Proving that horror fans have a heart — and not just one that they ripped out of some hapless victim’s chest — Eli Roth recently agreed to appear in an ad for PETA urging people to report acts of violence and cruelty perpetrated against animals. Roth, who bashed heads as an actor in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and as a director in both Hostel films and Cabin Fever, shows off a more sympathetic side in the new PSA.

Wrapped up by an animatronic snake, Roth smiles into the camera and looks like he would have been right at home alongside Ice-Cube and J.Lo on the set of Anaconda.

It’s been a big few weeks for the filmmaker. He had a small role in last weekend’s surprise hit, Piranha 3D, and this weekend sees the debut of The Last Exorcism — a film he produced. All that plus a PETA ad? Looks like our Eli has totally made the bigtime.

Click the image above for a larger (and easier to read) version of the Public Service Announcement.

When two kids decide to skinny dip in a pool at an abandoned military facility, they get more than they bargained for. The pool isn’t empty – it’s home to a pack of genetically mutated piranha. Seems Dr. Hoak (Kevin McCarthy) has been carrying on his research even after the government pulled the plug. When a skip tracer, Maggie McKeown (Heather Menzies) is sent to find the missing kids, she meets alcoholic mountain man Paul Grogan (Bradford Dillman). Dillman is coerced into taking her to the military base and before you can say “eco disaster”, Maggie’s drained the pond and released the carnivorous fish into the nearby river. The fish (which can also live in salt water) eat their way toward the ocean (including run-ins with kids at a summer camp and a rich folk at a swanky new resort on the river) while Paul and Maggie race desperately to keep them from getting to the sea and the world beyond.. Oh yeah, the military isn’t really all that interested in stopping this threat – nor is the evil doctor played by genre legend Barbara Steele.

Produced by Roger Corman, Piranha is a hoot – occasionally unintentionally. I love how half of the characters pronounce the name of the fish as “piranya” even when everyone else in the scene is saying it the normal way. The film is mixture of effective gore (the piranha attacks are bloody and brutal), odd humor, and some surprisingly decent performances. Dante’s direction is great and works in tons of tiny little homages to Spielberg’s film – from the opening moments featuring Maggie playing a Jaws videogame to the way some of the attack scenes are carried out.

Piranha is a low-budget labor of love, but it never looks overly cheap. Sure, shots of the fish swimming through the water as they close in for the attack are pretty funny (because they look like plastic fish and none of their fins move…), but it honestly adds a certain level of charm to the experience.

Dillman and Menzies make likeable leads – and amazingly enough there’s no romantic scene between them. Dillman does curmudgeonly drunk well, and Menzies is spunky and fun as the headstrong young skip tracer. Dillman was initially disappointed that his role wasn’t meatier, so he approached screenwriter John Sayles to find out why. Sayles told him he wrote the character thin because most Corman films didn’t feature good actors – but since it was Dillman in the part, Sayles went back and beefed things up to keep the thespian onboard. I wish they’d have done the same for Barbara Steele, who’s great in every scene she appears in, but doesn’t get nearly enough screen time as a whole. I’d much rather spend time with her character than the silly camp counselors.

Shout! Factory just released Piranha on DVD as part of their Roger Corman’s Cult Classics collection. The package features a cool lenticular cover, is presented in anamorphic widescreen for the very first time ever, and features a plethora of extras. Supplements include a commentary track with Dante and producer Jon Davison (wish Corman would have been on this one…), a Making of Piranha featurette, bloopers, trailers, still galleries, additional scenes from the TV version, and more. I sound like a broken record at this point, but Shout! Factory has done cult film fans a real service with these discs. They look good and they’re packed with cool bonus materials for the film nerds.

Surprisingly enough, like many of Corman’s B-movies, Piranha has aged quite well. People say Corman never met a corner he wouldn’t cut, but it seems to rarely affect the quality of his films in the long haul. This is definitely a B movie, but it knows that and revels in it. Because of this, it feels like everyone’s just kicking back and having fun. It’s a contagious feeling, because it radiates from the screen and into the viewer’s living room – and then they’re having fun too. Needless to say Piranha remains one of my favorite Corman projects. If you’ve never seen it before, you’re missing out. If you need a refresher course, then be sure to grab the new disc and experience it in a way like never before.

Horror Geek Rating: 5 out of 5

Forbidden World

In typical Corman fashion, Forbidden World was made fast and cheap. The sets from Galaxy of Terror had yet to be torn down, so the maverick producer gave editor Allan Holzman a challenge – take a day and see if he could shoot something interesting. Holzman, looking to break into directing, ran with the opportunity. He recruited actor Jesse Vint and shot over 90 set-ups in a single day. Corman then viewed the footage and liked what he saw – and Forbidden World was given the greenlight.

