Watched Horror Hospital the other night - one of several hard-won prizes from the weekend's Monster Bowl. Got the assurance from Jon Kitley and Boss Man Sherman that it was a ridiculous and rewarding piece of dreck. And no surprise... those fellows know what they're talking about.
Marvelously over-, under-, and sideways- acted performances from everyone, including Batman's Alfred, Michael Gough. Long, painful scenes watching Skip Martin, a little person, struggle with props and doors and bodies. A shame we didn't see more of the main baddie -- he's dressed in a suit made entirely of hamburger.
Hunt it down, y'all. Don't know why it's also been released under the name "Computer Killer" -- it's as low-tech as a handful of rocks.
But it made a fine second part to Mr. Morlock's Sunday Double Feature. The first part being the remounted Red Noses at Strawdog Theatre. Truly a wonderful show. Do not let it pass by. See it.
I don't have cable, but that doesn't mean I can't participate in what seems to be the unifying event for all of America - a week in the celebration of man-maiming fishies!
In Texas, we do it up right. Austin's Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow put on a 3-day encore of JAWS in 35mm, which was projected on a giant blow-up screen put on a rocky cliff overlooking Lake Travis. Below, movie patrons swilled lonestar and floated precariously in black innertubes. The price of admission even came with free shark gazpacho! But, truth be told, I almost gazpachoed all over myself after getting a whiff of it. No offense to the chef... I'm just not a sea creature eater.
Over the course of the night I found myself becoming more and more nostalgic for those days of drive-in theater, and the feeling of community and shared experience when watching a film outside. The event was perfectly manicured... scuba divers swam around for duration of the screening, randomly grabbing people's dangling feet. At one point, a giant shark fin poked out of the lake and headed into the crowd. It wasn't uncommon to hear a random scream here and there, followed by boisterous laughter.
Shark Week is a reason to re-visit all those fishy classics, from Jaws and Jaws 3-D, to Fulci's Zombie (featuring a wtf pairing of shark v. zombie!) - even those ridic Mega Shark vs "___" godzilla-type films.
I'm just waiting for Cuttlefish Week. I think that has the potential of really freaking people out. Just a suggestion to the Discovery Channel.
"Live every week like it's shark week" - Tracy from 30Rock
Hello, fellow horror fans and WildClaw Blood Radio readers! My name is Anna, and I'll be contributing to this here blog with a hodgepodge of horror-related links, news, and musings, all with a touch of demented humor. So here goes:
The brothers Dowdle (of Quarantine and The Poughkeepsie Tapes fame) are bringing us a new horror film, based on a story by M. Night Shyamalan. Check out the trailer for Devilbelow:
Honest opinion: Based on the trailer alone, this movie looks mediocre at best. I do realize that it isn't fair to judge a film on its previews, but man, there is nothing here that looks tantalizing. And could it be that trailers these days do little to hide a film's secrets? I bet any of you twenty bones that I can guess who the devil is from watching the trailer again.
Also, and it pains me to say it, but M. Night Shyamalan hasn't been bringing the heat for a while now. His last film, ironically titled The Happening, in which nothing happened, did little to arouse filmgoers in any regard. So, we shall see if the Devil's in the details on this one, or if M. Night should be exorcised from Hollywood for good.
EDIT: My good friend Renee Knipe rightfully pointed out to me that M. Night's last film was not The Happening, but The Last Airbender, based on the popular animated series of similar name. This can only serve as proof that M. Night really isn't bringing the heat when I can't even remember the actual last film he did.
Summer time and Monsters...and Bowling? It's a powerful mix yall. I bet you have no idea what monster suit to put on for the shindig tomorrow. Here are some ideas from your friendly neighborhood costumer.
Sparkle-pire (just add glitter)
American Werewolf in London (fur, teeth, I Love America t-shirt and London travel guide)
Swamp Thing (swim in the lake before coming...)
Clown (always scary)
Zombie Elvis (please...for me?)
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!
Our last photo was from Italian gore maestro Lucio Fulci's skeevy little 1982thriller, THE NEW YORK RIPPER. Set in the Big Apple, women of low moral character are falling victim to a killer armed with razor blades, butcher knives, broken bottles and...a Donald Duck voice. Fulci delights in exploring the seamier side of NYC with shots of Times Square and strip clubs so grimy you’ll be itching in your seat after fifteen minutes. Our fowl-mouthed killer isn’t shy about spreading the red stuff around (a stripper’s backstage vodka-bottle surprise is particularly nasty), and Fulci makes sure we see every stomach-wrenching drop. Excellent, lunch-buckling makeup effects, with an ingenious phone call-tracing sequence that delivers both suspense and surprise. Perhaps a little heavy on the red and the herrings, but rarely a dull moment throughout. If you’re sick of the heavy-breathing, hulking slasher and the wise-cracking chatterbox psycho, check this one out.
Let's see how you fare with this week's selection:
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!
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!
Our last photo was from Larry Cohen's deliciously delirious commentary on advertising and junk food, THE STUFF (1985) . After a creamy white yogurt/ice cream-like substance becomes the latest foodstuff rage, the tables are turned when the gooey gunk starts turning people into puddles of amorphous goo. Soon, the question is, "Who's eating who?" with an awesome cast that includes Cohen's go-to guy Michael Moriarty, Paul Sorvino and Saturday Night Live's Garrett Morris. Good times.
Let's see how you fare with this week's selection:
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!
Look how excited this little fellow is. He's got carved into his little tree bark day-minder: Saturday, July 31st. 9pm at Timber Lanes.
And a quick note of congratulations to FOWC and Dreams in the Witchhouse alum Chris Hainsworth for his successful run as The Marquis de Carabas in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and his new company membership in Lifeline Theatre.
Thanks to all of your dedication, my dear family and friends, I will be able to make lots of awesome art this year in return without having to stress out as much about how the heck I am going to pay for it. This money will be huge for a project that is very personal and special to me...more exciting news about that later. Thanks again!
