31 Days 31 Picks Rabid (1977) trailer

Rabid shuffled onto the circuit in 1977. Directed by a relatively unkown David Cronenberg (fresh of off "Shivers") and starring a post-porno Marilyn Chambers, this up-to-par zombie flick is a fast-paced and enjoyable thrill ride released by the great (and defunct) New World pictures. David Cronenberg hit the ticket with this, though. His next pic was the successful mind trip "Videodrome"

Rob Zombie's "Lords of Salem": An Atmospheric, Trippy 70's Mash-Up

Since he transcended from the realm of Rockstar to Film Auteur with “House of a 1000 Corpses”, Rob Zombie has had mostly a love-hate relationship with his fans. And with his latest release, “Lords of Salem”, Zombie, proves that this will be much of the same. Despite the fact that this time around, [Rob] Zombie is completely thinking outside the norm of what has been his filming style and technique. Where before he set out for a certain shock value, with “Lords” Zombie has given us a very atmospheric, almost trippy film that borrows elements from such other masters of horror as Cronenberg, Polanski and Lynch.   

If “Lords of Salem” was made in the 1970’s (perhaps even as late as 1981) then it would have been hailed as an iconic horror film, much in the same way as such other greats of the genre of that time, as Dario Argento’s “Suspiria”, “Rosemary’s Baby” or even that of Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining”. Sadly, however, the film finds life in 2013 where most of the audiences that will go and see it will neither understand or have the patience for Zombie’s latest creation.

We find ourselves following along the life of DJ Heidi Hawthorn (aka Heidi LaRox), played by Sheri Moon Zombie, living life in Salem, Massachusetts, as night time radio’s hottest DJs. When One night after a show with her cohorts and hosts Herman ‘Whitey’ Salvador (Jeff Daniel Phillips) and Herman Jackson (Ken Foree), Heidi receives an old wooden box containing a vinyl record and a note saying it is from the band The Lords. Heidi takes the box home, and while she and Whitey are hanging around Heidi’s apartment, Whitey plays the record. The music is mostly made up of string instruments being played in some strange rhythmic beat. The music, however, invokes a vision of days past for Heidi (and that of Salem) who sees what happens to a coven of supposed “real” witches back in the days that would get you killed for practicing or even being accused of witchcraft. The next night Herman puts the record up for the typical radio gig of Smash or Trash, dubbing the band The Lords of Salem. However, those women that are descendants of Salem that are listening to the show are hypnotised by the sound; stopping what they are doing entranced. Much in the sameway Heidi was the night before. Unaware at the time, the music triggers something inside Heidi that sends her spiraling out of control as she begins to see and deal with things that can not possibly be real.

Like many 70’s films of the like, and while the film is set in modern day it has a definite 1970’s feel to it, Zombie does as little as possible in the way of character development. Just giving you the bare essentials (Early in the film we see Heidi taking shots with her co-hosts after the job only later to find out that she is a recovering junkie. A fact sort of come into play later in the film.) of backstories for them. Replaced instead with more backstory when it comes to plot. Although, that does not take away from the film. Zombie gives just as much as needed and doesn’t get bogged down in useless or over dialogued scenes. Which is good. While I do not mind (as others) that Zombie puts his wife Sheri in all his films, her acting is quite limited, and at times with this film it is painfully so. As Zombie stretches Sheri Moon’s acting ability and is a far cry from what she has done before. Zombie also has abandoned the shaky, handheld almost documentary style of camera work from his previous films. Replaced now with thought out scenes shot on steady cameras using 35mm film; fantastic lighting and set designs with a moving, moody score that draws the viewer inside this strange world where a sect of ancient witches are hell bent in bring the Devil’s child into our world. The plot is nothing new when it comes to this style and genre but Zombie makes it his own.

