is eying Andy Fickman to do revisions.

The production company is currently trying to sell the film in Berlin and hopes to begin filming by May. The film will follow two young actresses who are vying for the same role in a film. While waiting for a callback for who got the role, the two friends turn on each other, resulting in some sadistic violence along the way. My prediction? The two girls will practically kill each other only to find out that neither of them got the role.

Relativity is interested in the GORGEOUS Megan Fox for the role of one of the actresses and I hope to God she gets it. I don't care what anyone says about her--she's beautiful, funny, and she can actually act if she tries. I thought she did a great job in Jennifer's Body--am I the only one? Oh, well. She's still hotter than you.

Syfy's Being Human Renewed For Third Season

2012-02-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

If you love watching the friendships and tribulations between three roommates, who happen to be a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf, then you'll be happy to learn that the Syfy original series, Being Human, has been renewed for a third season!

Mark Stern, President of Original Content at Syfy and Co-head of Original Content at Universal Cable Productions, announced today that due to the success of the current second season of the paranormal series, Syfy has picked the show up for an additional 13 episodes to air next year.

In a statement, Stern said, "With the success of Season Two, ‘Being Human’ has become a premier destination for Syfy viewers...Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke have taken this series to new heights this year, and we’re excited to see where the third season will go.”

The Syfy series, based off of the highly popular British series of the same name, follows werewolf Josh (Sam Hunington), vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer), and ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) as three unlikely roommates living in Boston. Both Josh and Aidan try their best to live "normal" lives while simultaneously fighting their natural urges, while Sally is just trying to figure out the ropes of being a ghost and how to crossover to the other side.

The series is produced by Irene Litinsky and executive produced by Michael Prupas, Jeremy Carver, and Anna Fricke. Carver and Fricke also stand as showrunners and writers for the Syfy hit.

Being Human currently airs on Mondays at 9pm on the Syfy channel.

American Horror Story Season 2 Update

2012-02-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are still super excited for what the sophomore season of American Horror Story has to offer, here is some exciting news for you! Creater Ryan Murphy confirms that Jessica Lange will return and the season will take place at an East Coast "horror institution". Hell yeah. I'm hoping the cast will include some crazy Bostonians!

Last night on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen, Murphy was asked about who would be returning for the second season and where it would be taking place. The show's mastermind explained that he is in negotiations with four cast members and none of them are the Harmons. Tear. No more Dylan McDermott or Connie Britton to fawn over.

However, Murphy did spill some brief and exciting deets on the season's location: the East Coast! I was actually predicting something on the East Coast since Ben and the rest of the Harmon's came from Boston and that was the only place I could recall being mentioned in the infamous "birth" episode, which was said to have clues about the next location.

Murphy said the next chapter in the show will occur at a "horror institution" and I'm hoping that means insane asylum because how awesome and potentially terrifying could that setting be? I'm pumped. I'm hoping to hear some awful Boston accents when the show returns later this year. Speaking of Boston accents; how come the Harmon's didn't have even the slightest touch of one? Weird. Oh well.

Clive Barker Wakes From Coma

2012-02-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

Try to imagine a world without Pinhead, Cenobites, or the macabre sadistic realm created by the horror visionary, Clive Barker. You can't, right? Well, according to Barker, the horror world came very close to losing the brutal writer, artist and filmmaker when he recently fell into a coma. Fear not folks! He's awake now. Obviously.

The creepy Brit took to his Twitter account to inform his fans that for the past week he has been lying unconscious in a hospital bed, practically on life support. Barker explained that a trip to the dentist was where the madness all started.

Barker tweeted that his dental work caused his body to go into toxic shock, explaining, "In my case the dental work unloaded such a spillage of poisonous bacteria into my blood that my whole system crashed, putting me into a coma. I spent several days in Intensive Care, with a machine breathing for me."

The horror icon continued to explain that his outcome looked grim until he began fighting back, repeatedly pulling out the tubes that were stuck down his throat. He described his days in the coma as being filled with "nightmarish delusions" to which he is happy to have overcome. The man can make describing a coma sound interesting and grotesque--Um, I love you Clive.

The 60 year-old explained that he is happy to be back from the clutches of death and now has to get back to working on more books, films, and paintings.

Wait, so you're telling me that not only do I have to fear the dentist for the scary friggin drills and needles that come at me...I have to fear being put into a coma as well?! Thank you Clive Barker for helping me to add another paranoid delusion onto my very long list.

Thank God you're back and get well soon!

College Campus Thriller Wants Hermione

2012-02-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

As if having no family to go home to for your Thanksgiving break wasn't bad enough, imagine if a group of punks show up on campus and start terrorizing you. That's the scenario in the thriller, Kristy, and recent reports mention the desire to have Emma Watson to star as the lead.

Bloody-Disgusting reports that the Weinstein company is trying to move forward with the long developed thriller which is being described as "The Strangers" on a college campus. The online mag heard news that Gary Fleder (Kiss the Girls) is set to direct the Tony Jaswinksi penned slasher flick, which will most likely begin filming this April.

The Weinstein company desperately wants to cast the Harry Potter alum for the lead role of Justine; the victim who falls prey to the assailants and fights back to survive. Although the company has expressed their desire for Watson, no official talks have been made between the two.

The movie sounds interesting and I did enjoy "The Strangers." My only question is this: why the hell is it called Kristy if the protagonist is named Justine? I guess I'll have to wait to find out.