The Evil Eye

The Last Werewolf Book Review Author Glen Duncan

2013-05-13T15:56:00.000+01:00

Our latest recruit Ren Zelen brings us her thoughts on Glen Duncan's novel 'The Last Werewolf' so lock your doors, pull down the shutters and pull up a chair.....IT'S WEREWOLF TIME!!

Synopsis

For two centuries Jacob Marlowe has wandered the world, enslaved by his lunatic appetites and tormented by the memory of his first and most monstrous crime. Now, the last of his kind, he knows he can't go on. But as Jake counts down to suicide, a violent murder and an extraordinary meeting plunge him straight back into the desperate pursuit of life.

Review

While Vampires and Zombies have been jamming the highway to the bookshelves and multiplexes, Werewolves have largely been left to idle by the side of the literary road. With Glen Duncan’s protagonist, Jacob Marlowe, you get more than you bargain for: not just a man but a werewolf, not just a werewolf, but an existentially philosophical one. The novel is, ostensibly, a diary. The tale begins after a ‘feed’ “Two nights ago I’d eaten a 43-year-old hedge fund specialist,” Marlowe states with what will be his trademark insouciance, “I’ve been in a phase of taking the ones no-one wants.” We learn his backstory, a 19th-century costume tragedy, by means of his journal entries, composed in breaks between violent action and meaningless fornication. Two centuries of living have endowed him with a vast reserve of cultural expertise and a linguistic style that moves between the wisecracking cynicism of his noir namesake and the syntactical flourishes of the 19th century literary gentleman. Marlowe imparts the contents of his inner life and his impressions of the modern world in a series of dryly succinct verbal morsels: the topography of Wales is a “stack of vowel-starved hills: Bwlch Mawr; Gyrn Ddu; Yr Eifl, “a gold tooth is a “dental anachronism”; the point of civilization is “so that one can check in to a quality hotel”.

The first half of the book (I think it’s fair to describe this as a book of two halves) presents us with an interesting premise: If one embraces the bestial part of one’s nature, does human morality cease to be relevant? Duncan partially exonerates his (anti) hero by making this path necessary to his survival – he has to kill to live, he’s helpless in the face of his ‘animal instincts’, he must accept predatory murder and cannibalism as a fact of continued existence etc… Yet, it is when the ‘human’ element re-asserts itself that things become more morally ambivalent and more interesting. Jacob Marlowe is inured to his condition, to his bestial nature taking control once a month. He has accepted his choice to kill mercilessly in order to live, rather than commit suicide in self-disgust. So, the question is, how is one’s ‘humanity’ able to deal with the full consciousness of its ‘amorality’? The Werewolf condition becomes a vehicle for moral inquiry. How does one deal with human moral accountability when out of the wolf ‘persona’?

We might say that certain people in human history, dead and alive, seemed to have been able to overcome the niggling persistence of a moral compass. Some may have the excuse of being ‘sociopaths’ deficient in empathy and human feeling, but Jacob Marlowe can’t claim these as mitigating circumstances. Insist as he might that he has come to terms with his murderous lifestyle, he still seeks redemption – giving generously to charity out of his huge reserves of money (cunningly accumulated over an unnaturally long existence) and he makes a decision to live his long life ‘without love’ as a punishment for his first and most appalling murder.

It is that initial transgression, a horrific initiation into the bestial, that provides the next interesting question. The idea that deep attachment and passionate sexual love results in the desire to ‘know’ the deepest recesses of the beloved, to be one with them and, ultimately, to consume them into oneself. Which is literally what Jacob Marlowe does. Despite his many protestations as to his beloved Arabella’s individuality, strength of character and independence, his guilt at his crime cannot quite hide the satisfaction of having her entirely in his possession, in the most fundamental way. At the moment of decision, his ‘instinct’ is to take her, because he can - it is a capitulation to his momentary power over her that proves irresistible. Apart from being a disturbing scene in itself, it was too close a reminder, for me at least, of those suicidal fathers who insist on murdering their wives and children before they kill themselves, as though those others are ‘property’ over which they have the power of disposal – a sick exercise of dominance.

Marlowe is a jaded commentator on our mores and his own condition and a cynically witty raconteur. Lest we begin to find his ennui too intriguing, we are soon reminded of the coarse reality of being part dog. Like Marlowe's victims, we aren't spared the gruesome reality of a lupine attack; “There’s always someone’s father, someone’s mother, someone’s wife, someone’s son. This is the problem with killing and eating people” — Marlowe’s quandary boils down to a case of existential exhaustion. Sated with another kill, Marlowe receives the news that he is ‘The last Werewolf’ from his human minder, Harley, a silver-haired, old-world gentleman (think Alfred to Batman). “They killed the Berliner two nights ago,” Harley gravely intones — “they” being a shadowy group known as the World Organization for the Control of Occult Phenomena (Wocop for short) literary heirs of Van Helsing. Marlowe is pursued through Wales, London, New York, Paris, Greece and California, but tired with the drag of being a werewolf, he decides on capitulation to death. Then, a chance discovery changes everything : “Life,” Marlowe trenchantly reminds us, “like the boring drunk at the office party, keeps seeking you out.”

Which leads (in the second half of the book) to a further, rather unexpected transformation. Marlowe, the jaded cynic with a death-wish - finds love. It would be a pity to reveal too much, but I can say that I found it this section of the book perplexing. The transformation into wolf is well rendered, but seems to bestow almost supernatural powers, such as telepathy, which undermine the notion of the ‘beastly’. Also, though the giddiness and fragile joy of human love is convincingly enough portrayed I found its ‘beastly’ equivalent, which Duncan is at some pains to aggrandize, quite unaffecting. Perhaps even more strangely, one of the most benevolent and stirring of human emotions and experiences find their apotheosis while clothed in the form of the monstrous. The ‘beast’ suddenly appears to have finer and more intense feelings than the human. Who knew?

It is a novel chock full of literary allusion, to Conrad, Chandler, Shakespeare, Eliot, Nabokov, and more, almost in defence of its explicit, pulpy sex and violence. It occasionally loses its bearings in its own moral ambivalence. However, the story is twisty, tense and often blackly funny (a chapter begins: "Reader, I ate him") and, while adhering to tradition it does offer something innovative and more profound. But with all of its philosophizing, what does it mean? In an oddly bloodthirsty and kinky-sex-crazed way, ‘The Last Werewolf’ makes a case for culture and literature, and on a simpler level, it as a story about a divided persona, trying to make sense of how to live, how to accept what he is, how to keep going, because when everything else is stripped away, the Werewolf always ends up as just a naked man, lying in the dirt, bemused and blinking at the sun in his eyes.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Maniac (2012) Review

2013-05-08T20:01:00.000+01:00

Horror Remake - Starring Elijah Wood, America Olivo, Nora Arnezeder. Screenplay by Alexandre Aja, Gregory Levasseur, C.A. Rosenberg. Original Story & Screenplay by Joe Spinell. Directed by Frank Khalfoun (2012)

Maniac is a remake of a notorious 1980's 'video nasty' that boasts some interesting ideas or gimmicks depending on your view. The original followed deranged serial killer Frank Zito as he kills and scalps young women, lovely!

The remake is shot almost entirely from the point of view (POV) of Frank, now played by a Hobbit! Yes, casting Elijah Wood in this on the face of it seems odd when you think of the Lord of the Rings films but he has already pulled off a believable psychopath with aplomb in Sin City, so maybe not such an unlikely choice. It is a choice which broadly pays off, as I will come to later.

The most immediately striking thing about the film is the aforementioned POV style and is the juxtaposition of the camera work and casting of a big Hollywood star that initially bothered me the most. Had the film been 100% POV we would have barely seen the killer, but Elijah Wood is in the lead role here and that leads to numerous shots of him forlornly or rather blankly looking at himself in a mirror. I do wonder whether the director specifically wanted Wood as the lead or was there some studio pressure to a) cast a name, and then b) show the star of the film as often as possible. Had he been able to cast a relative unknown he could maybe have been braver with the use of POV and I can't help wondering if the film may have been better had he been able to go down that route. I also found it a little jarring that on more than one occasion the film jumps from POV to some kind of out of body footage, this only served to remind me that I had previously been watching it from Franks point of view and took me somewhat out of the moment. Saying that, I am starting off on a deliberately critical note as as I felt the film was ambitious and genuinely nasty.