I can see the influences that Zombie has when it comes to horror. “Lords” is much in the way of “Rosemary’s Baby” was when it comes to subject matter; “The Shining” where the tension builds through the slow pace of the film helped with a heavy score; scenes that highlighted (while not of the 70’s, but just as insane) “Twin Peaks”. Though if it were made by Argento instead of Lynch.

“Lords of Salem” took me a little while to absorb. I was lucky enough to have seen it in an empty theater with no distractions that plague today’s movie going experience, because in my opinion (an opinion that Rob Zombie will only half agree with) is that this film, to get the true experience, needs to be seen in the theater. Although a mostly, if not fully, empty theater. I believe the impact of the visuals will be lost when it comes to BluRay, and won’t lend the same stimulation of the cortex of the mind that of the big screen.

Like with Sheri Moon, we find the usual Rob Zombie stand ins. Although, timeout if you blink you will miss Sid Haig and Michael Berryman. The real standout, acting wise, is Jeff Daniel Phillips (aka the Geico Caveman). Phillips brings forth a certain reality and believability to his character.

Love it or hate it, Zombie, with “Lords of Salem, does exactly what he sets out to do with the audience with the visuals, the sound and added factor of a creepy-ass, empty theater: the film sits with you long after it is finished. Leaving to think and discuss with others about what the hell you have just sat through.

I give, even though most will disagree, “Lords of Salem” 4 out of 5 severed heads.

Until Next time...            

RIP Jesus [Jess] Franco

He was known as the man with many names. But whatever he called himself, Jesus Franco, aka Jess Franco, famed Spanish director has passed away at the age of 82. After he was admitted to the Pascual Clinic in Malaga, Spain last Wednesday with symptoms related to a stroke.

With nearly 200 films under his belt [Jess] Franco ran the gamut of 

genres from everything from Horror to Science Fiction: Eroticism to Porn. Franco had even did a stint as a second unit director for Orson Welles on the film “Chimes at Midnight” that was shot in Spain. Along with Welles [Jess] Franco worked with great Christopher Lee as Lee reprised his role as the famed vampire Vlad Dracula in 1970’s “Count Dracula”. In this version, Dracula is an old man that grows younger from his consumption of blood from the veins of young mavens.

Born in 1930 in Madrid, Spain, [Jess] Franco debut as a director at the age of 18 with the 1959 film “We Are 18 Years Old”. In 1968, Franco, was nominated for the Festival of Berlin for the film “Succubus”. The nomination brought Franco international reputation. From there Franco’s life and career became more consolidated as he tackled the “B” film genre. Filled with endless creativity and talent Franco was able to deliver more than one film a year. Along with being behind that camera Franco acted in almost all his films. Usually playing some sinister character. Always working a micro-budget, Franco -along with the great Ed Wood- can be considered the Godfather of the Do-It-Yourself style of filming. Always finding funding for his films as an independent, and keeping soul control for his vision. However, Franco has always had a problem with getting films released. Most of which being direct to video. But he survived where others had failed and continued to write, direct and produce his movies up until his death. His latest release was the 2012 film “Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies” premiered in theaters on March 22nd.

[Jess] Franco was given an honorary Goya by the Spanish Film Academy for his “rich and varied filmography, and his absolute dedication and professionalism.” In an interview, Franco, that he considered “film as mere entertainment that helps people live. And feared its use to transmit messages of social-political” which he said was boring.

Some of the more notable films by Franco include: “Snakewoman” (2005); “Killer Barbys vs. Dracula” (2002); “Killer Barbys” (1996); “Slave of Crime” (1987); “Night of a 1000 Sexes” (1984); ‘Devil Hunter” (1980); “Jack the Ripper” (1976); “Female Vampire” (1973); “The Sinister Eyes of Doctor Orloff” (1973); “The Mistress of Doctor Jekyll” (1964).    

Until Next Time...

"Bates Motel" My Review

It had been staring me in the face for over a week. Just sitting on the screen telling me that me, that yes, I should come in and spend sometime at the “Bates Motel”. So, finally last night I did. I’m glad I did. But I am, at the sametime, also a tad bit disappointed as well.

