WildClaw's Blood Radio

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #28

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:47:39 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was a little trickier, since while it might be obvious who the character is, there's a few of those movies out there. Well, the shot is of Lon Chaney Jr., making his first appearance as Frankenstein's creature, in the 1942 film THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN. That's Bela Lugosi as Ygor in the foreground, cleaning the chunks of dried sulfur off of the monster. That's right folks, sulfur, not snow. Told you it was tricky...

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

Daybreakers: Olivia Munn Interviews Ethan Hawke

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:44:46 PST

Game Trailers - E3 2010 - Movies and TV

Dr AC's 2009 Horror Movie Round Up

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:04:54 PST

Howdy troops,

After much deliberation, here's my assessment of the year that was. All of the films listed below were encountered for the first time from January 1 to December 31, 2009 (i.e. no repeat viewings were eligible). To accommodate and acknowledge as many films as possible, I've broken them down into various categories in alphabetical order, with my top pick denoted with an asterisk.

As always, feel free to toss in your two cents worth - we'll make sure you get some change back. Thanks for the past year of rapping and chatting - looking forward to more of the same in 2010!

2009 TOTALS:
140 1st Time Horror Views (out of 289 total)

TOP 20 (or so) 2009 HORROR RELEASES

Antichrist (2009)
Baghead (2008)
Children, The (2008)*
Dead Snow (2009)
Deadgirl (2009)
District ( (2009)
Donkey Punch (2008)
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Eden Lake (2008)
Grace (2009)
House of the Devil (2009)
I Sell the Dead (2008)
Last House on the Left, The (2009)
My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009)
Paranormal Activity (2009)
Pontypool (2008)
Splinter (2008)
Thirst (2009)
Trick ‘r Treat (2008)
Uninvited, The (2009)
Zombieland (2009)

MIXED BAGS

Book of Blood (2008)
Burrowers, The (2008)
Friday the 13th (2009)
Martyrs (2008)
Midnight Meat Train, The (2008)
Orphan (2009)
Saw VI (2009)
Smash Cut (2008)
Vinyan (2008)
Wizard of Gore, The (2008)
Unborn, The (2009)
Zombie Strippers (2008)

DISAPPOINTMENTS

Carriers (2009)
Collector, The (2009)
Halloween 2 (2009)

TOP HOME VIEWING HORROR DISCOVERIES

Carry On Screaming! (1966)
Creature (1985)
Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)
Girly (1970)
Isle, The (2000)
Lost, The (2005
P2 (2007)
Red (2008)
Sadist, The (1963)
Scream Bloody Murder (1973)
Spiral (2007)
TerrorVision (1986)
Timecrimes (2007)*
Stone Tape, The (1972)
Watcher in the Attic, The (1976)
Witchcraft (1964)

PLEASANT SURPRISES (NOT AMAZING, BUT WORTH SEEING)

Cold Prey (2008)
Dance of the Dead (2008)
Flight of the Living Dead (2008)
Les Revenants (2004)
Midnight Movie (2008)
Shredder (2003)

HOME VIEWING DISAPPOINTMENTS

Mirrors (2008)
Prom Night (2008)
Return to Horror High (1987)
Revolt of the Zombies (1936)
Trigger Man (2007)

TOP 13 “WHAT THE ^&@%^@% DID I JUST SEE?” FLICKS

After Last Season (2009)
Bad Biology (2008)
Boarding House (1982)
Fantom Killer (1998)
Island of Death (1975)
Mr. No Legs (1979)
Multiple Maniacs (1970)
Redeemer, The (aka Class Reunion Massacre) (1978)
Sting of Death (1965)
Rock n’ Roll Nightmare (1987)
SS Experiment Camp (1976)
Raw Force (1982)
Wicked, Wicked (1973)
Zaat (1975)

WORST HORROR VIEW OF 2009

Devil Hunter (1980)

Pishtaco - Peruvian Fat Vampires

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:23:06 PST

"In a remote makeshift laboratory, a victim would be bludgeoned to death, his head and limbs hacked off with a machete, and his eviscerated torso hung from metal hooks. Votive candles warmed his abdominal flesh from below, so its rendered fat would drip through a funnel and collect in a basin on the floor."

The full story on slate: here.

Scholarly and fascinating, with little tidbits like the one about the Andean creator-god, Virocha, who's name can be literally translated as "sea of fat.

Christopher Lee to release album

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:24:22 PST

Fangoria writes that "CHRISTOPHER LEE is going "metal" for a full album. Christopher Lee - CHARLEMAGNE: BY THE SWORD AND THE CROSS is a "symphonic metal" album slated for release on March 15th." Click here for the rest of the article.

Brutal As Hell Looking for Horror Short Films

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:31:47 PST

The cool folks over at BrutalAsHell.com are looking for short films from horror film makers.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Official Fan Site

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:28:50 PST

Come on - The Rocky Horror Picture Show is 35 years old this year? Here is the Official Fan Site.

HAVE A HORRIFIC NEW YEAR

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:33:47 PST

For mauled lang syne, my dears,

For mauled lang syne.

We'll drain a festering abscess yet

For mauled lang syne.

Vampire Makeup Lesson

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:14:45 PST

Now that we have done the year of the zombie to death in 2009, it looks like the vampire may regain its power back from the Twilight crowd. (See: shows like, Daybreakers)

So, to get you ready for that next party, here are some professional make-up tips from Michelle Phan to help you become the vampire you always knew was in you.

No, really. We don't have a stake in this. That would bite.

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #27

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:37:37 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was from one of Hammer's finer black-and-white efforts, PARANOIAC (1963). Interspersed with their classic Gothic outings (for which they are most famously remembered), the "Studio that Dripped Blood" also turned out a fair number of Psycho-inspired thrillers based in a modern, realistic settings. This one stars Janette Scott and Oliver Reed, with the always capable Freddie Francis directing Jimmy Sangster's quality script.

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

I Sell The Dead

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:10:50 PST

On March 30th, look for the Hi-Def DVD/BluRay versions of "I Sell The Dead" to arrive on our shores. The Slamdance award-winning horror film looks to be a winner in more ways than one.

What's it about?
"18th Century England, a young graverobber (Dominic Monaghan) finds himself condemned to death for his crimes, with only a priest (Ron Perlman) for company for his last night before the gallows. A hilarious tale is told of a life spent digging up and selling supernatural corpses, including vampires and zombies, and the many shenanigans involved!"

Happy Birthday, David F. Friedman (producer of BLOOD FEAST and 2000 MANIACS!)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:20:07 PST

Happy birthday to the man who, alongside director Herschell Gordon Lewis, gave the world its first explicit gore film in 1963 with BLOOD FEAST, followed quickly by TWO THOUSAND MANIACS and COLOR ME BLOOD RED.

Good times, my friends. Good times.

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #26

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:58:05 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was from the first of writer/director Amando de Ossorio's haunting Spanish zombie flicks, TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (1971). While not everyone’s cup of tea, the imagery in this film is so overwhelming in its thick gloomy atmosphere that one cannot help but admire de Ossorio for his sheer confidence and audacity. (The slow-motion scenes of the recently revived devil-worshipping Templar Knights riding horseback are particularly inspired.) The success of this light-gore-and-nudity import spawned three more films in the series: Return of the Blind Dead, The Ghost Galleon, and Night of the Seagulls.

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

Holiday Horrors - GREMLINS (1984)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:38:23 PST

Hope everyone's having a grand final slide into Santaland! Here's a childhood fave that 25 years later still has me howling with fear and joy...

GREMLINS (1984)

Joe Dante’s instant classic features the cute fuzzy Mogwai, who must be kept away from water, out of the sunlight and never, ever fed after midnight.

When these rules are inevitably broken, they multiply and become the malevolent reptilian “Gremlins” who set about bringing Zach Galligan’s small town to its knees, cackling all the while.

Terrific creature design (Chris Walas, who would win an Oscar for David Cronenberg’s THE FLY in two years) combined with Chris Columbus’ razor sharp black comic script make this one for the ages.

Phoebe Cates’ chimney monologue haunts us still.

Soulless by Gail Carriger

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:41:50 PST

We take our horror seriously here at WildClaw, but we also have a sense of humor. I'm here to recommend at fun witty tale from Gail Carriger that has werewolves, vampires and OCTOPI in a Victorian steampunk setting. Its a Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2009 pick and an inventive take on the supernatural.

"Soulless is a character-driven romp with great world-building and delicious rapier wit that recalls Austen and P.G. Wodehouse." ~ io9

(This recommendation is based on the personal book collection of Charlie Athanas. No freebies were used in the writing of this blog entry.)

Happy Birthday, Vampira! (aka Maila Nurmi)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:27 PST

On this date in 1921, the first television Horror Host, the one and only "Vampira," a.k.a. Maila Nurmi was born.

It was director Howard Hawks, of all people, who discovered Maila while she was performing in Michael Todd's Grand Guignol midnight show "Spook Scandals." Hawks escorted the lovely blonde beauty to Hollywood with the hopes of grooming her into the next Lauren Bacall. Cast in the film version of the Russian novel Dreadful Hollow, the project was put on hold so many times that Maila walked out of her contract in frustration. She became a cheesecake model and an Earl Carroll dancer for several years in his revues, sharing a chorus line at one time with future burlesque stripper Lili St. Cyr.