The film tells the tale of Intergalactic space cowboy Mike Colby. Colby’s woken up from his deep space sleep by his robot companion Sam not because they’ve arrived home after another tour of duty, but because they’re being sent to the planet Xarbia. Seems scientists stationed on the planet are working on a top secret project to solve the galaxy’s food shortage and something’s gone wrong. This is an understatement. Colby winds up confronting a gentically-altered life form that’s concluded that mankind makes a good meal. So, between keeping the lusty ladies of Xarbia (Dawn Dunlap and June Chadwick) sexually satisfied and tracking down this monster, Colby’s not getting the R&R he was anticipating.

Shot in a mere 20 days, Forbidden World is typical of Corman productions of the era – everything is geared toward getting the film made quickly and not spending a lot of money in the process. And while Corman’s body of work is regularly noted for those elements, it does sort of a disservice to his filmography. Yes, Corman directed and produced movies with the bottom line and potential profit in mind, but these weren’t purely cheap films cranked out to make a quick buck. The list of Hollywood talent Corman helped when they were breaking into the business is well documented, and even in the early stages of their careers, these were talented people – and it shows in the films. Forbidden Planet is definitely a low budget film (made for approximately a million dollars), but you can tell that Holzman and his crew were having a good time making it and doing their best to not allow the lack of funding to be a limitation.

When you have a script that features a slime-covered alien eating people, ancient computer technology, two horny scientists dying to get naked and spend some “quality time” with Colby (and each other), and another scientist who undergoes one of the most ludicrous death scenes ever at the climax, it’s hard not to like Forbidden World in spite of its flaws. New World Pictures may not have churned out films most people would think of as art, but they definitely knew how to entertain and keep their audience engaged. I think that’s worth celebrating.

As far as the flaws go, they’re basically what one would expect in a film of this kind. The sets are cheap (and redundant if you’ve seen Galaxy of Terror), the acting is definitely on the hammy side (which doesn’t bother me, but drives some people crazy), and the story is a little confusing in the first act because that footage is made up mostly of the 90 some set-ups Holzman shot on that first day. Oh, and for someone who’s supposed to be this heroic space cowboy type, Colby doesn’t do as much as you’d expect. None of these things ruin Forbidden World – or even really detract from the overall experience – but I mention them in the spirit of being fair and thorough.

And I hate to sound like a broken record here, but if you’ve read my other recent Corman reviews, then you already know that Shout! Factory is releasing a lot of the producer’s films as part of the Roger Corman Cult Classics collection. Like the previous discs, Forbidden World is a real treat for fans of both Corman and low-budget filmmaking in general. Shout! Factory has gone the extra mile to please fans with these DVDs and Blu-rays – presenting the films in remastered formats and loaded with supplemental materials. This title is no exception. Forbidden World comes as a two disc set – the second DVD features the five minute longer uncut version released as Mutant. The regular version of the film comes with a new widescreen transfer. Mutant boasts a commentary track from director Alan Holzman. You also get interviews with Roger Corman and the rest of the cast and crew, a special effects featurette, and more. All in all, a really great package for a film of this kind.

Forbidden World makes for a fitting conclusion to New World’s Alien pastiche trilogy if for no other reason than because it really ups the sleaze factor – albeit in a fun and entertaining way. Roger Corman once again demonstrates a keen understanding how to mix the art and commerce of filmmaking. It’s not going to replace Ridley Scott’s Alien as one of the best sci-fil films of its era, but amongst the galaxy’s worth of Alien clones to emerge in the wake of that film, Forbidden Planet is easily one of the better entries.

Horror Geek Rating: 4 out of 5

Star Wars Celebration V — a mega-event celebrating all things Star Wars — is set to take place in Orlando on August 12th through the 15th. Guests like George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, and those guys who worked the Jabba the Hutt puppet will be on hand for autographs, panels, and loads of photo ops. If you should find yourself at the show and itching for some fresh ink (Star Wars or any other kind…) be sure to check out my good friend Thomas Kersnowsky. Thomas will be slinging ink during the event and will gladly help you memorialize your love of all things Lucas — yes, even the Ewoks if that’s what you’re in to.

Swing by and say hi — and tell him you found him through the site. I’m sure he’ll give you a discount. May the Force by with you!

We’ve had an earlier clip of behind the scenes footage, but today at Comic-con we got our first real look at the show. It looks amazing. It looks better than most zombie movies, and if you love the comic, then I think you’re going to be really pleased with the show when it debuts in October. My only complaints with this clip are A. it’s not the best quality, B. someone will probably pull it down any minute now, and C. it shows a little more of the show than I’d like — and I really just want to watch the whole thing right this minute.