When I first found out that A&E were bringing Norman Bates (NBC with Hannibal Lector as well) to the small screen I was overjoyed. (Although this isn’t the first time that Norman Bates has found his way television. In 1987 NBC ran a short lived spin-off of the same title) I have been saying for a long time now that if Hollywood wants to keep recycling the old nostalgic 70’s-90’s iconic horror characters then they should develop them for TV. It would allow creators to really explore the inner workings of the story, and revitalize the genre and franchise as a whole with a series that would last around 12-13 episodes. And basic cable -or that of regular cable (HBO, ShowTime and the like)- would be the perfect place for them to do it. First, I don’t think a horror television show centered around any of these characters could withstand a 22-26 episode season. It would grow stale fast. But with the short seasons I believe it would flourish... But I digress.

As I was saying: I was really looking forward to the “Bates Motel”. Then two things happened. First they brought the story to the modern era. Something I wasn’t crazy about. But what the hell. Then I saw that some of the guys behind “Lost” were part of this. And while I was a HUGE “Lost” fan the first 4 seasons, that show’s creators and network did everything possible to screw it up and in the end it was all what they said it was NEVER going to be... but, again, I digress. Those two facts had me wondering if “Bates Motel” was worth my time. And then when I saw that was an early preview for it, and I debated. That is, until last night.

Now I am a huge fan of “Psycho”. And when I say that I mean of the original Alfred Hitchcock movie. While I have sat through all the sequels I thought that they were all poorly done. While “Psycho 2” did try to develop the story a little further all of them just sort retreaded the same story over and over. And not very well. (I know. I know. The same goes for all the “Friday the 13th”’s and the “Halloween”’s and the Freddy movies ect. ect.) And when it comes to the re-make, Gus Van Sant really didn’t do anything different from the Hitchcock film except make it modern and then make it feel yet un-modern, if that makes any sense. Anyway. With “Bates Motel” we are definitely in the here and now, as the story opens up somewhere new (Arizona) and we find a teenage Norman (Freddie Highmore) lying in bed. Norman hears something odd and when he goes to investigate finds his father dead on the floor in laundry room. Where, after a rampant search for his mother, Norman finds her just coming out of the shower. (here, for those of us who know the story and the background, we start to think if Norma (Vera Farmiga) has had a hand in the death of her husband.) Flash to six months later and we find mom and son on a road trip to new digs. And as it turns out, Norma has bought what will become the stage for the entire story of the Bates Legacy.

As the story plays out we find that Norma has purchased the motel and the famed house on the hill in a foreclosure. This fact plays as a major plot device. As we come to learn from a visit of the former owner, Keith, played by W. Earl Brown (Deadwood). Who makes his intentions quite clear: pack up and go. That the town will never accept them and then alludes to things probably left unfound about the property. Although, with Keith, he acts as someone who just lost his house would. He’s angry and hurt. But when it comes to most of the teenagers of the story, well, they come off overly friendly. I don’t know about any of you, but when I was ever the new kid in school there wasn’t a lot of: Lets get to know the new kid. I mean there were some. But not from all corners. Especially from the cheerleader types. Norman comes off as this complete chick magnet. Even one of his teachers seems to act as if she is making a play for him. Now Norman has always been a very good looking character -on screen. The character of Norman Bates in the original 1959 novel by Robert Block he is anything but. But, Hollywood being Hollywood made Norman a very attractive young man. A fact that I think was pure genius on Hitchcock’s part. The sheep in wolf’s clothing can be one of the scariest things of all. But he was never a chick magnet. Norman Bates was introverted to say the least. And controlled by a domineering mother. Again, I am interested to see how far they take the dynamics of the relationship that Norman has with his mother. They have already sort of alluded to those facts. And it seems that insest in TV is the black.