Irrespective of why we see Elijah Wood more than I would have liked he is very good and worryingly convincing, the original had Joe Spinell as Frank and he tackled the role with all the subtlety of a starving bulldog eating custard. Wood, however, plays Frank with an impassive neutrality which has the surprising effect of allowing the viewer to empathize with him despite his horrific actions. He cannot, and does not, try to justify his actions, but the more we learn about his past and his relationship with his mother the more we find our self feeling somewhat sorry for him. I think even if you took the violence and horror aspects out of the film you would be left with an interesting story about a man, desperate to be loved, struggling to overcome his terrible childhood.

This is an impressive change in tone from the original for what superficially is such a brutal and uncompromising film, which brings me quite neatly on to the gore and effects. It is one of the most visceral mainstream films for a very long time and looks very convincing throughout. Scalps are removed and blood is let at regular intervals as the film builds to it's predictably bloody climax. The fact that this is shot through Franks POV enables us the feel uncomfortably close to the action. The director, Franck Khalfoun also edits the film and you get the impression he wanted the viewer to feel a little guiltily voyeuristic watching some of the drawn out violence.

Another aspect of the film which draws the viewer in is the outstanding sound design and pitch perfect soundtrack. During much of the POV footage we hear the breathing of Frank as he goes about his business, when the stress and tension builds we get to experience Franks acute migraine/tinnitus and a blurring of his vision. It's a clever and intelligently used technique, as is the reverb on his voice in many scenes aping the way our voice sounds different to ourselves than anybody else. The soundtrack itself is all 80's synth/piano and at first I felt it was too obviously lifted from the era to allow the film to move far enough away from it's roots, thankfully as the film progressed I was proven wrong and it works with the films feeling of disconnect very well.

As impressive as Elijah Wood is, the stand out for me is Nora Arnezeder, the french actress who plays Anna, you hope throughout that she is able to get Frank off his killing spree and integrate him into the world around him. She is on screen more than Wood and their relationship is believable due to their common interests. She plays Anna as both smart yet vulnerable and their relationship is the most surprising aspect and it really carries the film.

Maniac stands up well against any recent mainstream horror and is a more layered and thoughtful piece of work than the rather blunt original. Wood proves again he is now a long way from Hobbiton and Franck Khalfoun will now firmly be on my watch list. Despite my minor misgivings about Khalfouns failure to go 100% POV there is a lot to be impressed by with Maniac.

Rating 4 out of 5

By Dave Wheeler
@davegpwheeler

Odd Thomas Book Review Author Dean Koontz

2013-04-16T15:31:00.000+01:00

Finally 'The Evil Eye' is back after our unfortunate cyber attacks, and what better way to get back to the horror than with our very own Grumbling Gargoyle......enjoy!

Synopsis:
Meet Odd Thomas, a 20 year old grill chef from Paco Mundo in southern California. There are definitely a couple of odd things about Odd...the first being that ‘Odd’ is the name on his birth certificate and the second being that he can see dead people...but he can’t hear them...odd eh?

Odd makes it his business to try to assist the recently dead who, for whatever reason, are still clinging to this mortal coil by the remnants of life’s umbilicus. He feels it is his duty to help them move on by attempting to put right whatever wrong may be holding them back from fully exploring their state of being dead...on the other side.

Still, the recently dead and their paranormal problems are not the only concern for Odd Thomas, he can see otherwordly creatures too...Bodachs, as he calls them. These dark, shadowy entities seem to feed off suffering and violence so whenever he sees these formless shapes, which flock in packs, Odd knows...a something bad this way comes!

Review
I loved this book so much I forgot to wash! ( I could be exaggerating there )...it certainly kept my interest piqued and I really was flipping through the pages like a Gargoyle possessed! I’ll be honest, over the years I’ve tended to lean away from Koontz as I felt he’d drifted from the ‘Dead cert for a good read’ towards the ‘Dead cert to be dead boring’!!...Look...you’re entitled to gnash your tooth in protest to that comment but as said I’m just being honest and I’m sure you’d prefer it that way...’cos then you’ll believe me when I tell you the good stuff, as I’m about to do...so do reconsider sending me that hate mail!!

Koontz hit on a winner with the character Odd Thomas and its success is entirely due to Koontz skillful development of a believable and endearing personality. Whilst Odd is the main man throughout the book he isn’t some thigh thrusting he-man with pulsing biceps, superhero underwear and a libido that would make Casanova blush...au contraire! Odd Thomas is a humble, unassuming, caring and thoughtful individual whose modest and considered aspiration is no more than to be a successful tyre salesman and thus, with a secure job, be better able to support the love of his life...soul mate, Stormy Lllewellyn, when they eventually marry and start a family.

Stormy and Odd fit into each other perfectly enfolding the reader within a cuddly blanket of romantic fluffiness...but hold on!!...Before you start dry heaving in repulsion at the word ‘romantic’...this is no Mills and Boon syrupy stomach churning, lovey dovey fest...( apologies to the Mills and Boon fan...back to the hate mail I suppose!...sigh )...this is a relationship cocooned in a cloud of crazy...not necessarily of their doing!

Travelling through this book with Odd Thomas introduces the reader to a plethora of interesting characters...( Including Elvis...yep...that’s right! )...and each one has been developed in such a unique and accomplished manner as to allow them their own defined signatures. I’ll leave you to discover them for yourselves but be assured you won’t be disappointed with their company. Through Koontz’ deceptively detailed characterisation he has managed to pack so much action into this books modest 400 pages as to make it feel like a much sturdier read and whilst it’s a very fulfilling read it’s a measure of Koontz excellence when the reader is still left panting and pining for more...( I have the same problem with chocolate ).

Koontz has also adeptly and successfully fused together a blend of genres. Horror/Mystery/Thriller and Romance are present here but each hold true to their own identity complimenting the other rather than overshadowing. Humour is a delicious landscape inhabited by all of the above genres, so the entire collection of sensations this merger conjures could be considered to be the equivalent of a stimulating, literary massage...hitting the right spots and essentially most satisfying...( This is not the same as using the book as a weapon...but hey...if needs must an’all that! ).

With Odd Thomas I feel that Koontz succeeded in saving himself from disappearing into the cavernous labyrinth of ‘hasbeen writers’ where so many of yesterdays powerful authors are now piteous residents...longing to recover the fiery heat of their earlier successes but only serving to briefly illuminate the pilot light of despair!...( Cheery eh? )... Still!...Koontz isn’t amongst them...( for the time being at least )...so lets relish his reprieve!

So there we have it...’Odd Thomas’...an all round excellent read bulging with so much bad stuff...it’s good...yet always managing to accentuate the fragility of the human condition...( it even brought a tear to this Gargoyle’s eyes...Shhh don’t tell anyone! )

Rating 5 out of 5 stars

By The Grumbling Gargoyle

The Medusa Touch Review

2013-01-21T17:44:00.000+00:00

Psychological Thriller - Starring Richard Burton, Lee Remick, Lino Ventura. Written by Peter Van Greenaway (novel), John Briley (screenplay). Directed by Jack Gold (1978)

In 1978 when Grease was making us “wella wella ommph” and a young Michael Myers was wondering which mask to wear, a film directed by Jack Gold, The Medusa Touch was released staring the late but awesome Richard Burton, Lino Ventura and Lee Remick who went on to star in the Omen.

(What’s it about or the bit on the Back of the DVD case)

Richard Burton stars as successful novelist John Morlar who believes he has a “gift for disaster” the power to cause death and destruction through the unconscious telekinesis. When Molar is viciously assaulted and left for dead, the night of the moon mission disaster and jet crash, police investigating the attack quickly turn to Molar’s mysterious therapist Zonfeld (Lee Remick) in the belief that there is a link between the assault Molars disturbing Complex.