Enough blathering from me, though — scroll down and behold the awesomeness for yourself. And yes, you really did just get two posts in one day. I’m on fire…it’s like last year or something.

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the day when Jigsaw’s series of Saw films would finally draw to a close, this could be your lucky day. The new trailer for Saw 3D is now online (thanks IGN!) and it’s promising to be the end of the line. I’m happy about this because I’m pretty fucking sick of covering these movies every year. Contrary to popular opinion, they’re not the worst thing out there — but clearly, this is an idea that’s been run into the ground. It’s time to move on.

Of course, like any old school horror fan, I’m wary of this. Once upon a time Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter was supposed to be the end of Jason and we all see how that worked out…

I could see Saw 3D making a truckload of money and Lionsgate demanding another film — so hold off on those “Jigsaw is dead!” parties for now.

In other news, the film has shifted from its October 22nd release date to the 29th instead — clearly to avoid opening against Paranormal Activity 2, a film that kicked Jigsaw’s ass all over the box office last year.

Scroll down a bit further and check out the new trailer for yourself. Remember — the Traps Are Alive!!!

Fangoria, the long running horror magazine that many of us grew up on, is looking to broaden their horizons yet again. They’ve teamed up with Lightning Media to create the brand new Fangoria Frightfest. Think After Dark Horrorfest or the Ghosthouse Underground releases and you’ll know exactly what’s in store.

Fango and Lightning have combined forces to bring you eight new horror flicks on DVD, VOD, and Digital Download. One of the films, chosen by viewers, will get a big screen theatrical release next month. So, after you’ve viewed the flicks, be sure to head over to the official site and make your voice is heard. To help set the tone, I’ve got a look at the cover art for each of the new DVD releases — and I must say, the majority of them are really pretty cool looking.

Check out the gallery for a better look at the artwork after the break as well as the plot synopsis for each title.

Fragile

Amy Nicholls (Calista Flockhart, Brothers & Sisters), the new night nurse at a soon-to-be-abandoned children’s hospital, readies the last group of orphans to leave. But it becomes increasingly clear that these are not normal children. An atmospheric ghost story from Spanish director Jaume Balagueró (the[REC] trilogy, Darkness).

Grimm Love

In this fact-based thriller, German graduate student Katie Armstrong (Keri Russell, Waitress, TV’s Felicity) is researching cannibalistic killer Oliver Hartwin (Thomas Kretschmann, King Kong, The Stendhal Syndrome) for her thesis. Obsessed with her subject, she plunges into “the lifestyle.” Directed by Martin Weisz (The Hills Have Eyes II).

The Tomb

Director Michael Staininger’s updated adaptation of the classic Edgar Allan Poe tale The Tomb of Ligeia. Successful writer and scholar Jonathan Merrick (Wes Bentley, American Beauty, Ghost Rider) falls under the spell of the bewitching beauty Ligeia, who is fighting a fatal illness. Willing to stop at nothing in a quest for immortality, Ligeia plots to steal souls … beginning with Jonathan’s. Co-starring Michael Madsen (Kill Bill) and Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) and produced by Jeff Most (The Crow).

Dark House

Directed by writer/producer Darin Scott (Tales From the Hood), this thriller is a high-tech take on the traditional “haunted house,” featuring a charismatically maniacal performance by horror legend Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, The Frighteners, Star Trek).

Hunger

Steven Hentges’ shocker stars Lori Heuring (Wicked Little Things, The In Crowd) in a physically and psychologically demanding role. Five strangers (including Heuring) find themselves trapped in an underground dungeon. Realizing they are the subjects of a sadistic experiment to test the depths of a human being’s will to survive, their hunger increases as their humanity fades.

Pig Hunt

A young man and his pals embark on a guys’ weekend to hunt wild boars on his late uncle’s remote ranch. But as the group treks deeper into the forest, the awful truth is revealed about his uncle’s demise and the hunters become the hunted. Called “Enjoyably offbeat hybrid horror” by Variety, this quirky action/thriller is directed by James Isaac (Skinwalkers, Jason X).

Road Kill

An Australian surprise starring emerging heartthrob Xavier Samuel (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and festival favorite The Loved Ones). In this supernatural thriller, a group of teenagers (including Samuel) embark on a road trip and find themselves menaced by a driver-less truck in the Australian outback.

The Haunting

This Spanish chiller from director Elio Quiroga (Fotos, La Hora Fria) was inspired by the Catholic Church’s documentation of actual, unexplained supernatural phenomena in the ’40s and stars Ana Torrent (Tesis) as a new mother driven to the brink of madness.