Things go from tense to just plain bad when it comes to Keith, who turns up later in the night after Norman has snuck out of the house to meet up with the girls he met at the bus stop. Keith breaks into the house and attacks Norma. Even as going as far as raping her. Something I was surprised to see on A&E. But before anything worse can happen Norman finally shows up home and jumps Keith, knocking him out. After Norman leave the room, Norma kills the hand cuffed Keith where he sits on the floor. Now comes the problem of what to do with the body. While taking the body down to the motel to place him in one of the rooms tubs, Norman drops Keith’s body, staining the carpet with blood. Then in a quick decision Norma and her son start to not only rip out the carpet in that room but the ones that have similar carpets as well. So it looks uniformed. During their little impromptu renovations Norman finds a weird sketch book under the carpet he is pulling up. The writing inside appears Asian and all the drawings are of women tied up. The the cops for whatever reason decide to show up. Here we have another addition from the “Lost” series as one of the cops is played by Nestor Carbonell. After a few tense moments where one of cops has to use the bathroom, the same bathroom where Keith is lying in the tub, we learn that Keith and Carbonell’s character are friends. After the cops leave, Norman and his mother are in a rowboat with Keith’s body. Here we start to see the true dynamic that is their relationship.

The end of the pilot throws in this added curve of a “Dragon Tattoo”-esque room where we see a girl chained to the wall, referencing the sketch found by Norman earlier.

My overall view of the pilot episode of “Bates Motel” is that it was just okay. I mean there were parts that seemed a little rushed, then they made it a point to bring in parts to reference the original “Psycho”. And if they were making it a more modern entity, and it was just being the beginning, they didn’t have to. I know why they did. But it did not have to be episode one.  

I give “Bates Motel” 3 out of 5 severed heads.

Until next time...     

How Masked Horror Villains Should Jump the Medium

Ah, yes. What I am sure is going to be the next “low-rent” re-hash of one of my favorite horror flicks makes it’s way to the movie theaters today. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” has had some worthy notes to the franchise and some rather full fledge duds as well. And this latest incarnate of Leatherface has me feeling that this is on the latter side of the sequel/remakes.

This time around “TCM” gets a name makeover to the awesomeness of “Texas Chainsaw 3D” (yes, for whatever the fucking reason we get to see Leatherface in all his gory glory in 3D… yay! And yes I am being sarcastic when I say “YAY”). Hollywood seems to still have a hard-on for that for some moronic reason. Sure we have the supper hot Alexandra Daddario for our heroine but is that enough to make me cough up ten plus dollars to sit in the theater, and in January no less. Because we all know that January is the dumping ground for crap movies. That and I have been fucked over too many times with these updates/reboots that have just sucked. (“Friday the 13th” anyone?)

Hey. I am all for a good telling of the same old story. (Just ask any of my friends who get to sit through one of my drunken retellings of days gone by to anyone new and/or willing to listen.) I think with how horror has finally jumped mediums and moved into television we can truly explore some of the old 80s villains. (Hell, they already have Norman Bates & Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lector cued up, ready to go.) Just look how widely respected “American Horror Story” and “Walking Dead” have become. This makes me think that it might be time to explore that thinking. How good of a story do you think can come out of story lines like “Hellraiser” if given a 13 episode run instead of trying to pound 3 lbs of shit into a 80-90 minute flick? Same goes to Freddy, Jason, and the aforementioned Leatherface.

Hopefully Hollywood is watching and taking note if “Bates Motel” takes off. Imagine the great TV horror fans and fans of the great masked villains would be given.

Until Next time…

"Torso" (1973) My Fourteenth Must See Pick for the Halloween Season

Nothing says awesome like 70s Psycho-Sexual-Thillers and “Torso” is tops on that list.

Jane (Suzy Kendal) is an American exchange student studying in Perugia, Italy, although she is studying more than just class text books… leave it to the Italians to interject a ton of sex into their horror films -much to my appreciation. But as Jane discovers to carnal knowledge of Italy a pent-up Psycho Killer is on the loose. Strangling girls where ever he goes. The only clue he leaves behind is a red and black scarf.