This film is quite tame for this age of blood lust, gore and dumb teenagers flirting with serial killers on the phone and some would even state this film more of a chiller than a horror but that said I believe that the character of John Molar is far scarier than most of the TV serial killers of today, what this film lacks in special effects and big breasts (although we do get a 9-11 moment some 23 years before the World Trade Centre in 2001) it makes up in suspense and the fear of the unknown as you see Molar’s “gift” or “evileye” in action throughout various moments of his life one them being his neighbours arguing about a fish.

Lino Ventura plays a convincing role as Brunel he captures the sceptic becoming believer effortlessly and I found as he investigates the assault and Molar’s character you find yourself in his disbelief/belief.

Lee Remick’s character Dr Zonfeld however I found was quite predictable and although well played I found no sympathy with her and her end, to me her character was just a “sandwich filler” and more could have been done to flesh her character out.

I won’t spoil the ending if you haven’t seen it but it’s an excellent twist for a film of that era this film also boasts some of the best British actors to grace our screens eg Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Brett, Michael Hordern and Gordon Jackson.

Rating 4 out of 5

By David 'Tin Man' Clark

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

Texas Chainsaw 3D Review

2013-01-09T17:01:00.000+00:00

With 'Texas Chainsaw 3D' getting its nationwide cinema release today our newest team member 'The Horror Queen' gives us her thoughts on the latest in the long running franchise.

Horror - Starring Alexanra Daddario, Tania Raymonds, Scott Eastwood, Dan Yeager. Written by Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan. Directed by John Luessenhop (2013)

First off, let me assure you I won’t post any spoilers in here, so you can read without learning anything you wouldn’t get from the trailer.

This is being marketed as a ‘direct sequel’ to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film, indeed we are treated to a couple of minutes of recap footage, in 3D of course, then it starts off just minutes after that film ends.

The film opens with a group of vigilantes burning down the Sawyer house, then discovering a baby in the wreckage. A couple of them take the baby for their own. The cut to years later, and we are with said baby, Heather, now all grown up. She embarks on a trip to find her inheritance from a Grandmother she never knew she had.

I’ll say now; I enjoyed this movie. It was pretty well made and had a strong storyline. That is not to say, however, that it was anything like a perfect movie. It certainly wasn’t. I’ll start with what bugged me about this film.

Firstly, it did not need 3D. It was utterly pointless and had no place in the film. It didn’t even look like it was in 3D for most of the film, except for a couple of blood splatters and a few times where an object was thrown at the screen. There were also the obligatory shots of the lead girls, which were eye-rollingly obvious and mildly exploitative, but all I got from the 3D was a headache. There’s no reason whatsoever for seeing this movie in 3D. The casting was also hit and miss; while Alexandra Daddario did particularly well in her lead role, her supporting cast of friends didn’t do as much. Apparently Tremaine Neverson is a singer, and while I’ve never heard of him, here’s a nice cliche to go with his acting - stick to the day job. There were some really nice cameos, and the older cast produced some good quality stuff.

The typical slasher side-storylines were boring and added nothing whatsoever to the overall movie, aside from a nice nod to Tobe Hooper when the gang pick up a hitchhiker along the way.

Another glaring problem for me is this; if the timings are correct, Heather should be roughly 38 years old. In real life, Alexandra Daddario is 26 and could easily pass for younger. If you’re going to go with this particular storyline, don’t just ignore the age your characters are supposed to be in order to get a more conventionally ‘attractive’ and marketable cast. That’s selling out.

However, the film was not all bad. Yes, the points mentioned above irked me, but overall I enjoyed the film. There were some great moments that were big bonuses for fans of the original; little easter eggs that people who haven’t seen it wouldn’t get, and I won’t spoil it for you by going into detail here, just keep your eyes peeled and you’ll get a few little retro treats.

The main storyline was good, well presented and interesting, and there were a few good jump scares in there too.

The gore for the most part was well done, a little too CGI for my tastes maybe, but it’s a 3D film so I wasn’t expecting anything else. It didn’t shy away from much of the gore or killings, which I appreciated, and throughout a lot of the film there was a nice sinister atmosphere and some good tension build ups. One thing that made the original scary, and made Leatherface an icon, was not just his horrendously creepy look, but also the fact that we hardly saw him in the film. In this version, we saw him a lot. There was just too much screen time for him, which made him less scary each and every time. Add to that the fact that the new incarnation of his mask is nothing like as scary as the first, and we come away with a film that does not hold the creep factor anywhere near as well as its predecessor. It does well though, for a sequel, and even forces the audience to illicit a new feeling for Leatherface; sympathy.

I really loved the ending, I think that was where the film stood out, although I hear there is a remake in the works and that is one of the worst things they could do. It ended strongly, just leave it at that and don’t try to cash in on it. Let it have some integrity, and leave knowing you made a pretty decent film.

All in all, Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a decent film. It is not perfect, and it doesn’t live up to the original in any way, but I really wasn’t expecting it to, so I’m not disappointed by that. The acting is mostly good, and the new take and twist on the storyline impressed me. I’d recommend you go and see this film, but not in 3D. It is not worth any extra money, and even if it’s the same price you won’t gain a single thing from it. My rating is a solid 6/10. You won’t miss anything if you wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray or DVD, but seeing it in theatres was a good experience.

Rating 6 ouf of 10

By Beth 'Horror Queen' Norfolk

Zombies Zombies Zombies - Podcast Reviews

2013-01-08T20:32:00.000+00:00

Tallahassee: [discovers Hostess truck filled with Podcasts] Podcasts? Podcasts? Podcasts? Where's the fucking Twinkies?

Columbus: I love Podcasts.

Tallahassee: I hate Pod-stuff. Not the Podcasts themselves, just the lack of consistency.

Columbus: [Turns on ‘Dead Mech’ Podcast] Fresh.

Tallahassee: Oh, this Twinkie thing, it ain't over yet!

So, If YOU happen to know where the moist podcasts are, or you have a good idea or suggestion for a Podcast you would like us to review, dig it up and we’ll nudge it with our boot-toes to see if it tries to bite us. However…if you DO know where there is a good Podcast and we find out you didn’t tell us….well, Bill Murray’s shooting was accidental…And that’s just what we’ll tell people when they ask what happened to you!

Zombies, Zombies, Zombies….Unfeeling, infectious, relentlessly hungry biting machines. What’s not to like? (Apart from when they swarm over your garden and trample on the Begonias, the little scamps!)

Yes, today we’re all about Zombies. Once upon a time they were regarded by popular culture as the lethargic, dim-witted lesser bedfellows to the Vampire and the Werewolf. Slow-thinking, slow-moving and, when they were allowed to have speech at all, slow-talking.

Of course, as every good horror fan knows, the Zombie has come a long way from it’s positively shambolic beginnings. They have grown and adapted in a way that the Vampire and the Werewolf never could. (And, thankfully, they certainly don’t EVER end up in preposterous complex romantic entanglements with members of other species or even, for that matter, their own)

Nowadays we have slow Zombies…Fast Zombies…Smart Zombies…Mutated Zombies…Comedy Zombies and, perhaps most surprisingly, Mechanised Zombies.

HUM 282 - Zombies in Contemporary Culture: (5 Episodes - 4hrs - 103MB)

It sounds so stale. It sounds so tedious. Why, when there are so many good films, books and podcasts out there, would you want to listen to a boring lecture like this? Why? Because it is a highly enjoyable, well written and fun podcast, that’s why.

Released in five clear episodes this podcast take us through all things Zombie and why people have such a fascination for them. The first episode is only seventeen minutes long and frankly I wish it was longer. It is the philosophy behind the Zombie scenario and asks questions such as “Is killing a Zombie murder?”, “Who should I try to gather around me after an apocalypse” and “Should I treat members of my family who have turned, any different to any other Zombie?”

The rest of the podcast takes us through Comics, Games, Romero’s effect on the genre and finally, to my joy, Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland.