Married at the time to child actor-turned-screenwriter Dean Riesner, she came up with the idea of "Vampira" at a masquerade contest where she based her costume on Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons. Heavily painted up with long fingernails, a mane of raven-colored hair, and slim-waisted black attire, the Morticia gimmick won the best costume award that night...and more. She caught the attention of local TV and was placed under contract to Channel 7 in Hollywood to see if she could encourage late night viewers to stay up and watch its regular programming of cheapjack horror schlock. The macabre madam was a genuine hit (for one season, at least, in 1954-1955), adding a sexy nuance and silly double entendres to her campy horror set. She earned an Emmy nomination in 1954 for "Most Outstanding Female Personality." Fan clubs sprouted up all over the world. She appeared in Life, TV Guide and Newsweek magazine articles, and could be seen around and about town and in Las Vegas judging contests and making variety special appearances. Songs were written about the "Queen of Horror" by such notables as Bobby Bare and The Misfits.

She even appeared with arms outstretched and ghoulishly attired in the worst cinematic turkey of all time, Edward D. Wood Jr.'s Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), as Bela Lugosi's zombie-like mate, for which she is infamously associated. Lugosi actually was a fan of hers and had always wanted to work with her. Wood shot some footage of her years later as a tribute to Lugosi (he died in 1956 during filming) and added it before the film's release.

Nurmi passed away on January 10, 2008 in Los Angeles of natural causes.

IMDb Mini Biography courtesy of Gary Brumburgh

Great Unknown Horror Novels Vol. 1 - The Delicate Dependency

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:59:41 PST

Michael Talbot's 1982 "Novel of the Vampire Life" is an example of a fantastic horror novel which few people know about. It's author passed away at the age of 38 in 1992 and he was apparently more known for a book called The Holographic Universe, which explores the notion that the universe is a hologram. I discovered The Delicate Dependency in a used bookstore in the 80's when I was very much into vampire mythology and thought it was a terrific addition to the subject. I've since lost the book, and will have to fork out quite a bit of money to get a used copy, but it is well worth it. Anyone out there read it?

THE STAND (My first Love Affair with Horror)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:41:21 PST

One of the questions I have to answer for an upcoming interview is "When did you fall in love with horror?"

I was 22 years old and I was up in Cape Cod for a summer doing mediocre theatre by night and sharing a house with a middle - aged married couple by day and I had no car to take me where the cool kids were hanging out, so my only option for entertainment was to get immersed into a world other than my own. I stopped by a used book store on my way to rehearsal, and when I told the owner I need a book that is going to get me through an extremely boring summer, he offered up Stephen King's uncut version of THE STAND.

To this day, no movie, play, or any other kind of visual or electronic entertainment has ever taken me so much for a ride, has made me love and fear characters so much, has made me think about my own life more than the uncut version of THE STAND. It was technically my first love affair with horror, and ANYONE who tells me that they can't take the horror genre seriously, I tell them to read this story.

So... Stephen King... where ever you are... THANK YOU.

Let's Play Six Degrees of...Brad Dourif!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:25:33 PST

Brad Dourif is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest character actors alive in the world today.

This spring, in WildClaw’s production of LEGION, I have the daunting honor of playing on stage the role Mr. Dourif originated on film (in tandem with Jason Miller) in 1990’s The Exorcist III.

So...just how many degrees from Brad Dourif am I? Let’s take a peek:

I’ve worked several times this past year with Randy Steinmeyer...

Who was in Public Enemies (2009) with Johnny Depp...

Who was in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) with Robert Englund...

Who was in Urban Legend (1998) with Brad Dourif.

4 degrees. Not too shabby! The horror thread is a nice touch too. And in case you were wondering...Brad Dourif was in Murder in the First (1995) with Kevin Bacon.

Count it.

Dan O'Bannon - RIP

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:13:04 PST

The scariest movie-going experience happened to me in a Texas strip mall at an advanced screening of a little film called ALIEN. I had read about it in American Film magazine and was already prepared to have the shit scared out of me when Veronica Cartwright got a hose full of blood and offal shot all over her. I just didn't know when it would happen in the film. Most other people in line were speculating that it was another outer space movie , like that Star Wars one that had come out. I have never been to a screening where the screams got louder and more genuine and grown men left the theater in fear. (This is Texas, damn it. Men just don't do that sort of thing.)

All of this was courtesy of Ridley Scott, an amazing film crew and cast, H. R. Giger, and some guy named Dan O'Bannon. I had seen Dark Star. I was not prepared for Alien. And I thank Dan for that.

Harry Knowles has written a nice obituary for Mr. O'Bannon.

Author: Storm Constantine

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:26:59 PST

Once in awhile, we here at WildClaw like to introduce artists and authors that have crossed our paths that we think you should know about. Our individual tastes are quite different so you should probably know whose making the recommendation. Today, Charlie Athanas, WildClaw poster artist, would like to suggest the work of author, Storm Constantine, as someone you should check out.

Constantine is best known for her expansive Wraeththu trilogy. My favorites involve her Andrew Collins-inspired works about the Grigori, a race of fallen angels. The stories are atmospheric, sexually-charged, filled with angel mythos and end of the world paranoia. She has been described by others as gothic horror. I would say she is a cross between Clive Barker and Sharon Shinn.

Ultraman Kaiju Thriller

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:21:48 PST

Thanks to Coilhouse (one of the coolest magazines in the world - CA) here is yet another version of Michael Jackson's Thriller, courtesy of the world of Ultraman.

Psycho Changes The World

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:45:54 PST

Fifty years ago this week, Alfred Hitchcock filmed the shower scene in Psycho and changed movies forever.

Terrifying...

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:33:30 PST

HOLIDAY HORRORS - P2 (2007)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:23:38 PST

The nights are silent...and getting silenter. Hope you're enjoying the Doc's Chrismas Carnage thus far. But wait, there's more...

P2 (2007)

When workaholic Rachel Nichols is trapped inside her office car park late on Christmas Eve, she finds herself terrorized by unhinged security guard Wes Bentley.

Freshman director Franck Khalfoun (working from a script developed by himself, Gregory Levasseur and Alexandre Aja) succeeds in developing a laudably suspenseful yarn – cleverly subverting the presumed safety of the modern office environment while exploiting the shadowy, echoing eeriness of a deserted parking garage.

Bentley makes for an amusingly over-the-top psycho, peppering his “seductive” M.O. with limb-flinging tantrums, while Nichols does well in her transition from babe-in-peril to resourceful heroine.

There are also a couple of surprisingly nasty and gory set-pieces that bump this TV-movie thriller up a notch into full R-rated territory.

If you keep your expectations low and your spirits high, this turns out to be a rather satisfying, slick and silly exercise in holiday horror. Enjoy!

Demon Lamp From Jamie Hewlett

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:12:05 PST

Get that Demon Lamp designed by Jamie Hewlett, creator of the Gorillaz and Tank Girl.

Clive Barker's Zazzle Store

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:07:07 PST

That's right, Clive now has a Zazzle store full of good stuff that monster are made of.

Hobo Junction's HORRIBLE - A Horrific Love Story

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:16:52 PST

Well friends, just saw a show produced by Hobo Junction called HORRIBLE which is playing at The Apollo Studio in Chicago. I loved it! The play (written by Hobo Junction company member Josh Zagoren) is wonderfully splattered with dark humor, great comedic timing, and bare bones story telling - the set is literally two moveable screens. The production showcases great Chicago talent putting on a "horrific" comedy with no fancy shmancy staging - truly a treat!

The show runs until December 19th (Friday and Saturdays @ 8 p.m.) so get your tickets now!

If you are looking for a fun holiday alternative, go see this show!

Sweet Spooky Couture for the Holidays at Target!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:52:55 PST

Awesome fashion designers Rodarte have a great little collection coming to Target on December 20th which has a spectacular sequin ribcage mini dress that would be perfect for the horror fashionista! Go get it...or even wait in line for it...I might!

Holiday Horrors - SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:15:38 PST

Continuing with our month-long celebration of decking the halls with bowels and squalor...

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984)

The film’s notorious ad campaign is the stuff of legend. The movie itself? 's actually pretty good by slasher standards, with director Charles E. Sellier and screenwriter Michael Hickey providing plenty of gore, gratuitous nudity and even a nifty plot twist or two.

After his parents are murdered by crook in a St. Nick outfit, young tormented teenager Robert Brian Wilson is sent to stay at an orphanage where he is mercilessly abused by Mother Superior Lilyan Chauvin.

Ultimately, he goes on a murderous rampage dressed as Santa, claiming “naughty” victims right and left. In one of the most memorable sequences, oft-topless scream queen Linnea Quigley shows off her bountiful assets before being impaled on a set of antlers.

(made you look closer, didn't I?)

Followed by four sequels, only the first two of which carry on the Killer Santy storyline in any fashion whatsoever. The first follow-up, Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987), utilizes an exorbitant amount of flashback footage from the original - nearly half its running time!

Special note: This Saturday (yes, TOMORROW!), as part of their Holiday of Horrors film fest at the Portage Theater, the cool cats at Horror Society will be screening Silent Night Deadly Night from a 35mm print! Don't miss a rare opportunity to see this holiday classic on the big screen surrounded by like-minded folks who like a little terror with their tinsel...

Visit http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals for more details

Possession, Part I: What Is Gained?

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:22:26 PST

When asked to name itself, the demon inside Emily Rose (from The Exorcism of Emily Rose) declares , in several languages, that it is not one demon but six.

1. I am the one who dwells within Cain.
2. I am one who dwelt within Nero.
3. I dwelt within Judas.
4. I am with Legion.
5. I am Belial.
6. And I am Lucifer, The Devil in the flesh!

WildClaw’s upcoming production of William Peter Blatty’s LEGION has us all thinking about possession. Demonic possession, bodily possession, material possessions, worldly possessions, you name it. If it’s possessed (or possessive), we’ve got it on our minds.