As the killer stalks to campus Jane and her friends decide that it might be high time to get away head up to her friend, Danielle’s Uncle’s cabin (because we can’t have a horror movie without one… lol), but unfortunately for the group of horny coeds the Psycho-Sexual-Killer tags along for the ride and “women begin suffering in rapid attrition problem.”

If you like a ton sex to along with your gore then “Torso” is for you!

Until next time…

"Salem's Lot" My Twelfth Pick for the Halloween Season

Vampires Stephen King style, in other words: “Salem’s Lot”. The made for television movie is my twelfth pick for Halloween, made during a time long before bad reality TV shows and -what we are starting to see more of- cutting edge shows of horror variety. Think “American Horror Story”, “Walking Dead”, or even that of “True Blood”.

“Salem’s Lot” sees king use his favorite type protagonist: writer (Ben Mears), as played by David Soul (Starsky & Hutch) as he returns back to his hometown of Salem’s Lot, Maine (another mainstay of the King universe) with the intention to write his newest novel about the ominous old house that sits and over looks the town. The house itself presents a traumatic past as it was home too Hubie Marsten, a bootlegger and suspected child murder. As a young boy, Ben went inside the old, deserted mansion on a dare from friends and the images that his mind had conjured (he believed that not only that he saw the corpse of Hubie Marsten, but good-old-Hubie opened his eyes and looked at him) have haunted him ever since.

So what better way to confront ones fears than trying to rent the house that scares the shit out of you. Unfortunately for Ben someone has beet him to the punch and the house is already rented to a man named Barlow, and who has moved in his man servant, Straker, to get the house ready for his arrival. This fact forces Ben to take up residence in the local boarding house.

Not long after the arrival of Straker, strange occurrences began to hold upon the town of Salem’s Lot. First the disappearance of Ralphie Glick one night as he and his brother Danny cut through the Marsten property. Then the body of another well known towns person is found behind the wheel of his car. After that things rapidly start to come apart in Salem’s Lot. Danny awakens the night of the search for his brother to find Ralphie outside his window. Problem with that is Danny’s room is on the second floor, So Danny being a dumb kid opens the window for his brother and gets a surprise from his younger brother that he was not expecting. Danny is found face first on the floor by his parents. At the hospital things do not bode well for poor Danny-boy as he receives another visit from his dear ol’ brother this time when is found in the morning Danny is dead. But this just the beginning of the bad things that are coming to Salem’s Lot. As more and more townsfolk either are taking “ill” or just disappearing altogether.

At thins point Ben Mears is starting to put the pieces together and begins to think that all of this has something to do with the impending arrival of the mysterious Barlow. But what Ben thinks is by far of the real evil that is taking place in “Salem’s Lot”.

FYI: The TNT remake of “Salem’s Lot” (2004) starring Rob Lowe is actually a very good as well. And stayed a little truer the actual King novel. So think if this post as a two for one deal…

Until next time…

"Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park" My Tenth Must See Pick for the Halloween Season

Sandwiched between the pot smoking, acid dropping love in’s of the 1960’s and the cocaine fueled rage of the 1980’s, the 1970’s proved to be one fucked up decade. Hence today’s installment of Halloween madness, “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park”.

Originally made for television, before anyone thought about something called Mtv, by NBC then later put in theatrical rotation outside the US where it finally got repackaged and put out on VHS;  Part “Scooby Mystery” part “Westworld” and all Rock Opera, “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park” is a cult fav amongst Kiss fans.

The movie opens and we, the viewer, find Melissa (Deborah Ryan) and her boyfriend Sam (Terry Lester) enjoying a day at Magic Mountain Amusement Park. It is just your usual day of sunshine and lovebirds, that is until Sam gets the gumption to investigate the weird and strange acting park engineer, Abner Devereaux (Anthony Zerbe), who is creating a new attraction of cybernetic creatures for the park (think Frankenstein’s Monster and Dracula). Regrettably for Sam he is caught snooping in places he is not wanted and subsequently turned into a mindless cyborg himself.