Even though it has been released by iTunesU (The academic arm of iTunes) it is funny, honest and wide reaching. I advise you to pick it up if you want an extremely interesting, amusing and thought provoking four hours of fun. Rating:- 4/5

HUM 282 - Zombies in Contemporary Culture is released and is free on iTunesU.

The Zombie Chronicles - Escape: By James Melzer (27 Episodes - 8hrs 20mins - 455MB)

Within ten minutes of listening to this podcast certain things become evident about Mr James Melzer. He is a very good writer. He is an extremely good narrator. He is Canadian. He swears like a trooper and he takes a positive joy in describing extremely gory and horrific incidents.

The Chronicles start with a brief explanation as to how the current post-Zombie world has become the way it has. In this case, how, 25 years ago, an asteroid passed close to Earth trailing a tail of green mist behind it. How the first woman effected by it, went insane, clawed her own eyes out before toppling from a ledge to lie twitching on the floor far below. Three days after the mist (Dubbed Green-Goblin) has descended, one quarter of the population of the planet have gone screaming, mewling and gnashing to their respective deaths. It is then that the dead begin to rise.

These dead, unlike your average shambler, have a rudimentary intelligence and, it appears, they can be trained. So it is that 25 years later, when the dust has settled and the majority of the non-Zombie population are enclosed in great walled cities, the various governments decide upon a new course of action. They will work out how to harness the Undead and use them as a rudimentary workforce. Such a workforce would be unlike any other. They do not eat. They do not sleep. They do not stop for any reason. They do, however, need to be fed. Bring on the clones!

It is from this point on that we are catapulted into a strange new world of clones, secret societies and social manipulation, all coloured with a liberal dash of our rotting chomping friends. It shows just how well this podcast is crafted that, just like the protagonist, I found myself veering between who to believe and, at many points along the way, wondering who’s side I was actually on.

This podcast is an absolute MUST for those who like their horror with a definite tongue in cheek attitude. Rating:- 5/5

The Zombie Chronicles - Escape is part one of a projected serial of novels and podcasts. The Podcast can be downloaded from all of the usual sources (Podiobooks.com and can be located on iTunes, Zune and most podcast downloaders.) Also available as an Audiobook from http://www.viaway.com or can be located directly from source at http://podiobooks.com/ . James Melzer has his own site containing both free and material to buy at http://jamesmelzer.net/

Sanctuary - Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: By Joshua Jared Scott (27 Episodes - 12hrs 20mins - 695mb)

I will warn you now - Joshua Jared Scott is a very good, very vivid, extremely thoughtful writer. He is NOT, however, a good narrator. His voice is slow and rarely varies in intonation . He reads his own tale with the same (almost monotone) voice whether he is discussing his love for a fellow survivor, a desperate situation where his group is completely surrounded or the groups sharing of tins of beans. Later in this story he points out how he becomes less and less connected with the world around him and, as this story is told almost exclusively in the past tense, perhaps he is attempting to reflect this altered emotional state. If this IS the case then it may have been a mistake as I very nearly switched off this podcast after half an hour. (Mainly to protect myself from the tedium of what is, as I say, an otherwise well written tale.)

The story itself, as is usual with most Zombie horror situations, is based around the story of one man, who joins a group of people, and their battle for survival. Where this particular tale diverges from the norm is the side-steps it takes every other chapter as we discover the back-stories of the various people they meet along the way. This is done well and adds to the over-all podcast considerably - making this a very special tale indeed. However…that voice.

I have come to a strange (and perhaps very personal to me) conclusion. Listen to the first episode of this podcast. Decide if you find it interesting enough to listen to the author drone all the way through it. If you are fine with it then go ahead, it is, after all, a good story. If not? I strongly suggest you buy the book instead.

If it were not for how tediously read it is then its mark would be a lot higher. Rating:- 2/5

Sanctuary - Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Podcast can be downloaded from all of the usual sources (Podiobooks.com and can be located on iTunes, Zune and most podcast downloaders.) or can be located directly from source at http://podiobooks.com/

These audio-books are free, but each one WILL ask you if you fancy making a donation. If you can, please do so, it keeps this industry alive and, with the majority of these audio-books, at least 75% of the cash donated goes to the author or the producer of the podcast.

Peter G Staff (Pod-Master General)

The Last Exorcism Part 2: New Poster Art Revealed

2013-01-03T17:09:00.000+00:00

Here is the interesting new poster for 'The Last Exorcism Part II' what do we all think?! All we can say is let's just hope they don't make a third and a fourth movie, that could be very painful for a contortionist!

The movie itself will be in cinemas from 15th March this year and stars Ashley Bell reprising her role as Nell Sweetzer, in the directors chair we have Ed Gass-Donnelly who wrote and directed the Crime/Thriller 'Small Town Murder Songs' back in 2010.

So what can we expect from this outing of the franchise, this is what we know:-

Continuing where the first film left off, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is found terrified and alone in rural Louisiana. Back in the relative safety of New Orleans, Nell realizes that she can't remember entire portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just the beginning.

I myself will be reserving judgement on the sequel as I was a big fan of the original, in particular how Director Daniel Stamm managed to give the movie a truly unique docu-horror feel which has failed many times previously in the horror genre!

Lets hope we are all surprised when it arrives, who will be standing in line for this one?

Adam 'Evil Eye' Cutler

Horror Movies to look out for in 2013

2012-12-30T17:18:00.000+00:00

With 2012 coming to a close we look forward to some of the horror delights that 2013 has to offer!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D

(4th January 2013)

Horror/Thriller

A young woman travels to Texas to collect an inheritance; little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward.

Director: John Luessenhop

Writers: Adam Marcus (screenplay), Debra Sullivan (screenplay)

Stars: Alexandra Daddario, Tania Raymonde and Scott Eastwood

The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia

(1st February)

Horror/Thriller

A young family moves into an historic home in Georgia, only to learn they are not the house's only inhabitants. Soon they find themselves in the presence of a secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path.

Director: Tom Elkins

Writer: David Coggeshall (screenplay)

Stars: Chad Michael Murray, Katee Sackhoff and Cicely Tyson

Warm Bodies

(8th February)

Horror/Comedy

After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

Director: Jonathan Levine

Writers: Jonathan Levine (screenplay), Isaac Marion (novel)

Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and John Malkovich

The ABC's of Death

(8th March)

Horror/Anthology

A 26-chapter anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty.

Directors: Kaare Andrews, Angela Bettis

Writers: Adrián García Bogliano (segment), Simon Rumley

Stars: Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Iván González and Kyra Zagorsky

Maniac

(15th March)

Horror/Crime

The owner of a mannequin shop develops a dangerous obsession with a young artist.

Director: Franck Khalfoun

Writers: Alexandre Aja (screenplay), Grégory Levasseur (screenplay)

Stars: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder and America Olivo

John Dies at the End

(22nd March)

Horror/Comedy

A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?

Director: Don Coscarelli

Writers: Don Coscarelli (written for the screen by), David Wong (based on the story by)

Stars: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes and Paul Giamatti

Carrie

(5th April)

Horror/Drama

A sheltered high school girl unleashes her newly developed telekinetic powers after she is pushed too far by her peers.

Director: Kimberly Peirce

Writers: Stephen King (novel), Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (screenplay)

Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore and Judy Greer

Evil Dead

(19th April)

Horror

Mia, a young woman struggling with sobriety, heads to a remote cabin with her brother and a group of friends, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads to danger and horror.

Director: Fede Alvarez

Writers: Sam Raimi (1981 screenplays), Fede Alvarez (screenplay)

Stars: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez and Jessica Lucas

The Lords of Salem

(26th April)

Horror/Thriller

Residents of Salem, Massachusetts are visited by a 300-year-old coven of witches.

Director: Rob Zombie

Writer: Rob Zombie

Stars: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison and Jeff Daniel Phillips

World War Z

(21st June)

Horror/Action

A U.N. employee is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic.

Director: Marc Forster

Writers: Max Brooks (novel), Damon Lindelof (screenplay)

Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos and David Morse

So 2013 promises to be an exciting year for the horror genre, we have our favourites already picked out for the new year....do you?!!