While we’ve passed the year 2000 without an event like the Transcontinental Road Race – a cross country rally where cartoonish drivers and their navigators travel from one coast to the other while scoring points for running down innocent pedestrians – the film’s commentary on the media and sensationalism of violence as entertainment seem quite valid. Maybe that’s a stretch on my part, but I don’t think so – I think some of the most profound commentary on our society was reflected in the cult films of that era.

David Carradine stars as Frankenstein, the biggest star on the Death Race tour. He looks like an S&M Darth Vader, even though he predates the Dark Lord of the Sith by two years. Death Race is so brutal that Carradine’s been put back together with various bits and pieces over the years, hence his name. His chief rival is Machine Gun Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone) – a guy who’s not the sharpest pencil in the box, but still poses a threat to Frankenstein’s continued dominance. The rest of the racers are Calamity Jane (Mary Woronov), Nero the Hero (Martin Kove) and Neo-Nazi Mathilda the Hun (Roberta Collins). The five drivers each has a navigator who also seems to serve as a love interest.

Death Race is the biggest event in the world, but not everyone loves it. There’s a movement afoot by a rebel group to put an end to the race once and for all, and not everyone shares the government’s joy for broadcasting an event where innocent civilians are run down in the streets. Go figure. That quickly becomes the film’s B plot, and serves as a nice enough counter to all of the racing action.

People often (wrongly) assume that this was a Roger Corman film. Corman did produce, but Eating Raoul director Paul Bartel actually helmed the project. Bartel’s direction is impressive. Death Race 2000 has a really unique look, visually. It certainly shows its age in terms of fashions and technology, but the way Bartel films the action is quite impressive. It’s not an overly stylish film, but it is reminiscent of the cinema of John Carpenter pre-Halloween.

The performances are fun, despite their inherent campiness. Stallone steals the show as Machine  Gun Joe, a meathead who’s more dangerous than he looks. Carradine is hysterical as Frankenstein. I’m really not sure what to make of his portrayal, honestly – it’s part Caine from Kung Fu and the rest is just him being a smarmy creep. It’s not easy to like Carradine as the film’s hero, but he’s still fun in the film. Mary Wornov deserved more screentime as the oversexed Calamity Jane, as did Martin Kove (sweep the leg!) as Nero the Hero. The point here is that all the actors are fun – it may not be Masterpiece Theater, but each performer takes the material and interprets it in a way that fits with the tone of the film. You really can’t ask for much more than that.

There are some rough spots, but they’re minor. A fist fight between Carradine and Stallone is hilarious (clearly Carradine didn’t really learn any kung fu after three seasons on that show…) because it’s so implausible. Some of the film’s matte painting backdrops are very noticeable too (although this is charming in a quaint way). The good far outweighs the bad, though. Death Race 2000 is a cult classic for a reason – it’s a solid little film.

Shout Factory has just re-released the film as part of their Roger Corman Collection and I’m here to tell you that the disc is excellent. Boasting a really nice new anamorphic widescreen transfer, this is the best Death Race 2000 has ever looked. The real bonus, though, takes the form of the supplemental material included. This disc is friggin’ jammed full of extras. Commentary tracks with Corman and Woronov, an interview with David Carradine and literally seven other interviews/features, plus trailers (with commentary from John Landis…) make this an amazing treat for fans of this much loved cult film.

All in all, Death Race 2000 has aged incredibly well. The film is just as much fun – and maybe even more timely – now than it was back in 1975. Roger Corman sure knew how to pick them, and this film still stands the test of time as one of his finest creations. If you’re looking for a fast-paced cult flick with lots of action and a little subtext, you can’t go wrong with this one. Grab the new Shout Factory disc, sit back, and experience this classic in the way it was always meant to be seen.

Horror Geek Rating: 4 out of 5

There’s no official release date for I Didn’t Come Here to Die yet (the trailer just says “2010″), but you can keep up to date by checking out the film’s website.

Peep the trailer below and let me know what you think in the comment section.

“I Didn’t Come Here To Die” Teaser Trailer from Bradley Sullivan on Vimeo.

Sorry for the long delay between posts — I’ve been doing a lot of stuff over at Horror Squad (and if you’re not checking me out there, you should be — it’s extra content) and I’ve not had a bunch of free time. I’m back today though, with more Walking Dead goodness.

Pictured above is the first production photo from AMC’s new series — based on Robert Kirkman’s comic set after the zombie apocalypse. Greg Nicotero of the mighty KNB Effects did the zombie design and it looks amazing. Director Frank Darabont concurs, saying “Greg Nicotero is absolutely out-doing himself. The work he is doing is beyond what one could hope for. Our Zombies kick ass!”

The series is set to debut on AMC later this year.