Let’s look at the word. From the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th edition

POSSESS

TRANSITIVE VERB:
pos•sessed, pos•sess•ing, pos•sess•es

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English possessen, from Old French possesser, from Latin possid re, possess- : pos-, as master; see poti- in Indo-European roots + sed re, to sit; see sed- in Indo-European roots

1. To have as property; own.
2. To have as a quality, characteristic, or other attribute: possessed great tact.
3. To acquire mastery of or have knowledge of: possess valuable data.
4. a. To gain or exert influence or control over; dominate: Fury possessed me.
b. To control or maintain (one's nature) in a particular condition: I possessed my temper despite the insult.
5. To cause to own, hold, or master something, such as property or knowledge: She possessed herself of the unclaimed goods.
6. To cause to be influenced or controlled, as by an idea or emotion: The thought of getting rich possessed him.
7. Obsolete To gain or seize.

To possess supposes ownership or dominion. Words like 'control' are important in these definitions, or 'mastery.' But I like the idea that possession is not limited to Demons and Spirits but also extends to possession by ideas or emotional extremes. These aren’t as fun as supernatural applications (we’ll take a good demon any night of the week), but it is a fascinating psychological conceit. When we’re not possessed of our faculties, we’re possessed by something else. Naturally.

But that 7th definition…that’s the one that sticks with me most. To gain. I’d like to challenge the “obsolescence” of this definition, because not only do I think it’s extremely applicable to horror, but it’s also deliciously vague. When one is possessed, what is truly gained by the possessor? I agree, there must be a gain, but is it a tangible gain we’re talking about, or something else? A “gain,” the way I think of it, is strategic. Gaining ground in a war. Gaining a foothold in an argument. Gaining leverage in a negotiation, or in the workplace. Gaining evidence to support a theory. Gaining the upper hand.

Material gain is boring, as are material possessions. Demons know this, which is why when they possess you, they’re looking to gain something else. The question of what it is PRECISELY they wish to gain has always been pretty fucking scary to me (not why they do what they do, but what it is exactly they GAIN). Your soul? Maybe, but what does that actually do for them? I assume they aren’t just trophies on the walls of their lairs, objectified. “Souls Gained.” So is it part of a greater strategy? Or just a desire to unleash chaos and make us lowly mortals despair? It is as impossible to know what happens to you when you die as it is to know what demons and evil spirits hope/wish/want/need to gain. They are beyond us. Their true intentions are unknowable, as are their ultimate aims.

Are there many demons competing for supremacy in the void? Or is there indeed only one demon, and all of evil simply the strategic gains of his odyssey?

He is a liar. The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen to him. Remember that - do not listen. ~ Father Merrin, The Exorcist

What is the endgame?

Natalie Portman to Produce/Star in PP&Z Movie

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:59:01 PST

HOT BREAKING NEWS! This just in 30 seconds ago from Seth Grahame-Smith:

"Well, it's official...Natalie Portman is set to produce and star in the PPZ movie!"

That's right kids, Natalie Portman as zombie-killing Elizabeth Bennett.

New WildClaw Legion Tees Available!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:12:42 PST

We just added a new t-shirt to our WildClaw Red Bubble store. It is the graphic to LEGION, our world premiere stage adaptation of William Peter Blatty's sequel to his novel, The Exorcist. The show will open at the Viaduct Theatre Mainstage on March 15th, 2010.

Crap or Class - Building a Horror Library ( and why Zombie Strippers doesn't suck )

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:51:39 PST

Waiting out the traffic after work today, stopped at Half-Price Books. Again. Seriously addicted to that place. Had to face a moral decision that's been prodding my half-rotted brain for a while.

As I stood with "The Descent" in one hand and "Freddy Vs. Jason" in the other, asked myself, "who's this for?" Are my tapes and vids a library to which I turn on cold, lonely winter nights, or is it a collection that I proudly display on those happy occasions I entertain guests in my hovel?

Not that "The Descent" is a super-classy, show-my-encyclopaedic-knowledge-of-the-genre film like, say, "The Ninth Configuration" might be, but it does shows that the guy who proudly displays all three Jurassic Park films on VHS on his shelf might have a little something going on.

So does one build one's vid library for those sweat-pants, nursing-a-beer nights? Or does one stock it with crowd-pleasers and lady-killers, like "Zombie Strippers" and "Cemetery Man?"

Wait, are those guilty pleasures or cool display pieces for the house guests? Hmm. Perhaps I'm looking to solve the wrong problem.

Perhaps I should not be filtering my movie buying habits, but instead instead should be filtering my house guests. Invite only those friends who consider "Martin" and "Roger Rabbit" as signs of good taste, and "The Hunger" and "Cemetery Man" as signs of immanent foreplay. I like those kind of friends.

Mr. Morlock will have to ponder this further. As he lounges in sweat pants, nurses a beer, and watches... "The Descent." Slightly classy, and dead sexy.

Holiday Horrors - CHRISTMAS EVIL (1980)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:11:00 PST

Continuing the Doc's month-long celebration of Christmas-themed fright flicks, we next turn to...

CHRISTMAS EVIL (aka You Better Watch Out) (1980)

Dubbed by John Waters as "the greatest Christmas movie ever made," writer/director Lewis Jackson’s low budget holiday card to the masses features Brandon Maggart (singer Fiona Apple’s dad!) as a mentally unstable toy factory worker who loves Christmas so much, he keeps tags on the neighborhood children, logging them in his “Naughty and Nice” book.

As the Yuletide season draws nigh, the superficiality and callousness of his fellow man pushes him over the edge, leading him to don a suit of red and paint the town the same color. (A novel twist: unlike most holiday-themed horror flicks, it’s only the deserving baddies who get the axe here.)

Highly underrated satire is well-anchored by Maggart’s captivating lead performance, a bounty of offbeat touches (suburban villagers with torches, anyone?) and a supremely audacious final shot that will have you picking your jaw off the floor and smiling ear to ear.

Popular character actor Jeffrey DeMunn (The Green Mile, The Mist) appears in an early role as the overprotective brother and both the Synapse and Troma DVD releases feature a wealth of extras, including an informative and engaging commentary shared by Jackson and Maggart.

Special note: This Saturday, as part of their Holiday of Horrors film fest at the Portage Theater, the cool cats at Horror Society will be screening Christmas Evil with writer/director Lewis Jackson in person! Don't miss a rare opportunity to see this holiday classic on the big screen surrounded by like-minded folks who like a little terror with their tinsel...

Visit http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals for more details

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #25

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:17:19 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was from STING OF DEATH (1965), a wonderfully cheesy flick courtesy of Florida's own William Grefe. If you've ever wondered what a half-man/half-jellyfish would look like, now you know. Apparently, it looks just like a guy with a plastic bag over his head. If you enjoy those B-movies (or as we like to call them in November, "turkeys"), this is vintage stuff here, folks. Not only do you get to ogle plenty of male and female flesh before they succumb to the, er, hideous, er, tentacles of the, er, monster, but you also get to rock out to the soulful tunes of none other than "special singing guest star" (yes, he's billed that way) Paul Anka! Sting of Death is available on DVD along with Grefe's Death Curse of Tartu.

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

WildClaw's Greeting Card in 10/20 Packs

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:29:14 PST

We've gotten a great response to our new WildClaw Greeting Card design by Charlie Athanas, but folks would like it a little cheaper and in bulk. Well, don't say we didn't listen. The Ctholiday card is now available in packs of 10 ($15.99, plus S&P) and 20 ($25.99, plus S&P) at our CafePress store.

John Carpenters CHRISTINE turns 26

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:50:26 PST

On this day, 26 years ago, there was a match seemingly made in horror heaven, as the man responsible Halloween and The Thing, teamed up with the twisted mind behind The Shining and Carrie, to bring you...

John Carpenters CHRISTINE.

Despite critical and box office success, Carpenter would later claim that he directed the film because it was the only thing offered to him at the time. Regardless, it ranks up there as one of my favorite 80's love-to-hate movies. When I originally saw it in the theater, I hated it with all the passion a 15 year-old could muster. At the time I was all about the previous year's offerings, with previously mentioned The Thing leading the pack, and Creepshow hot on it's heels. However, in the years since I have developed great affection for that supernaturally malevolent blood red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury.

The Exorcist and Legion (Special Edition)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:03:28 PST

Coming soon from Cemetery Dance Publications. They say: "Featuring two classic William Peter Blatty novels in one beautiful volume for the first-time ever, this oversized deluxe special edition will be a must-have for any collector of horror! This special collector's edition also includes original B&W artwork by acclaimed artist Keith Minnion and a career spanning interview conducted by Cemetery Dance Managing Editor Brian Freeman, covering Blatty's life and career from the 1950s to the present."

A-Z of Hammer films

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:47:30 PST

Hammer have quite an extensive website - click here for the link to the A-Z of all Hammer productions. And the name of the actor pictured above? Click here for the answer.

WildClaw Products at Red Bubble

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:13:16 PST

WildClaw Theatre Logo T-shirt

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:21:30 PST

That's right, now you can be the baddest badass on your block as you strut your stuff in WildClaw Theatre's official logo t-shirt. Designed by WildClaw's Paul Foster, this shirt shows your commitment to taking your horror seriously and your support for theatre. Proceeds from this shirt go to future productions from WildClaw. This is how we will buy all that blood.

Holiday Horrors - BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:25:55 PST

This month, the good doctor will be celebrating some famous (and infamous) Christmas-themed horror flicks. Some good, some bad, but all guaranteed to put a little more red in your stocking.

We start off with one of the best:

BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

Director Bob Clark’s effective (and underrated) holiday thriller pre-dates the slasher film craze and its influence is felt in Halloween, When a Stranger Calls, and countless others.

The simple set-up involves a college sorority house and an (unseen) homicidal killer, heightened by some of the most chilling and unsettling obscene phone calls ever recorded. Utilizing extensive handheld camerawork, this is among the first usage of the “heavy-breathing killer’s point-of-view” shots that would become a staple of the slasher oeuvre.