Happy New Year from us all at The Evil Eye, here's to a gruesome 2013!!

Adam 'Evil Eye' Cutler

The Horror Masterpiece BRUTAL gets its DVD Release

2012-12-20T18:14:00.000+00:00

Back in September we brought you an exclusive review for the new horror movie 'Brutal' from director Michael Stevens and we can honestly say we were blown away awarding it 5 stars (check out our review here). Now you can check out for yourselves what had us chomping at the bit and foaming at the mouth as 'Brutal' is now available to buy on DVD.

We spoke to director Michael Stevens earlier this week and this is what he told us:-

My new film "BRUTAL" is now available on DVD for purchase!!!

100% of all profits (yes merchandise too) will go to "For Those In Need" a non-profit charity lead by Pastor John Taft (29 years with Beaverton Foursquare Church), supporting victims of the Clackamas Mall shooting, victims of the Newtown shooting and the Portland chapter of Victims of Violent Crimes. "BRUTAL" may look violent (and it is), but the heart of the film is how "EMOTIONALLY" and "SPIRITUALLY" brutal it is to lose a child and have them become a victim of a violent crime. PLEASE...Order a copy today and help "For Those In Need" support the devastated families.

www.mynameisbrutal.com

We would just like to wish Michael and the rest of the team behind 'Brutal' all the success in this campaign, and wish you all a Merry Christmas from us all at The Evil Eye

Adam 'Evil Eye' Cutler

The Devil You Know Book Review Author Mike Carey

2012-11-25T16:50:00.001+00:00

The Grumbling Gargoyle is back from her spell of 'Exorcising the Demons' and what better way to return than reviewing Mike Carey's The Devil You Know, so grab your crucifix and holy water and enjoy the review!

Synopsis:

Meet Felix Castor, a man whose talents as an exorcist are much in demand as London becomes more and more saturated by the supernatural. Felix is not only brilliant at his job he’s also freelance which enables him to charge whatever he feels like....and affords him one Hell of a lifestyle!

Or at least it did until he ‘Retired’ following a Devilish encounter from which he only just managed to survive. Still, needs must and with old debts to attend to he is drawn back to his former Demon demonishing deeds when he accepts a seemingly simple exorcism.

Unfortunately, the ghost he is employed to exorcise, which haunts a London Hall of Records, proves to be more of a problem than Felix bargained for. Realising that things are just not adding up Felix decides to investigate these peculiarities and the more he delves into the mystery the more he’s dragged into a world he’d have prefered to avoid. A world where Demons, Were-Beings and Ghosts each vie against the other to claim the big prize which is...Felix Castor!

Review

I’ll be frank...( yeah, yeah...’oh and who shall I be?’...you’re not funny ok? So Shh )...for the first few pages of this book I felt a tad lost and I re-read a couple of paragraphs over again just to find my feet as it were but upon reflection I feel my confusion was down to two things...1) I’m impatient and expect to fully grasp the style immediately and 2) I’m impatient and expect to fully grasp the style immediately...so essentially, it was my fault ( colour me bad! ). I think the best way to describe the genre of this book is ‘dark urban fantasy’ but by ‘dark’ I mean pitch black dark...as dark as dark can get...darker than the soul of an estate agent!...there...now do you get how ‘dark’ it is?

Castor lives in a London populated not only by its human multicultural inhabitants who harbour their own customs and beliefs but by various supernatural beings whom society simply accepts as existing...each with their own custom and belief structure too. Walking dead stroll the streets...Werewolves lope along their merry way...( well...maybe ‘merry’s’ pushing it! )...and Ghosts, Poltergeists, Demons and all kinds of other paranormal paraphernalia reside alongside the other...but not necessarily in harmony.

Do not be fooled into thinking this book is some relatively mellow little noir-esque amuse bouche...it isn’t! It’s a several course banquet of glutinous malevolence served with a generous side order of wry wit and sarcasm resting upon a bed of sheer brilliance! Carey hits hard with an intelligent plot and strong character development. You begin to feel as if you’ve known these people all of your life because he keeps their personalities ‘real’...( Oh don’t drone on about ‘cliche’ ...the description fits so it stays. So there! )...

...Felix Castor, for example, is not without flaw...he can be rude, weak, loud, offensive, interfering, a bit of a people hater too...( no! I didn’t copy that from my CV !)... yet he’s also a fighter, extremely talented in his field of work and generally does mean well but a something that happened to him in his past, that he can’t put right, lies heavy upon his conscience and weighs him down, affecting his manner, his outlook on life and also his outlook on death. Felix Castor is a troubled man...but if he’s not careful that title will soon become his epitaph!

With ‘The Devil You Know’ due to his remarkable expertise and evocative writing, Carey has managed to maintain an impressive balance between each element of the book allowing for a feisty fusion of mystery, thriller, crime, drama along with the supernatural...with more action than a mattress in a brothel! Locations ooze with ambience ranging from the creepy grandeur of the gothic to the seedy strip clubs of gangland which, whilst leaning towards a somewhat brutal storyline still carry a healthy thread of sardonic humour.

It’s an energetic read with its twists and turns, pushing you to one place then dragging you back to another, teasing your mind with the sensations of the strange before battering you with the bizarre. By the end of the book you’ll feel as though you’ve been put through boot camp for the soul and senses...and you’ll have loved every minute of it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Yes!...you’ll be delightfully grabbed by the ghouls with this one....Enjoy!...

By The Grumbling Gargoyle

Cockneys Vs Zombies Review

2012-11-22T16:48:00.000+00:00

Horror/Zombies – Starring Michelle Ryan, Georgia King, Honor Blackman, Alan Ford, Harry Treadaway, Richard Briers, Tony Gardner, Rasmus Hardiker, Ashley Bashy Thomas, Jack Doolan. Written by James Moran and Lucas Roche. Directed by Matthias Hoene (2012)

Cockney brothers, Andy and Terry Macguire put together a gang to rob a bank. Their intention … to steal enough money to save their grandad Ray’s care home from closing at the hands of Heartman Construction and being turned into luxury flats. Having scooped a hefty 2.5 million of Heartman Construction’s money at the bank, the gang find themselves under siege from zombies and embark on a mission to rescue their grandad from the care home.

The true baddies of Cockneys vs Zombies are Heartman Construction. Not only are they responsible for tearing down parts of the East End to make way for ‘Luxurious Living in the Heart Of East London’, it’s the greed of two construction workers that lead to the outbreak of zombies that rampage through the iconic location. Our unlikely heroes are a motley crew of bank robbers led by brothers Andy (Harry Treadaway) and Terry (Rasmus Hardiker), with their fiery, street wise cousin Katy (Michelle Ryan), the incompetent Davey Tuppence (Jack Doolan) and hardcase Mental Mickey (Ashely Bashy Thomas) making up the numbers.

Cockneys vs Zombies is good shoot ‘em up entertainment, no more no less. It’s full of colourful characters, including kick ass old folk, and ditsy Emma (Georgia King) and Jobs Worth Clive (Tony Gardner), the hostages. For me, the stand outs are East End veterans Ray Macguire (Alan Ford), Peggy (Honor Blackman) and Hamish (Richard Briers) who all enjoy a nice bit of zombie blasting more than their afternoon knees up around the old Joanna.

One of my favourite moments sees British institution, Richard Briers hobbling away from the slow, awkward zombies on his walking frame, mumbling, ‘Zombies! Oh no. Oh! Get out of it!’ What makes this piece of comedy genius even better is the contrast of the slow chase with dramatic action music. There are some lovely, original ideas in the movie that I won’t give away, though the plot itself isn’t particularly ground breaking. Cockneys vs Zombies needs to be viewed as a bit of fun and, in that way, any flaws are easily forgiven. The balance between humour and action is good, though not a patch on 2004’s Shaun of the Dead, and there are some great lines, most of which come from Alan Ford as Ray, ‘You’re about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike’.