Meanwhile, park owner Calvin Richards (Carmine Caridi), faced with a failing business plan and budget crunch diverts Devereaux’s much needed cash flow from the cyborg project and hires Kiss to perform at the park. Thinking that they will bring the kids and the cash. A non-too-happy Devereaux argues with Richards about the money to no avail. That is until a group teenage bikers sabotage one of the rides and nearly kills the riders. An outrage Richards blames Devereaux for the incident and fires the head engineer who then vows revenge upon Richards, the park, and Kiss who Devereaux blames most of all for his lost project funds.

The first step in Devereaux’s evil plot for revenge is to send a Kissbot in the form of Gene Simons to roam around the park destroying things. But when Kiss is questioned by authorities no action is taken against them and  the concert goes on as planned. Now an even more pissed off Devereaux sends his monstrous creations after the band and when Devereaux has Kiss locked up tight in his evil laboratory, Devereaux sends his Kissbots to the concert in place of the band in hopes if they start playing the wrong songs that it will entice the crowd to riot.

Oh know, what will Kiss ever do!

So grab a bottle of Jack and a bowl of acid and pull yourselves up to TV and immerse yourself into “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park”. You won’t be disappointed. Well, that is, unless you are on the acid. If not then you’ll probably laugh your ass off.

Until next time…

Eaten Alive (1977), My Second Must See Pick for the Halloween Season

Tobe Hooper's follow up to his cult hit "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Eaten Alive" sets the tone that will define Hooper's legacy as a horror director and is my second pick for the Halloween season.

Judd, a  psychotic redneck, runs the Starlight Hotel,a dilapidated hotel in rural East Texas out in some sort of swampy place and is unfortunately a few slices short of a loaf. Judd has a pet crocodile conveniently placed on the other side of the hotel's front porch railing that he happens to feed with various people who upset him or his business: A reformed hooker, an unlucky family, and the father and sister of the hooker all suffer various rates of attrition as Judd tries to implement damage control.

'Eaten Alive" is loosely based on the story of Joe Ball (also known as the Bluebeard from South Texas or the "Alligator Man") who lived in  Elmendorf, Texas sometime after Prohibition ended. Ball owned a bar with an alligator pit serving as an entertainment attraction. Several murders of women ensued, but it was never proven that the flesh found in the pit was human. However, Joe did commit suicide upon possibility of capture.

You might recognize a young Robert Englund who was a largely unknown actor at the time.

Until next time...

The Sentinel (1977) My First Must See for the Halloween Season

I fucked up and did not get a chance to post the first flick in my own 31 days of horror -it is Halloween time, and hey, everyone else is doing one so why not me?...lol

My first pick for October 1st is a crazy little fucked up movie. 1977's "The Sentinel" has that big budget feel one gets with a Polanski film, and like all of good old Roman's films "The Sentinel" moves a little slow as it sets up the the third act. But do yourself the favor and stay for the third act because it is something right of "Freaks" meets Clive Barker's "Nightbreed."

The movie follows fashion model, Alison Parker (Cristina Raines), as she moves into an apartment that happens to be inhabited (on the top floor) by a blind priest (John Carradine). Not long after moving in Alison begins having strange physical problems that causes her to have trouble sleeping at night. Also Alison is plagued by some nasty flashbacks of her attempted suicide that she attempted when she walked in on her father having sex with two other woman -neither being his wife. As time goes on living in the apartment Alison has strange interactions with neighbors and when she has finally has enough Alison complains to the real estate agent of the noise caused by her strange neighbors, but finds out that the house is only occupied by the priest and herself, and ultimately discovers that she has been put in the house for a reason.

So if you like 70's style Satan films then you should dig this one.

Until next time...