Red herrings abound and, while a little meandering at times, Roy Moore’s script expends real effort to create distinct characters. These are nicely fleshed out by fine ensemble performances (including Olivia Hussey and Keir Dullea), with Margot Kidder’s foul-mouthed sorority sister and Doug McGrath’s dim deputy taking top honors.

Not as slick or sticky as the genre would become, this suspenseful low-budgeteer still packs a wallop (the sequence where the police are tracing the calls is particularly potent). The murders, while relatively bloodless, are striking and violent, and the final scene is an absolute stunner. The unusual, discordant musical score is by Carl Zittrer.

NOTE: BLACK CHRISTMAS will be screening at midnight at the Portage Theater this Saturday, Dec. 5, as part of Movieside's TERROR IN THE AISLES 3. Don't miss this rare chance to see BC on the big screen!

TOR: A Lovecraft Art Meme

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:22:22 PST

© Matt Black

Over at TOR.com, Art Director extraordinaire, Irene Gallo has started a blog entry featuring art related to Lovecraft. Definitely worth checking out. We contributed our "The Dreams in the Witch House" poster and our new Ctholiday greeting card graphic.

BTW, TOR has decided that December belongs to Cthulhu on Tor.com.

TERROR IN THE AISLES 3 - this Saturday!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:51:57 PST

This Saturday, join your WildClaw friends at the Portage Theater for some "I Scream" time...

TERROR IN THE AISLES 3 presented by Movieside

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Tickets are $12 - Pay once - Come and go as you please.

Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
1.773.736.4050
http://www.portagetheater.org

Doors open at 7pm.

8pm - NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (1986) (director's cut)
with director FRED DEKKER in Person!

10pm - BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999) (10 year anniversary!)
with director EDUARDO SANCHEZ in Person! Hear about the film that influenced Paranormal Activity and how it made film history.

Midnight - BLACK CHRISTMAS (The 1974 original - on film!)
(Bob Clark's seminal '70s atmospheric masterpiece!)

Short films include:
TREEVENGE (A Chilling Tale of Christmas Gone Wrong!)
CHEMICAL 12-D

Also - Music by My Damn Butterfly & Modern Day Rippers!!
Vendor tables, vintage movie, trailers, prizes, auction for Vital Bridges surprises and more!!!

BUY TICKETS NOW AT www.brownpapertickets.com

For more info go to:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54060464995
www.myspace.com/moviesidefilmfestival
www.portagetheater.org

WildClaw's First Greeting Card

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:22:59 PST

Help support horror theatre by purchasing these exclusive WildClaw Greeting Cards with artwork created by our poster artist, Charlie Athanas. They're blank inside, so you can use them for many occasions.

Just pop over to our home at RedBubble.com to get them.

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #24

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:25:47 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was from Jim O'Connolly's underrated, underviewed 1972 Brit horror-thriller TOWER OF EVIL aka HORROR OF SNAPE ISLAND. This great little creeper stars the delectable Jill Haworth and Candace Glendenning alongside Bryant Holiday. Here we see early '70s staple Robin Askwith (of Horror Hospitaland The Flesh and Blood Showfame) on the wrong end of the stick.

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

Paul Nashy dead at 75

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:06:22 PST

Spanish Horror legend Paul Naschy passed away this morning due to cancer at the age of 75.

Often called the Spanish Lon Chaney, Naschy had a long and enduring career in cinema since first appearing as an extra in Nicolas Ray's KING OF KINGS (1960). His work in the fantastique genre began in 1968 with LA MARCA DEL HOMBRE LOBO (American title: FRANKENSTEIN'S BLOODY TERROR), a film he not only starred in, but scripted. Thereafter, Naschy portrayed several classic monsters of the screen--Count Dracula, Mr. Hyde, a mummy, a hunchback--as well as a host of villains real and imagined. His most popular characterization is the wolfman Waldemar Daninsky. The Daninsky series comprises ten completed films, the last being LICANTROPO in 1996. Some of Naschy's best films, EL CAMINANTE and EL HUERTO DEL FRANCES, remain relatively unknown, even among his international fan base.

Naschy frequently wrote the scripts for the films he appeared in, and with INQUISITION, made in 1976, he began directing asa well. Later on, when the Spanish film industry was abandoning the fantastique genre, Naschy became a producer, hoping to keep the genre alive and viable. During this period, he branched out to make documentaries for Japanese television. As a result of his Japanese contacts, Naschy helmed several films that were the first Spanish-Japanese co-productions, including the epic wolfman film LA BESTIA Y LA ESPADA MAJICA.

In 1997, Naschy finally penned an honest, heartfelt and richly poetic autobiography, MEMORIAS DE UN HOMBRE LOBO (American edition, 2000: MEMOIRS OF A WOLFMAN).

In his life, Naschy received numerous awards for his dedication and work in cinema. In 2000, Fangoria Magazine entered Naschy into its "Hall of Fame," an honor based on votes received from horror fans worldwide. After decades of denying the value of its native son, Spain finally acknowledged Naschy in 2001 with its most prestigious award, the Gold Medal in Fine Arts.

"The way you walked was thorny, through no fault of your own, but as the rain enters the soil, the river enters the sea, so tears run to a predestined end. Your suffering is over, my son. Now you will find peace."

WildClaw salutes you, Señor Naschy. Thank you for the screams.

Ataque de Pánico! (PANIC ATTACK!) 2009

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:43:24 PST

Don't know how many of you cats have seen this already, but it amazes us what can be accomplished with a few keystrokes these days. Seriously, this is AWESOME. (We hear director Fede Alvarez is signed on to make a feature - consider us in line already.)

Happy Birthday Ridley Scott

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:14:41 PST

Today, one of my favorite filmmakers turns 72 years old.

From The Duellists to Thelma and Louis, from Alien through Blade Runner to Gladiator, I love his films.

Happy Birthday Ridley Scott!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Mini-Series

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:44:02 PST

According to the Twitter account, PrideandZombies, Seth Grahame-Smith's "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" is getting turned into a six-part TV mini-series. Stay tuned.

NINTH CONFIGURATION brawl scene

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:46:38 PST

A little assist for Anne. Good call on the scene, dear heart!

The Ninth Configuration Bar Brawl Scene

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:53:57 PST

As a lady who is still somewhat new to horror, I am trying on many different movies, stories, worlds, images, etc. to see what truly scares the hell out of me. What seems to be the verdict thus far?

Cruelty. The emotions and thoughts inside a human being before they act out a cruel act of violence.

As I am knee deep in preparations for directing William Peter Blatty's LEGION, I am researching, reading and watching everything Blatty related, and came across this scene from The Ninth Configuration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VDYaS6Lpvk&feature=player_embedded Stacy Keach is wonderfully terrifying in this scene! This scene is just another confirmation to me about why Blatty is such a fascinating story teller. The worlds he chooses to explore are amazing to me.

-Anne Adams

Invisible Man

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:02:58 PST

This is pretty amazing! Liu Bolin is know as the Invisible Man. He paints himself onto the background so that he is almost completely invisible.

Check out this website to see more crazy pictures. http://v1kram.posterous.com/liu-bolinthe-invisible-man

Pathological Hyperphagia

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:23:26 PST

be careful out there. it's a dangerous time.

it's easy to fall into sinful, gluttonous habits, and you never know when John Doe is behind you.

gypsy curses are not covered by your new health insurance plan, so don't count on a magical purge after you over-indulge

and when you start to feel that bloated, crampy feeling, let's hope it's not this

but don't reach for the Alka Seltzer either: "... Almost immediately, she doubled up with severe stomach pain, the gas from the fizz having apparently stretched the stomach to its breaking point. Within 14 hours, the woman died. The case study, reported in the December 1941 Annals of Surgery, is accompanied by a detailed half-page illustration of her stomach, replete with a gaping five-inch-long rupture, that is enough to put anyone off his supper. Well, almost anyone." salon.com

Hammer Glamour

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:01:20 PST

A must have book for fans of Hammer Films.

HorrorHound Weekend Cincinnati (Nov. 20-22) report

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:28:57 PST

Hey kids,

I gotta say, this year has been one of the most bizarre in terms of being absent for numerous key events in the Midwest horror calendar. Most, if not all, of the conflicts have come as a result of employment opportunities and let it never be said that I’m not grateful for the chance to work and receive financial remuneration. However, I am equally grateful that I was able to attend at least one full-fledged horror convention in the waning weeks of 2009, and that this past weekend in Cincinnati was as entertaining as I could have hoped.

Armed with decades of horror knowledge and a functioning minivan, Jon Kitley of Kitley’s Krypt has been spreading the horror gospel for years now – I feel truly blessed that there is always room in the passenger seat for this humble Fool. Having missed the excursions to both Cinema Wastelands, March’s HorrorHound in Indianapolis and October’s Flashback in our own backyard, I was revved up and rarin’ to go. (My beloved femalien was kind enough to send me off with her blessing, in spite of the fact that I had not even been back from my sojourn in West Virginia a full week yet.) Turntabling.net’s head honcho and intrepid musician/writer Joe Wallace filled out our trio and we hit the dusty five-hour trail toward the home of 5-Way Chili and Bengals fans.

We arrived, loaded in and set up, bidding hearty greetings to Aaron Crowell and Nathan Hanneman, HorrorHound’s two top dogs, as well as Matt Moore, who writes their exemplary Video Invasion column, and Horror Chick Extraordinaire Jessica Dwyer. As a rule, before the doors open to the public, the dealers wander around to catch up with long-absent friends (and to scope out the best finds before the rest of the masses shamble in). Longtime convention staple and makeup f/x legend Tom Savini stopped by to say hello (and to discuss the finer points of corn dogs), as did Family Ties dad and Tremors regular Michael Gross. Tom is currently working on his autobiography (along with a zillion other projects) and Michael reveled in his non-so-secret passion for the classic giant ant film, Them! A few aisles over, Dan Kiggins and Emil Hyde continued to spread the Landlord love while Jill Van Voorst at Lix showed off several sassy new t-shirt designs.