The movie lacks tension and scares, focusing more on humour and gore. But overall, I enjoyed the film. And if there is one thing I have learned, in a zombie apocalypse, get behind the Cockney pensioner with the gun.

Rating:- 4 out of 5

By Lisa Richardson

Folkestone Zombie Walk 2012, Interview with Event Organiser Terri Marsh

2012-11-18T21:55:00.001+00:00

Zombies take over the Old High Street Folkestone

Saturday 3rd November saw Folkestone Zombie Walk return in style for its second year. Zombies descended on the town and staggered from the Leas Cliff Hall to the Harbour, with a stop off in the town centre for a flash mob Thriller dance. We caught up with Folkestone Zombie Walk founder and co event organiser, Terri Marsh, to discuss the highs and lows of the world of zombie walks.

We at the Evil Eye really enjoyed the day.

Thanks for coming, glad you could make it.

How do you feel the event went?

It went really well. There was a large improvement on last year. We had over double the turn out of year one, so the interest is growing. We think we had around 200 zombies, and lots of spectators and photographers came along, so there was a lot of interest in the day. We attracted people from other parts of the country, including London and Birmingham. And we managed to freak out plenty of bystanders, so job done!

Event organisers Becky Buttigieg, Terri Marsh, Vicky Gladwin and Jo Gray outside Home Ground

Did you get much support from the town and its businesses?

Yes, we did eventually. Quite a few of the bars, when approached, where more than willing to be zombie friendly, and found it amusing. A few places like Totally Jazz laid on a special zombie cocktail for the day, Home Ground designed a special set and turned themselves into The Winchester for the event.

When we approached businesses we didn’t come across anyone who had a problem with the event, so hopefully for next year it will make things easier to get them involved earlier and make the event bigger. We definitely had more people in the town talking about the walk, so there was a zombie buzz around the town in the run up to the event.

One feature of this year is we managed to pull off a Thriller dance, all thanks to the K College students. Having approached other colleges, K college stepped up and took on the task of choreography and rehearsals, led by Olivia Duggan. And they turned up and did it on the day!

What inspired you to start organising zombie walks?

It all came from me and the other co founder, Vicky Gladwin, when we had a Halloween party to go to and I had no costume. A zombie costume was the easiest thing to do. And when we looked up ideas for zombies on YouTube, we saw all these links to zombie walks. The main ones that grabbed our attention were Glasgow and London.

We were fed up with going to rubbish Halloween parties and we thought it would be a unique event and were amazed with how many people were already doing this in the UK. But nowhere seemed to be doing it in our neck of the woods.

When we set up the event, the wonders of Facebook allowed us to put it out there as an event that could happen. We had no idea if it would take off, but it sparked quite a bit of interest and we had about 80 people in our first attempt.

Terri Marsh at Academy Radio Station

What were the highlights of the day for you?

Seeing everyone turn up initially. The people just kept coming. Seeing spectators milling around to watch us walking, I found it quite bizarre that it sparked a lot of interest – not only for people to take part, but to come and watch it.

Two spectacular moments that stand out are the Thriller dance, thanks to K College and Folkestone Academy Radio Station for playing the music for us. But also coming down The Old High Street. This is the moment I looked back and realised how many people were there.

Looking back over the first two events, what have been the difficulties? And what have you learned from the experience?

In terms of difficulties, there was a lot of pressure for one person. Everyone loves the idea in theory but at the end of the day, it’s all about people turning up. So you are never going to know what you’re going to get until the day, even if you have lots of interest on the Facebook pages. On that basis, the difficulty for me was deciding on the route. Obviously, the more people you have, the longer the route you need.

I have learned to delegate more. But this year, there have been a few other people that have come on board and helped. There has been a huge involvement from Becky Buttigieg, Jo Gray, Billie Hoyle, Lisa Richardson, Suzanne Winfield, Gemma-Marie Everest, Shelby Fuller, Charlotte Day and Claudi Mende. Now we have a zombie crew ready for next year, which means we can get a lot more done. Our photographer, Freddie Lee Thompson came to some of the behind the scenes meetings prior to the walk, and make up artist, Billie invited us into her home for make up tips and was available all day for transforming people into zombies.

From the very beginning Zachary Cooke from Folkestone Film Factory was on board, not only for the free showing of Shaun of the Dead on the day, but also in spreading the word around the town and offering support and advice along the way.

Learning from this, get as much free help as you can and share the responsibility that running an event like this brings to make it a much more enjoyable event for all involved. From this second walk, it definitely opened up some more contacts, both personal and event related. And moving forwards, that will only improve the event for next year. Lots of people got in touch after the event and have asked when the next one is, so that’s a good sign.

(Left) Clare Bowers, winner of 'Best Make up' (Right) Zombies, family style!

Can you tell us about any future plans and events?

There will be a Folkestone Zombie Walk 2013, with a possible date of October 5th. There are lots of zombie walks coming up in October, so it will be good to start off Zombie Month in Folkestone. It would be nice to go to a walk that we haven’t organised after our own event.

It would be good to grow zombie support on the South Coast for potential companies such as 2.8hourslater.com to be attracted to our part of the country to stage one of their zombie apocalypse events. We already know that it’s not possible to do one in Brighton because of the residential setting, which is a shame as they had 6000 zombies for their walk this year.

Starting next year, we would like to do the zombie walk as a fund-raiser, so we’re trying to find a charity that would be willing to be represented by us, and hopefully that will encourage more people to get involved. We are always open for new people to join in and help organise the event if they feel they have anything to contribute or have any ideas.

We are also in talks about a possible celebration on national Jedi day – May the 4th be with you!

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Terri, and we look forward to future projects and, of course, Folkestone Zombie Walk 2013!

THE EVIL EYE TEAM (Left) Adam Cutler (Evil Eye Founder/Owner, Editor and Chief) (Right) Lisa Richardson (Evil Eye Co-Owner, Chief Writer......and not forgetting Folkestone Zombie Walk Team Member/Organiser!!)

For more news on the event and news on next years check out these links:-

Folkestone Zombie Walk Facebook Page

Twitter Folkestone Zombie Walk

Contact Email:-

folkestonezombies@yahoo.co.uk

For more amazing zombie images from Folkestone Zombie Walk follow their Official Photographer here:-

Freddie Lee Thompson Facebook Page

Interview by:-

Lisa Richardson

Scott Sigler's 'Infected' and Contagious' Podcast Review

2012-11-16T13:40:00.002+00:00

Sam Loomis: You mean the Podcast I heard tonight wasn't about Mrs. Bates?
Sheriff Al Chambers: Now wait a minute, Sam, are you sure you heard a Podcast?
Sam Loomis: Yes! In the house behind the motel! I called and I pounded, but I couldn‘t stop listening to it.
Sheriff Al Chambers: You mean to tell me you heard Norman Bates' Podcast?
Lila Crane: It had to be, because Arbogast said so too. And the young man wouldn't let him listen to it because it was too sick.
Sheriff Al Chambers: Well, if the Podcast up there is about Mrs. Bates...then who's that podcast about that’s buried out in Greenlawn Cemetery?

If YOU happen to know who the buried podcast is about, or you have a good idea or suggestion for a Podcast you would like us to review, dig it up and we’ll prod at it for a while with sticks. However…if you DO know where there is a good Podcast and we find out you didn’t tell us….well, we have a shower curtain with YOUR name on it.

Today we are going to be looking at some of the full (and fully horrific) audio-novels that are out there. Today’s particular little beauties come from a place called Podiobooks.com and can be located on iTunes, Zune and most podcast downloaders. Again, these audio-books are free, but each one WILL ask you if you fancy making a donation. If you can, please do so, it keeps this nice little industry alive and, with the majority of these audio-books, at least 75% of the cash donated goes to the author or the producer of the podcast.

Scott Sigler is a one man podcast production machine and is primarily known for his Science-Fiction/Horror. The nice thing about Sigler is that ALL of his sci-fi/horror is infused with masses of blood, guts, splattered faces and broken body parts. There ARE three of them that are totally Gridiron/Sci-fi (Soon to be four) and I will not be reviewing them here because it’s a rather specialist niche and, even though the on-field action involves death, mutilations and destruction, they are not exactly Horror as such. The rest of them? Well, I’ve listened to two of the full length novels and, believe me, I WILL be listening to the rest.