The guest list was composed of a fair mix of show veterans, such as Texas Chainsaw’s Gunnar Hansen and ’80s scream queen Linnea Quigley, with newcomers to the circuit. Quinn Lord, who plays the diminutive but lethal “Sam” in Trick ’r Treat, was affixing his 9-year-old scrawl to photos and posters with the flair of a pro while Near Dark’s Jenny Wright, making her first convention appearance, seemed a bit stunned by the wealth of people sporting bloody t-shirts who wanted to give her a long-overdue hug. Grindhouse’s Electra and Elise Avellan (aka the Crazy Babysitter Twins) continue to ride their 15 minutes of fame at $20 an autograph, though Rob Zombie’s Halloween starlet Scout Taylor-Compton seems to be showing signs of wear since we first saw her back at HorrorFind 2007. (Hint: Stop doing lousy remakes and sequels to lousy remakes, dear heart.)

The belle of the ball, however, was the one and only Mistress of the Dark, Elvira, who appeared (on different days) both as her curvaceous onscreen black-clad persona and the woman beneath the beehive, Cassandra Peterson. Also making a bit hit were Tom Atkins, Jason Lively, Jill Whitlow and Steve Marshall, all of whom seemed genuinely pleased as punch to be spreading the love for the new DVD release of Fred Dekker’s woefully neglected Night of the Creeps. Across the hall, the Troma and Toetag teams kept company with Courtney Gains and John Franklin (has it really been 25 years since Children of the Corn came out?), as well as Hollywood veterans Corbin Bernsen and Don Calfa. (Don also stopped by our table on Friday to spin tales of intrigue on the set of Warren Beatty’s Bugsy and laud Dr. Phibes director Robert Fuest.)

Our Horror Society/Chicago buddies Mitch, Brian, Jessica, Kirsten and Coye (as well as Southern-fried author and all-around horror guru Robert Freese) kept the weekend lively, both during the show and afterwards, sharing “Big Hugs” and “Turkey High Fives” (don’t ask) with unending enthusiasm. As anyone who has attended a show firsthand knows, it’s the time after the dealer room doors close, and since HorrorHound’s Editor-in-Chief Nathan had also chosen this weekend to wed his beloved Jessica, the party was on, on, on. Hula hooping, urinal partition disasters and one broken elevator bank ensued, along with the to-be-expected parade of Technicolor yawns.

Luckily, I avoided most of the mayhem, instead opting to spend quality time with two industry folk who are most likely not household names to the civilian quarter, nor I suspect to any but the most hardcore of fans. Writer/director J.D. Feigelson has been making the rounds this past year in anticipation of the long, long-awaited DVD release of the classic TV-movie Dark Night of the Scarecrow, and we were honored that he elected to join us for dinner on Saturday. It actually ended up being quite the hilarious adventure since, all day long, we had been hearing tales of the “finest BBQ in the world” served at a place that J.D. swore by, saying that he went there any time he was in Cincinnati. Well, we all pile into the Kitleymobile and head off, following JD’s directions, nearly drooling all over ourselves with hunger after a long day in the trenches… only to end by pulling into a darkened parking lot with the words “For Lease” emblazoned across the front of the vacant restaurant. We laughed heartily, dubbing this “The Night of the Dark BBQ,” then tore out in search of alternative edibles, finding them in the form of Jim Dandy’s BBQ (which unfortunately was playing host to Bad Bob’s Blue Band that night, thus quelling any opportunity for conversation). Happily, JD was kind enough to return to the hotel with us to hang out in the bar, holding court with stories of Hollywood legends that he had worked with. Without a doubt, those few hours will remain in my memory as some of my fondest convention memories. Thanks for making that happen, Dan.

After JD had finally excused himself to hit some well-deserved hay, I headed over to the hotel business office to check email (they had blocked Facebook and MySpace, which seems a little obnoxious in this day and age, but whatever). Well, I’m sitting there minding my own business when I hear a voice say, “You didn’t happen to see a boarding pass on that computer when you came in, did you?” I turned around and found myself face-to-smiling-face with Eileen Dietz, probably best known for her valiant (and uncredited) work standing in for Linda Blair in The Exorcist, performing several of the more, ahem, “mature” scenes (hello, crucifix scene), as well as the subliminal shots of the demon Pazuzu. Dietz also chillingly appeared as Linda Kasabian, member of the Manson Family, in the acclaimed TV-movie Helter Skelter. Apparently, the printer in the office had not been working, so she had gone to the front desk to retrieve her boarding pass, forgetting whether she had logged off the computer. Then, to my surprise, this woman who had been holding court all day long at her table, listening to people endlessly tell her “how The Exorcist had scared them to death, blah, blah, blah,” sat down at the other computer and we proceeded to chat about this and that for the next hour. What a treat! Eileen has several projects in the works, and I’ll tell you, I am now looking forward to them with great anticipation. So-called celebrities everywhere, let it never be forgotten that the personal touch, a brief (or in this case, not-so-brief) but genuine conversation is infinitely more profound and lasting than any number of paid-for autographed DVD covers. As a result of this weekend’s interactions, I will never forget JD and Eileen’s generosity of spirit and will be an unwavering supporter of their endeavors henceforth. My most heartfelt thanks to both of you.

While on the subject of personal touches, hats off to the good people at the Cincinnati IHOP and Bob Evans’ restaurants. I know, sounds weird, but every meal we had at these establishments was accompanied by the most attentive and accommodating service any of us had encountered in a long, long while. Seriously, waitstaff employees everywhere could take more than a few pages out of these kids’ books, and the food (at IHOP, I know!!!) was terrific. Whatever they’re doing, they need to bottle it and send it up Windy City way.

And with that, the 2009 horror convention circuit comes to an end, though there are still a couple more fright-tastic events on the Chicago horizon before The Year We Make Contact comes around the corner. Movieside will be hosting Terror in the Aisles 3 on Dec. 5, with screenings of The Blair Witch Project and Night of the Creeps, while Horror Society presents Holiday of Horrors a week later (Dec 12), featuring Christmas Evil (w/ director Lewis Jackson in person!), Silent Night, Deadly Night and more! So much to be thankful for! On that note…

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Wield those carving knives with accuracy and care, and we’ll see you soon!

Fool out.

FOOL'S VIEWS puts the bite on Robert Quarry

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:48:16 PST

Denied his place in history as a true genre icon, Robert Quarry starred in numerous '70s exploitation features, including Dr. Phibes Rises Again, Sugar Hill, Madhouse and Rollercoaster. Here we profile probably his best-known pic, as well as a personal passion project of Quarry's which never got its due recognition.

Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)
Considering its low budget feel and camp qualities, writer/director Bob Kelljan’s little shocker has no right to work as well as it does. One of the first films to place a vampire in a modern setting, Quarry cuts an impressive cape-whirling figure as the titular count moonlighting as a hypnotist to seduce swinging chicks into his bloodsucking harem. While the film has not aged particularly well, the '70s attire and attitudes lend a kitschy charm, actually enhancing the viewing experience. The performances will win no acting awards, but manage to carry off the story ably enough, and despite minimal nudity, the film packs in enough sensuality (the females really like being bitten) to get the blood racing. Quarry operates out of a gothic castle outside Los Angeles, deftly mixing scenes of apartment track lighting and close encounters in the backs of vans with candlelit drawing room confrontations.

Kelljan gets the most out of his few dollars, throwing a fair amount of blood and violence around with authority, yet sustains a well-grounded story and interesting characters. The script is intentionally funny at times, which cannot be said of many genre films from the period. The scene in which one of Quarry’s quarry eyeballs her cat as a source of nourishment is worth the price of admission alone, and the finale is satisfyingly exciting and bloody. Originally conceived as a full-out adult offering, the film was trimmed for general audiences and became a surprise hit, both stateside and abroad. Followed by a sequel, The Return of Count Yorga.

Deathmaster (1972)
Best described as “What if Charles Manson had been a vampire?”, Robert Quarry stars as Khorda, a mysterious figure who shows up at the local hippie commune and turns them on to a different groove. R.L. Grove's wannabe hip n’ groovy dialogue was probably already pretty ripe at the initial release, and time hasn’t been kind. But Quarry (who also served as executive producer) has screen presence to burn and his longhair fanged fiend is a welcome twist on the caped gentility that had been skulking about onscreen for years.

On the flipside, John Fielder – yes, the voice of Piglet on Winnie the Pooh – is the least likely Van Helsing character you’re likely to find. (That's also Bobby "Boris" Pickett - he of "Monster Mash" novelty song fame - as one of the goofy hippies.) Throw in a little kung fu, some scantily clad babes, and Khorda’s big creepy drum-lovin’ familiar, and you’re in for some deliciously cheesy '70s programming. A reasonably rewarding curiosity piece, unfortunately released to little fanfare then buried by Sam Arkoff and AIP (but available on DVD thanks to Fred Olen Ray and Retromedia).

MAIL ORDER ZOMBIE: undead and on the air...

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:08:21 PST

WildClaw's own Dr. AC ran into the good folks of Mail Order Zombie while down in Cincinnati this past weekend at the HorrorHound Weekend convention (more on that to follow). Yes, apparently those flesh-filleting rotters are not content with their presence in film, TV, literature and bowling alleys - now they've taken to the airwaves.

Mail Order Zombie is a weekly podcast show devoted to straight-to-DVD zombie movies as well as zombie movie music, post-apocalyptic literature (with or without zombies) and theatrical zombie movie releases and will soon be celebrating their 100th podcast episode. Episode 94 focuses on Jake West's (Evil Aliens, Razor Blade Smile) latest, Doghouse, while Episode 95 unearths the moldy 1987 VHS class-sick The Video Dead, doling out the Headshot ratings with deadly accuracy.

MoZ also features interviews with zombie movie personalities, Zombie Aptitude tests and more. Every week, Brother D, Miss Bren, Need-a-Nickname Scott and the gang bring the reviews and undead news you can use while MOZ Presents: The Munchies covers non-zombie genre topics and movies.

Visit these sloppy souls today at http://mailorderzombie.com/, or contact them directly at mailorderzombie@gmail.com (email) (206) 202-2505 (voicemail). Tell 'em the 'Claws sent ya!

Portable Grindhouse: The Lost Art of the VHS Box

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:52:17 PST

Coming soon from Fantagraphics:

Hearken back to those thrilling days of yesteryear when the advent of rental videos astonished the movie-going consumer who could only feed his addiction by going to the theater or watching chopped up movies in between commercials on TV. Like vinyl, here is the revenge of another analog cast-off: the VHS is once again insinuating itself into American culture, and this book celebrates the anarchic design art of those early VHS boxes.

Portable Grindhouse: The Lost Art of the VHS Box is a feast for exploitation cognoscenti, reprinting some of the most louche, decadent, minimo-pervo artwork to ever grace a VHS box, featuring such movies as From Beyond, Penitentiary II, Beast of the Yellow Night, Cop Killers, Bay of Blood, Escape from Death Row, and Cocaine Wars. Readers will be agog at the plethora of supertrash movie titles, and then move on to rediscover the anarchic box designs. Throughout, editor and cultural historian Jacques Boyreau succinctly narrates the household-piercing story of VHS: “On par with the jukebox, disco, and neon, VHS reformatted the world’s product-intake and boosted a libertarian aesthetic that conquered TV in the same way TV conquered comic books in the 1950s, and allowed us to hold movies in our hands. Posters in the lobby could advertise, even fetishize a movie; credit sequences could identify the participants, but somehow, VHS box-art ‘became’ the iconic equivalent of the movie.”

Portable Grindhouse is published in a VHS “format,” slyly packaged inside a facsimile VHS box, and contains almost a hundred reproductions of VHS art with commentary.

200-page full-color 5.5" x 9.25" softcover with slipcase
ISBN: 978-1-56097-969-2

In stock: November 2009 (subject to change)
In stores: December 2009 (subject to change)

For a cool little sneak peek video, click HERE

Happy Birthday Boris!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:11:36 PST

Today is Boris Karloff's Birthday.

He turns 122.

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:11:40 PST

I just saw the German silent film "Waxworks". It is one of the first anthology films, with a framing device of the type later used by Amicus. Not exactly horror, but with startling expressionist imagery and set designs, clearly influenced by "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". Here is a link to a page about the film's director Paul Leni, who would go on to make "The Man Who Laughs" and "The Cat and the Canary" before dying of blood poisoning aged 44. Click here for an article about his work, entitled "Paul Leni - The Forgotten Master".

Vote for Horror Theatre!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:46:39 PST

Please take a moment to click on the button above and vote for WildClaw in Chase's Community Giving. We could receive $25,000. That would pay for a lot of tentacles.

Thanks for your support!

Near Dark Soundtrack - Tangerine Dream

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:53 PST

When the classic vampire movie, Near Dark, came out I was a composer and synth player. The Tangerine Dream soundtrack was so cool and so perfect for this movie and very influential on my compositions. Loved the movie, the cast, the soundtrack.

My Rotten Life: Xmas Gift for the Kids

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:49:40 PST

Unrealized Films, Kickass Poster Art

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:47:12 PST

Our fellow fiend and blood brother Will Wilson sent us a couple sweet posters (back when you could get a movie greenlighted on the strength and "hook" of a poster's artwork) of films that took out ads in Variety, but that was as far as they got.

THE COMING was a Robert Fuest project written by Michael Winder that was to have also featured, in addition to Cushing and Bach, Burgess Meredith and Anthony Franciosa. Vincent Price mentioned this in a Fangoria interview, indicating his PHIBES director had sent him the script (Price described it as a "mishmash") and that he'd passed on the project.

From May, 1985 (this ad also ran in Fangoria around the same time). You gotta love that tagline, "He emerged from the depths of Lake Erie...and ate everything in sight."

Never any arguing the appeal of a giant snake (or alligator or gila monster...) And one based on a novel by the fella who wrote THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, no less.

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #23

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:45:37 PST

Roger Corman gets his Oscar...at last

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:39:42 PST

Oscar-winners Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme and Quentin Tarantino speak about Honorary Oscar Recipient Roger Corman’s Influence at the 2009 Governors Awards ceremony, held at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 14, 2009.

Ron Howard:
http://www.oscars.org/video/watch/ga_2009_02_howard.html

Quentin Tarantino 1 of 2
http://www.oscars.org/video/watch/ga_2009_03_tarantino.html

QT 2 of 2
http://www.oscars.org/video/watch/ga_2009_04_tarantino.html

Jonathan Demme (followed by Corman's acceptance speech):
http://www.oscars.org/video/watch/ga_2009_05_demme_corman.html

Fool's Views: SUTHERLAND IN THE '70s

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:16:59 PST

Dr. AC takes us back to a time when the clothes were a little looser, the hair a little curlier, the paranoia more rampant... It's time for:

DONALD SUTHERLAND IN THE '70s DOUBLE FEATURE

Don’t Look Now (1973)

Superb direction by Nicolas Roeg and terrific performances help this strange little adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s story succeed on several levels, deepening with subsequent viewings.

Sutherland and Julie Christie play a married couple reeling from the recent death of their daughter, dramatically played out in the first few minutes. When Sutherland’s work as a restoration expert takes them to Venice to work on a cathedral, they encounter a pair of bizarre middle-aged English sisters, one of whom tells Christie that she has “seen” their daughter. This leads to an unsettling séance where Sutherland is warned to leave Italy, with stranger events unfolding from there.

Roeg keeps his audience off-balance through extensive use of cross-cutting between scenes and flashbacks, and the terrific use of Venice’s blind alleys and waterways only accentuates the disorientation. Not a fast-paced thriller, with a dream-like atmosphere of dread and unpredictability pervading throughout. The “are they really doing it?” sex scene between the leads was trimmed for American distribution, but remains sexy and emotionally visceral. The final scenes will certainly surprise first time viewers; whether they satisfy or not is a matter of taste.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Director Philip Kaufman’s worthy updating of the 1956 sci-fi masterpiece is quirkier and more graphic, with oogey scenes of PG-rated violence and stellar acting all around. This revamped version of Jack Finney’s novel, by W. D. Richter, relocates the setting from that of a small town to that of the equally isolatory existence within a bustling metropolis (San Francisco, in this case), where individuals’ relationships with one another are often so tenuous and surface that we might not initially notice if our neighbors had been “replaced.”

Sutherland stars as a SF health inspector who, along with Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright, begins to suspect that their fellow citizens are being taken over by pod people from space. Kaufman cultivates a marvelous sense of dread and suspense, with numerous striking scenes and elements (the iconic “shriek”, the man/dog combo) – as well as one of the more truly haunting and unsettling endings to be found anywhere. As if to give their stamps of approval, Kevin McCarthy and Don Siegel (star and director of the original film, respectively) appear in memorable cameos.

True Blood Busts

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:17:23 PST

DC Direct has just announced their True Blood busts, coming out next July.

Linnea Quigley Works Out With Zombies

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:53:59 PST

The Adventures of 'Lil Cthulhu

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:55:44 PST

Happy 25th Birthday, Freddy Krueger!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:49:31 PST

Freddy Krueger turns 25 years old today! Happy Birthday Freddy!

On this day, in 1984, A Nightmare On Elm Street was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.

I, for one, will never forget going to see this film, at the Tamalpais Theater in San Anselmo. Me and my high school buddy's, heading to see what we were sure would be some cheese-ball monster movie. Little did we know that we were about to witness the emergence of one of the great villains in horror history (not to mention the introduction of Johnny Depp). Little did we expect that our cynical, world weary, know-it-all 16 year old selves were about to get scared s#*tless. Two images from that movie will stay with me for the rest of my life, two things I had never seen before. The first was the tongue coming out of the phone. I don't often jump, but I jumped out of my seat on that one.

And then, the finger-knives being dragged across his chest revealing the green puss-like ooze.

It has been 25 years since that night at the theater and I still so vividly remember that experience. I remember walking out of the theater in shock, and the next school day spreading the word far and wide that this movie was like nothing that had come before it. Perhaps that was excessive (it was 11 months before I saw Re-Animator in the very same theater), but, I was 16. It did, without a doubt, tap into something, it that changed the face of the horror genre for years to come. There is something primal, still, 25 years later, about being attacked through your dreams?

In April of 2010, the remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street will be released. From the folks who brought you the remake of Cape Fear, Doom, Hitched, Pearl Harbor, The Transformers, and directed by a first time film director with a list of music videos longer than my arm...I do not expect this movie to change my attitude that 99% of remakes suck donkey balls. I expect this one, as well, despite Jackie Earl Haley, to suck donkey balls.

But, for some reason, it does not bother me. Perhaps, because the original has left such an impression on me, and was such an imaginative and new twist to the slasher film, there is no way they can ruin that.

Anyone out there looking forward to the remake? Or have a specific memory of the first time you saw the original? Love it? Hate it? Let us know, on this the 25th anniversary of it's release.