Sigler also has the distinction of writing and narrating the very first podcast only novel and is a New York Times bestselling author.

INFECTED by Scott Sigler (22 Episodes - 12hrs - 660MB)

Former American footballer Perry ‘The Beast’ Dawsey can no-longer play football. The grand dreams that he had are gone. In trouble with the law on a regular basis, the violence that he learned straight from his brutal father’s hands still coursing through him without any outlet, he now has a job that works only his mind. He is a volcano that is ready to blow. Then come the spores.

Drifting down from the sky, microscopic in scope, they affix themselves to hapless humans and start to grow. And they grow. And they grow. And then they open their eyes!

Others that are infected go mad. They kill themselves. They slaughter their own families in an orgy of violence. The govt. agents sent to locate the infected are baffled and even the doctors and scientists that back them cannot make head nor tail of the rapidly decomposing corpses that are recovered. And what are the Blue triangles that are found on each of them? Is this a man-made assault or just nature’s way of fighting back against mankind?

Well, man-mountain Perry Dawsey is about to discover all about the blue triangles. He will discover that they do not just open their eyes, they are also telepathic and, if he is not driven mad like so many others, then they wish to control him….that is until they are ready to hatch free.

The battle is now on. Perry Dawsey verses his infection. The fate of the whole world could depend upon the outcome and, when it comes right down to it, will Dawsey actually use those Chicken-bone cutting scissors?

It’s grim. It’s gory. It’s a genuine thrill ride. I admit that I’ve become a little jaded of late. The same old plot lines with the same old creatures. (Yes Zombies, don’t moan at me because it IS you I’m pointing at). This is a little something that is radically different. The whole plot of the blue triangles is slowly revealed throughout the rest of the book but it is the detail of the personal struggle between Perry and his infection that really captures the imagination.

It was very early in the podcast that the ‘Something Magical’ happened. That ‘Something Magical’ of course being the moment when you stop thinking of the character as just that, a character, and start to genuinely care about what happens to those you are now thinking of as real people. I genuinely began to care about Perry. To me, he was real, and I was sad when the podcast finally came to an end. That alone should tell you about how well written and narrated this particular podcast is.

Well done, Scott Sigler. An utterly fantastic podcast. Rating:- 5/5

CONTAGIOUS by Scott Sigler (26 Episodes - 16hrs - 875MB)

WARNING- Spoiler alert………The creatures from Infected are still drifting in from space, still landing in their spore form and still growing on, and in, the general populous. Something has changed though. That something is a man called Perry Dawsey and his Not-Strictly-Sanctioned approach to the prevention of the creatures’ attempted take over. Although now cleared of infection, Perry can still hear the little monsters in his head talking to each other and, as his utterly barbaric slaughter of a whole infected family goes to show, he is taking absolutely no prisoners.

The creatures finally figure out what is going wrong and, proving that they are not just a natural occurrence once and for all, they suitably change tactics. Tactics that show both just how smart they really are AND just how contemptuous of the human race they are. Tactics that very much look like they are going to make mankind an extinct species very, very quickly. That is if they can just avoid the Boogie-man; Perry Dawsey. When the new-style infected ‘Chosen one’ and Dawsey finally come head to head in the last few chapters it is, to say the least, explosive.

Both beautifully written and narrated by the author, the gore content of the second book in the series is taken way off the scale in both its breadth and its horribly delicious detail. I have to admit, at times I lost my way as to who was whom. This was due to the fact that sometimes the characters names come too thick and fast and, as Scott Sigler is but one man doing all of the voices, differentiating between which ‘Voice’ is which character becomes quite difficult at times. The only other grumble I have about this podcast is the into/outro music. It is fine in its own right and, as a song, I have nothing against it in particular. However, when you have the same song blasted at you every Half hour/Forty-five minutes, it does tend to get a trifle irritating.

On the whole though, as with all of Sigler’s work, it is very worth while, highly imaginative and well worth a listen. Rating:- 4/5

Pandemic is going to be the third book in the Infected/Contagious series and is being worked on at this moment in time. Scott believes it will be ready for summer 2013 and, hopefully (as far as I am concerned) will be released as a podcast slightly after that.

Frankly it is well worth a visit to Scott Sigler’s website as there are a plethora of articles and works. Many of which are available as podcasts. So if, like me, you enjoy the two podcasts already recommended, then I can also thoroughly recommend ’Earthcore’ and ‘Ancestor’.

For more items go to Scott Sigler Podiobooks or visit Scottsigler.com.

Peter G Staff. (Pod-Master General)

Grimoire Book Review Author Kim Wilkins

2012-11-08T16:49:00.000+00:00

The Grumbling Gargoyle takes on 'Grimoire' this week by author Kim Wilkins, let the battle commence between the forces of good and evil.

Synopsis:
In Victorian London Peter Owling, a warlock with Demonic ambition, compiled a book of shadows called a Grimoire in a bid to summon the Dark Demon himself...Satan! Despite his sinister intent, however, all did not go to plan, Owling was killed and his book divided into four pieces before being banished to the far corners of the earth. One fragment finding itself in a shipment headed for the Colonies.

Now, a power hungry group of academics who reside in a 19th-century Gothic convent in Melbourne, Humberstone College, are attempting to reassemble Owlings Satanic book and use it as a means to acquire Eternal Life! The only hope of this soulless group’s plans being thwarted is through the interference of three twenty-something masters students: Holly, Prudence and Justin, who face one Hell of a battle to prevent the Dark Forces from extinguishing life’s light!

Review
I’ll tell you right from the start that you will be highly disappointed with this book by the time you’re nearing the end. Why? Oh come on, you’ve guessed ‘why’ haven’t you? Well done you! Yes...because its 625 pages are simply not enough! It’s like sitting down with a huge chunk of chocolate cake... you know the kind I mean...the kind of chocolate cake that’s so packed with chocolate you gain weight just looking at it but even though you’ve stuffed yourself with it and your teeth are brown and you’ve licked your fingers until they’ve gone all wrinkly and you look as if you’ve been smacked in the face with a mud pie.....you still NEED more! Don’t misunderstand, this is a good thing! The author provides an excellent ending but her characters are so beautifully crafted and hold such depth that the reader is left feeling quite bereft to leave them behind.

Wilkins writes so skillfully that you lose yourself within the pages. Yes! Yes! I know that reeks of cliche but it’s true! You find yourself totally absorbed into whatever the characters are experiencing, each of your senses are piqued as you are engulfed by a variety of sounds, sights and sensations brought to life by the adroitness of Wilkins penmanship. This talent is particularly beneficial when it comes to the erotic content. Oh that made you sit up didn’t it? ‘Erotic’?...Yes erotic...and my, my Wilkins writes it well! As she does with one of our main characters, Holly, who makes contact with the spirit of Owling’s assistant...that’s all I’ll be saying about that...but by ‘contact’ I don’t mean via a pointed finger and a planchette...not quite ( I’m blushing now )..Hot flush??? How dare you!

Grimoire is a deliciously dark Gothic horror which straddles between two time frames and two continents. Wilkins manages to achieve this with ease and without creating disparity which is yet another demonstration of her proficient storytelling. It’s an extremely atmospheric, scary, chilling and compelling novel remaining so throughout and thankfully not hindered by a Status Quo kind of attitude where all’s well that ends well. Oh and don’t be put off by the names...Justin, Holly, Prudence...it could be said they read a tad poncified but the names don’t define the characters so step away from those thoughts!...( and if those names happen to be the birth name of any of you reading this review...may I just say that personally...I would have happily called my baby Gargoyles by any of those! Not sure that helped really! Ah well... ).

So there you have it...I promise you are in for a real treat with this book...as am I because I’m going to read it all over again now...and then finish it off with a post coital Kit Kat!...Enjoy.......

Rating 5 out of 5 stars ...but well worth more.
By The Grumbling Gargoyle

The Snuggle Bun Takes on the Walking Dead S3:E2 "Sick"

2012-11-05T16:26:00.000+00:00

'The Snuggle Bun' is back with more of her unique take on season 3 of 'The Walking Dead', this week she gives us her thoughts on Episode 2 entitled 'Sick', so sit back relax and enjoy this weeks Videocast.

Thanks again to 'The Snuggle Bun' and remember to check back each week for more Walking Dead action!

If you enjoyed this video review please support the people who made it happen here:-

www.nerdtopiacast.com

Feral Goat Film

Adam 'Evil Eye' Cutler

Happy Halloween Fiends!!! 'Halloween Night Terror' Fan Film Exclusive!

2012-10-31T16:01:00.000+00:00

Well it's that time of year again, pumpkins have been carved, we have donned our most frightening costumes and took to the streets in our masses to ring in Halloween. Today we ask all of you 'Trick or Treat?' and our reply is treat, you wouldn't want our tricks!! So without further ado lets share with you today's post.....

HALLOWEEN NIGHT TERROR FAN FILM EXCLUSIVE

Synopsis

"I've heard of kids trick r' treating, but this takes the mick! Have they been letting the loonies out for the night too? - Jack

In this latest addition to 'The Halloween Chronicles' collection, the mythos of cinema's infamous boogeyman, Michael Myers, expands and proves that on All Hallow's Eve, no-one is safe from the madman's grasp!

It is Halloween night in the state of Russellville, a few miles from the notorious Haddonfield, and resident, Jack Dennant (Ernest Vernon), wants nothing more than to forget all about the ghouls, ghosts & glowing pumpkins that line his street outside. But having turned some festive visitors away from his door chastised and empty handed, little does Jack realise, the festival of Samhain has one last deadly trick to play....
...on October 31st, HE makes the rules...

WATCH HALLOWEEN NIGHT TERROR HERE!

Written and Directed by Dave Hastings and filmed on location in the West Midlands, England, in association with Lightbeam Productions and Pat the Bull Films 'Halloween Night Terror' brings back psychopath Michael Myers, and on the most part pulls off a great effort compared to some of the 'Halloween' fan films we have seen in the past. The film is brought to life with a musical score written especially for the piece by James Callaghan of the Basement Film Group, Dudley, and gives the film that extra fear and dread that audiences would expect from a John Carpenter movie score. Aesthetically, the most striking element is how 'Halloween Night Terror' captures the iconic 80's feel of the orginal 'Halloween' movie. The end of the film delivers a great message which any viral ad's campaign would be proud of!! Bravo

We caught up with Dave Hastings Writer and Director recently who told us this about the project:-

It was made for the official HalloweenMovies.com website and their now defunct fan film competition which was pulled and cancelled at the last minute, which was gutting not only for our crew and cast, but also others who had made films for the competition. The good side of it is that we were definitely through to the final voting stage, so we’d been selected by the competition makers before it all fell through, which is a great feeling. And since it’s been online, we’ve had some lovely support and comments made about how its scared people, and how fans have enjoyed the storyline, and how we went back to the idea of Michael Myers/The Shape stalking on All Hallow’s Eve, pushing him back into the mysterious silent shadowy figure from the original classic Halloween. We just hope people continue to enjoy it. It was made by fans for fans.

We would just like to thank Dave and the rest of the team for giving us the opportunity to view 'Halloween Night Terrors' and look forward to sharing more of their work with all our fiends here at The Evil Eye.

Follow the team behind the short at the following links:-

Lightbeam Productions

Pat the Bull Films

Adam 'Evil Eye' Cutler

Chernobyl Diaries Review

2012-10-30T15:54:00.000+00:00

Horror – Starring Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Dimitri Diatchenko, Olivia Dudley, Devin Kelley, Jesse McCartney, Nathan Phillips, Jonathan Sadowski. Written by Oren Peli, Carey Van Dyke, Shane Van Dyke. Directed by Bradley Parker (2012)

Three young Americans – love birds Natalie and Chris, and photographer Amanda – are travelling through Europe. In Kiev, they met up with Chris’s brother Paul, en route to Moscow. Only, they never make it to Moscow, instead the four friends are joined by two other travellers, Zoe and Michael, and together they head off for a spot of ‘Extreme Tourism’ to Pripyat, the town close to Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Led by a tour guide, Uri, the intrepid travellers discover that the supposed abandoned town is anything but.

I admit to being hopeful but with modest expectations as I sat down to watch Chernobyl Diaries. The movie opens promisingly with video footage of Natalie (Olivia Dudley), Chris (Jesse McCartney) and Amanda (Devin Kelley) enjoying their tour of Europe, before joining Chris’s brother Paul (Jonathan Sadowski) in Kiev. The opening sets up the relationships between the four main characters nicely, and – when Chris confides in Paul that he is going to ask Natalie to marry him when they reach Moscow – makes it quite clear what the characters stand to lose when the radioactive horror strikes.

The acting is good, the characters are likeable, the film has a modern, energetic feel and is well shot … buuuuuut … I couldn’t help feeling like I had seen it all before, only in a different setting. Dumb kids making dumb decisions … Who wants to go to Moscow as planned … aaaaand who wants to head to the creepy old town that has been abandoned for 25 years with Uri (Dimitri Diatchenko) the ‘Extreme Tour Guide’ in his dodgy old van? And the breaking of horror’s cardinal sins does not end there … the group – now joined by young couple Zoe (Ingrid Bolso Berdal) and Michael (Nathan Phillips) – proceed to ignore warnings from the check point guards to stay away from the town, and, when finding themselves stranded in the town after the van is sabotaged, do annoying things like split up and head off into the deep dark woods to ‘investigate’.

One by one, the group are picked off by unseen foes, discovering mutant flesh eating fish, wild dogs and a ‘radioactive bear from Hell’ along the way. There is limited gore, but there is tension and it really isn’t a bad film. I don’t have anything terrible to say about it. But it offers nothing new to the genre and, for me, failed to reach its potential. I found myself on the verge of fear a couple of times but the movie didn’t deliver and my fear subsided, or, like reactor number 4, it ‘became one with the air’, in other words, my fear vaporised.

Seeing as I started with modest expectations, I can honestly say I wasn’t left overly disappointed … just a little uninspired.

Rating:- 3 out of 5
By Lisa Richardson

The Snuggle Bun Takes on the Walking Dead S3:E1 "Seed"

2012-10-26T14:20:00.000+01:00

Season 3 of 'The Walking Dead' has arrived and to coincide with this epic event we have been given the privilege of sharing with you all 'The Snuggle Buns' thoughts on each episode courtesy of our friends over at NerdtopiaCast. So fasten your seat belts, pull up a chair and get ready for the weekly Videocast ride into 'The Walking Dead' world!

Thanks again to 'The Snuggle Bun' and remember to check back each week for more Walking Dead action!

If you enjoyed this video review please support the people who made it happen here:-

www.nerdtopiacast.com

Feral Goat Film

Adam 'Evil Eye' Cutler

What's On? A Fright To Remember - A Halloween Horror All-Nighter

2012-10-24T12:46:00.000+01:00

This weekend in the heart of the Black Country, England, The Public Arts Centre, West Bromwich plays host to 'A Fright to Remember' A Halloween all-nighter in association with Scream Horror Magazine. The event kicks off on Saturday 27th October at 7:30pm and rolls on until 7:30am the next morning, so plenty of gore, scares and fun for all horror fans out there!!

There will be plenty going on over the 12 hour scaretastic event, check out the schedule here:-

19:30 - Short Film Showcase

Ella – (Dan Gitsham, 2011, 8mins)

Bobby Yeah - (Robert Morgan, 2012, 23 minutes)

Employee of the Month - (Olivier Beguin, 2011, Switzerland, 14mins)

Nursery Crimes - (Laura Whyte, 2010, UK, 3mins)

20.45 - Local Feature Screening:

DEADTIME (Dir Tony Jopia) (2012) (18)