Thrillpeddlers presents "Shocktoberfest!! 2009: The Torture Garden"

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:00:49 PST

Thrillpeddlers, the grand guignol theatre company based in San Francisco, are producing their tenth "Shocktoberfest". From their website:

"Thrillpeddlers are proud to announce our signature Halloween show “Shocktoberfest!! 2009: The Torture Garden,” our tenth annual pageant of titillating Grand Guignol terror plays and stimulating sex farces, running Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00pm from October 1 through November 20. The program will be presented in repertory with Thrillpeddlers’ current production “Pearls Over Shanghai,” the Cockettes musical, which will continue to run on Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 7:00pm through November 22.
“Shocktoberfest!! 2009” will consist of two plays, “The Torture Garden” (1922) by Pierre Chaine and Andre de Lorde, and “The Phantom Limb,” an original play in the Grand Guignol tradition commissioned by the Thrillpeddlers from New York playwright Rob Keefe, from whose fetid mind have sprung many previous Shocktoberfest!! offerings"

THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL opens tonight at Music Box!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:07:22 PST

Opening tonight at the Music Box Theatre

THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009) , directed by Ti West

Here's what Dr. AC has to say:

Having not yet seen indie horror contender Ti West’s other flicks (The Roost, Triggerman), I cannot vouch for the buzz on the street that his latest effort represents a quantum leap in quality and skill. I can, however, attest that both of these qualities are present in spades throughout the entirety of this ’80s-infused tale of babysitters and Satanists.

Fresh-faced Jocelin Donahue stars as a cash-strapped college student who accepts a gig watching creepy couple Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov’s elderly mother while they are out for the evening, against the protests of bubbly gal pal Greta Gerwig. While the subject matter and isolated setting don’t set any records for originality, West’s slow-burn build of tension and dread-filled atmosphere is quite impressive, as is his ear for dialogue.

Veterans Noonan and Woronov sink their teeth into their juiciest genre roles in years, while newcomers Donahue and Gerwig make for a delightful pair of innocents. One of the better fright films of 2009.

See the $70 Cannes zombie film COLIN this weekend!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:47:16 PST

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 14th, our friends at HorrorSociety.com will be hosting the Zombie Outbreak Film Fest at the Portage Theater in Chicago. This means over 8 hours of nothing but zombie movies! The festival features shorts and full length independent films, including:

The $70 zombie film (Yes, you read that right, 70 FLIPPIN' DOLLARS FOR THE WHOLE MOVIE) Colin that made a huge impression at Cannes this year:

to Pathogen, a zombie film made by 12-year-old Emily Hagins, then watch Hagins during the making of said film in the documentary Zombie Girl The Movie :

Oh yeah, when the clock strikes midnight there will be a 35mm screening of The Return of the Living Dead!!! Do You Wanna Partaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay?????

In addition to all the great cinema there will be a zombie makeup contest, merchandise vendors, special guests, Q&A, giveaways, and more! All this fun for only $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Join the Zombie Outbreak!

More info can be found at http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals/

With This Bloody Axe, I Thee Wed...

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:20:35 PST

So due to recent exciting events (which took place on Halloween...how appropriate), I have had weddings on the brain. BRAAAAINS!!! Many folks have asked me if we will be serving said sweetmeats at our rehearsal dinner...and while I love my horror, I am not that hardcore. But there are folks out there, God love 'em, that embrace the darkness all the way to the altar.

The obvious choice is to get married around Halloween and go whole hog with demon wings, fangs, and a hearse for your limo. The wedding dress could be a red medieval vampire gothic number and a matching red lined cape and top hat for your groom. For the more traditional types, take your cue from horror's funnest couple evah...Spike and Drusilla. Dru's cream empire waist dress would be a swell wedding inspiration and Spike is well...yummy. But if motorcycle boots and a long leather coat on your groom will leave your grandmother in tears, consider paying homage to William the Bloody's trademark look by wearing a red tux shirt unbuttoned, with a white t-shirt showing, stylishly punk skinny tux pants, and a killer black leather blazer. Don't forget the blondey bear bleached hair along with Drusilla's rockabilly glam coiffure and silent movie chic makeup! Heck, dress your whole wedding party to theme...your maid of honor could sport a signature Buffy Prophecy Girl dress or her prom look and the best man could go as tall dark and brooding himself...Angel. Get your officiant to put on the Master's costume or the Mayor of Sunnydale and you've got yourself a hootenanny!

"A hootenanny, well, it's chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny."
-Oz, Dead Man's Party:Buffy Season 3

If even that is pushing the limits of your family's weird threshold, keep the horror on the sidelines. Maybe the spooky comes through in subtle decorating choices, like bare tree branch centerpieces with a blood red roses and a beaded spider. The wedding cake could be pristine in white fondant and beaded edges but perhaps there is an ever so delicate skull motif that reveals itself upon closer inspection. The Groom's cake is also a chance to have some dark fun as this is often where the couple can really get creative without familial backlash. So bake yourself a red velvet zombie head cake complete with oozy strawberry filling. Or make a traditional tiered cake a bit more sinister with a cake topper using action figures from Tim Burton movies, Night of the Living, and other horror flicks. Having a scary commitment ceremony? Just how cute would Freddy and Jason look locked in a torrid embrace?

Check out one of my favorite places, Etsy, for tons of horror wedding theme goods...anything from zombie cake toppers by Bellasmiles, skull cufflinks, and gothic wedding gowns.

-Head to the Gothic Martha Stewart website for some spooky wedding DIY ideas.

-Spooky Wedding Venue Ideas...

TERROR IN THE AISLES 3 - Dec. 5th!!!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:24:01 PST

TERROR IN THE AISLES 3

$12 (yes, only $12 FREAKING DOLLARS!!!!) for a Night of Totally Terrifying films, music, vendor tables, vintage movie trailers, prizes, surprises and more!!!

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
1.773.736.4050

Doors open at 7pm.

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (10th Anniversary!)
with director Eduardo Sanchez in person!

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (Director's cut!)
with director FRED DEKKER in Person!

[REC] 2 (Midwest premiere!)
Sequel to the Spanish horror hit! One of the first US screenings!

Special Guest WENDY ROBIE
(star of People Under The Stairs & Twin Peaks)
reads Edgar Allan Poe for Poe's Bicentennial Birthday Celebration!

Short films include:
TREEVENGE (A Chilling Tale of Christmas Gone Wrong!)

Pre-sale tickets @ brownpapertickets.com
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/88624

For more info go to myspace.com/moviesidefilmfestival
or www.portagetheater.org

Dawn Of The Dreadfuls

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:09:37 PST

Quirk Publishing announces the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies prequel - Dawn of the Dreadfuls. It will cover Elizabeth Bennet's evolution from innocent teenager to a deadly slayer of zombies. Plans are for a follow-up to P&P&Z to create a full trilogy.

Horror Society's ZOMBIE OUTBREAK - this Saturday!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:06:09 PST

Oh yes, it’s time once again for the most brutal, blood drenched, underground independent horror you can find on the big screen. It's time for HORROR SOCIETY'S ZOMBIE OUTBREAK!!!!

ZOMBIE OUTBREAK FILM FESTIVAL
November 14th, 2009
4pm to 2am
PORTAGE THEATER
4050 N. MILWAUKEE BLVD.
http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals/

This time around it’s all about the Zombies!! It’s a 8-hour marathon of nothing but Zombie Films. Everyone loves a good zombie flick and we got some great films this time around! Horror Society is bringing you film festivals every 3 months in the City of Chicago, and on November 14th we will be bringing you a flesh eating filled 8 hours of Independent Underground Horror.

This festival will feature 8 hours of brain eating film fun, a zombie makeup contest, vendors, special guests, Q&A’s, giveaways, and more!

Plus a 35 mm screening of the 1985 cult classic THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD!!!!

Guests Include: Ron Fitzgerald (co-star of Tales from the Script), Claire Fluff Ryan (Director of Tales from the Script), Kitty Zombie, Scott Kenmore (Author Zen of Zombie), The Undead Comic, Justin Johnson (Director of Zombie Girl the Movie), Mac Eldridge (Director of Chemical 12-D), Walter J. Walsh (Director of The Basement), Special Appearance by Sam the Zombie Hunter, and more...

For more info or to buy reduced tickets, click HERE

Do it now...before it's too late!

Teeth

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:15:44 PST

So Dani sez the other night that she has a toothache. so of course, I felt a twinge in my jaws, gums and choppers.

Scary.

Scary that deep down, Mr. Morlock is actually the sweet empathic type.

But also scary in that when teeth go wrong, they go horribly wrong.

Just ask the winner of the 2009 Bloody Hatchet, Chris Hainsworth, about scary teeth. Go on, ask him.

And dentists are scary.

Friday The 13th Sale & Svengoolie at Horrorbles!

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:17:50 PST

Our good friend Jon "The Monster Man" Aranza at Horrorbles has big news to share with the WilClaw faithful:

13 Hour Sale This Friday & Svengoolie Next Saturday!

Come visit Horrorbles this Friday the 13th. The store will be open for 13 hours (11am-Midnight) and everything in the store will be 13% off! If you can't join us just enter the code "friday13" when checking out for your online discount at http://www.horrorbles.com

Then come join us next Saturday, November 21st for an in store visit from Svengoolie from 6pm-8pm! We will have plenty of rubber chickens for sale and will have movies playing in the theatre celebrating the 78th anniversary of the 1931 release of Frankenstein!

email: store@horrorbles.com
store: 708-484-7370
web: http://www.horrorbles.com

Fool's Views - SPIDER BABY (1968)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:32:27 PST

Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told (1968)
D. - Jack Hill.

Horror fans only familiar with Sid Haig from his recent Rob Zombie flicks or with Lon Chaney, Jr. from his hairy heyday of The Wolf Man should do themselves the favor of experiencing these two genre legends at the beginning and the end of their respective careers.

Writer/director Jack Hill’s fascinating blend of macabre humor and bizarre chills revolves around the Merrye family, stricken with a “progressive age regression” disease that leads to childlike behavior and cannibalism. The three remaining members of the Merrye family, played by Haig, Beverly Washburn and Jill Banner, are cared for by family chauffeur Chaney who is constantly covering up for their less socially acceptable ways. Carol Ohmart (Vincent Price’s wife from House on Haunted Hill) heads up a group of distant relatives seeking the family inheritance unwittingly drawn into the “children’s” games.

Great performances all around combined with Hill’s dementedly dizzy dialogue add up to a delicious combo of shock and satire, with a justly famous dinner table scene providing one of many highlights. Trivia: That’s Chaney himself singing the oogy-boogy title song.

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #22

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:24:06 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was admittedly a tough one, but Kitley wanted to see just how many truly demented fans were out there. (He only rec'd two correct answers, but lots of amusing incorrect answers, so that's something.) The photo is from Lamberto Bava's 1988 TV-movie Dinner With A Vampire. If you haven't seen it...well, you probably don't need to rush right out and find it. Unless of course, you're a shameless completist of Bava's lesser work, in which case, god's speed to you...

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

Adam Byrne conjures Lovecraft

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:08:44 PST

Interesting Lovecraft articles. I wonder if this movie will ever be made?

HP Lovecraft's dark magic.

Hollywood and Lovecraft

Who's afraid of the big bad hoodie?

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:37:00 PST

"Hoodies strike fear in British cinema...
If you want to scare a British moviegoer, you don't make a film about zombies – you cast a kid in flammable sportswear and a hoodie".

So writes The Guardian, continuing with: "Who's afraid of the big bad hoodie? Enough of us, certainly, that the smart money in British cinema is going on those films that prey on our fear of urban youths and show that fear back to us. These days, the scariest Britflick villain isn't a flesh-eating zombie, or an East End Mr Big with a sawn-off shooter and a tattooed sidekick. It is a teenage boy with a penchant for flammable casualwear." Click here for the rest of the article

Glow In The Dark Doc Marten's

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:49:02 PST

That's right, glow in the dark Doc Marten's. Glow in the dark bones, no less.

Slim Shady does Horror

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:08:52 PST

Screen International reported this morning that Eminem, AKA Slim Shady, AKA Marshall Mathers, has a role in the upcoming 3-D horror flick Shady Talez, which he will also produce. (I admit, when I first read that, I read it as 'Ta-lez' and I thought, what the hell is that? Then I realized, oh, it's 'Tales' with a Z. Nerd alert.) It's his first role since 2002 (8 Mile).

Creepshow is referenced in the article, so that would suggest the film will be structured as a series of shorts. The article also reports that the film will be turned into a comic book series under the Marvel banner sometime in 2010, written by Dallas Jackson and Kevin Grevioux.

I just hope it's better than Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horrors. (No offense, Snoop).

Joss Whedon bid $10,000 for the 'Terminator' franchise.

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:30:58 PST

Joss Whedon taking over Terminator? I could dig that. As long as he did not cast Eliza Dushku. That woman cannot act worth a damn. Seriously. While Ms. Greaves is a die hard Whedon-ite, even she agrees. We watch this latest series, Dollhouse, and it is at times interesting (though doomed to cancellation, I am sure), but we agreed on the equation that prevents the show from being good. More Dushku = Bad TV. Less Dushku = Good TV. I digress

Joss Whedon bids for Terminator.

London, England (CNN) -- Film-maker Joss Whedon says he wants to buy the rights to the multi-million dollar "Terminator" franchise -- not for millions, or hundreds of thousands of dollars, but for ten grand.

That's right, $10,000.

The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator made the unlikely bid in an open letter to the owners of the franchise posted on fan site Whedonesque.

Now, what does Joss Whedon have in common with The Terminator franchise?

Summer Glau. Who was awesome in Firefly, Serenity, made a smoking hot Cyborg, and is just generally cool. And fun to look at. And so much cooler and better than Eliza Dushku. Hence the picture.

Kitley's Krypt MYSTERY PHOTO #21

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:17:25 PST

Another week, another MYSTERY PHOTO!

Jon Kitley, pillar of the Chicago Horror Community and head honcho over at KITLEY'S KRYPT, wants to challenge your horror knowledge. Week in, week out, he posts a Mystery Photo - sometimes from an obscure horror title, sometimes just an unusual shot from a well-known classic. We figured our faithful Claw readers would enjoy the challenge!

Last week's photo was from the 1936 Boris Karloff film, THE WALKING DEAD, which recently garnered a DVD release in the box set, KARLOFF & LUGOSI HORROR CLASSICS. The set also contains such "classics" as FRANKENSTEIN 1970, YOU'LL FIND OUT and ZOMBIES ON BROADWAY. Not great films, perhaps, but you can bet we'll be picking them up anyway!

Let's see how well you fare with this week's offering:

Send your guesses to: jon@kitleyskrypt.com

If you provide the correct answer, your name will be announced next week on the Kitley's Krypt website (http://www.kitleyskrypt.com), along with a new photo. Even if you don't know the answer, we welcome any sorta-kinda educated guess! So, send in your emails today and good luck!

Roger Corman presents...

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:55:25 PST

Stumbled across this little tidbit in the NY Times...

"It’s probably the first time Roger Corman has been asked to class up a joint.

In the still largely subterranean world of Web serials, Mr. Corman, the 83-year-old B-movie provocateur, rates as a major catch. He’s making his first foray into online video at the behest of Netflix, which commissioned “Splatter,” a three-part serial that started Thursday."

http://splatter.netflix.com/

Prince of Darkness knighted by Prince of Wales

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:07:56 PST

On the eve of Halloween, Sir Christopher Lee, 87 years old, was knighted.

Straub talks Horror

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:46:14 PDT

Happy Halloween, folks.

Great article over on Salon, talking to Peter Straub about writing Horror.

Check it out.

"There's nothing beautiful about violence and savagery, but there is in the human response, that we can feel ourselves deepened by unhappy things that happen to us. Grief is a very painful emotion because it depends on love. It's the price you pay for love. If you live to have actual experiences, you come face to face with real darkness."

William Peter Blatty's LEGION - Our Next Show

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:49:46 PDT

The Exorcist wasn't the end of the story. William Peter Blatty continued the tale in his book, LEGION. WildClaw Theatre will be producing the world premiere stage adaptation by Charley Sherman (The Great God Pan and Dreams in the Witch House) and it will be directed by Anne Adams (director of The Revenants).

LEGION will open on Monday, March 15th at the Viaduct Theatre Mainstage.

And he asked him, "What is thy name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion: for we are many." (Mark 5:9)

Lame-o-ween

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:44:04 PDT

That's right. I said it. Though I love the concept of Halloween and dressing up is fun and all...as a costumer it feels like amateur night to me. Halloween is to costumer designers as St. Patty's Day is to alcoholics. All of my usual vintage clothing haunts are just filthy with college kids looking for 'hippie' costumes. The makeup stores are cluttered with girls buying giant hooker fake eyelashes and black lipstick. Yet come next week, these folks will just wad up their "gothic kitty cat" costume and throw it in the closet. Like a bad Catholic, they dabble in horror only once a year on this 'high holiday' of scariness. At Wildclaw, everyday is Halloween and since you are reading this blog so religiously, we assume the same is true for you.

So how do you keep Halloween and make it unholy all year round? Let us know!

Nerdcore Horror Calendar (NSFW)

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:07:57 PDT

Okay, since the female contingent of WildClaw called out the males of WildClaw for not posting about the zombie strippers at the Admiral earlier this month, we are obligated to inform you that the Nerdcore Horror Calendar is now available.

Horror Babes all year long

You've seen many, if not all, of these folks at comic-cons and horror conventions over the years.

Following the footprints left by the first three calendars, this 2010 edition marks the fourth collaboration between photographer Cherie Roberts and designer/artist Jason Adam, and features giant, awesome photography of industry superstars: geek goddess Justine Joli, Bobbi Starr, Aria Giovanni, Kayla Jane Danger, Karlie Montana, Mosh, and Zoli Suicide.
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+ NERD DATES - Regular and nerdy holidays, including over one hundred important holy days for geeks, including: Major movie releases; conventions like San Diego Comic-Con, Alternative Press Expo, etc. ; anniversaries for major franchises and cult classics; birthdays for of genre favorite creators, actors, writers, and directors; and key fictional happenings, from obscure to awesome.

Americana Kamikaze

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:55:03 PDT

Japanese-style Horror, on screen and stage.

Speaking inside boxes the size of coffins, the haunted souls of “Americana Kamikaze” inhabit a world that depending on the moment, appears impossibly vast or claustrophobically intimate. Refracting a Japanese ghost story through an American experimental sensibility, Temporary Distortion, integrating mind-blowing video images and theatrical tension, has created a nightmarish pop aesthetic that deserves your attention.

Witches in Marin

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:44:28 PDT

Ah, makes me think of home. Will be there for Christmas.

Always knew there were witches in Marin.

Fairfax market asks witch to leave.

Steve Dahl: Why Halloween scares me -- chicagotribune.com

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:45:46 PDT

Steve Dahl: Why Halloween scares me -- chicagotribune.com

Posted using ShareThis

Dr. AC mouths off to Contra Costa Times...

wildclaw8@gmail.com (WIldclaw Theatre) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:18:45 PDT

Tony Hicks chats with WildClaw's own Aaron "Dr. AC" Christensen and others about the state of horror movies today - where they've come from and where they're going...

(Yes, it's a little Bay Area newspaper, and no, he's not saying anything that hasn't already been said a million times before, but it's still kinda cool to get that call saying, "What do YOU think?")

http://www.contracostatimes.com/movies-dvd/ci_13612384