4 stars out of 5

Now, having said that, if you watch this movie expecting a Hollywood-style alien movie then you will be disappointed. This is not WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) or DISTRICT 9 (2009). You will not experience typical sci-fi horror scenarios or scares like those in CLOVERFIELD (2008) or ALIEN (1979).

What you will get from MONSTERS is a character-driven story about two people’s journey through and survival in a new world: a world “infected” with extraterrestrial lifeforms. Andrew (Scoot McNairy) and Sam’s (Whitney Able) journey felt real not contrived. The three interactions with aliens were tense, suspenseful and organic. And I absolutely LOVED the lack of Hollywood fluff. Also, I felt this movie had a lot of social relevance especially surrounding war and immigration; I’ve been mulling it over for days now.

Keep in mind if you’re not into slower paced movies, or those that tell one story and don’t end exactly where you’d like them to, then you may not enjoy MONSTERS as much as I did. However, if you enjoy movies that actually have a story to tell and do so in a beautiful, realistic way then you should rent this one.

MONSTERS (2010)
Written and Directed by Gareth Edwards

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

Tagline: Now, It’s Our Turn to Adapt.

Synopsis: “Six years ago, a NASA probe returning to earth with samples of an alien life form, crashed over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear, and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures”… The story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.” (Source: Magnet Releasing)

Read more at: Official Site | Facebook | IMDb | Netflix

(Watched Instantly on 11/11/11)
(Bought DVD 11/14/11)

Okay, technically, a couple of these may not be classified as horror but rather thrillers; they’re worth sharing whatever the genre. Zombies, mind-benders, slashers and the paranormal are all featured below.

Please note: I haven’t watched these movies in their entirety yet, only the trailers.

COLIN (2008)
Written and Directed by Marc Price

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

Tagline: N/A

Synopsis: “Our hero Colin is bitten by a zombie; he dies and returns as one of the undead. We follow him as he wanders through suburbia during the throes of a cadaverous apocalypse. Through his encounters with objects, places and people, we learn who Colin was and more pertinently, what he has now become. Including a broad daylight zombie versus human street battle, an epic housebound siege and bags of gore. Colin is the must see Zombie phenomenon.” (Source: Nowhere Fast Productions)

My comments: What’s the major downside to loving Indie horror? The seemingly endless wait for films you’re dying to see. This is one of those movies that I heard about a couple years ago but still isn’t available for rent. I finally gave in and added it to my Amazon Wish List.

Read more at: Official Site | Facebook | IMDb | Netflix

I COME WITH THE RAIN (2008)
Written and Directed by Anh Hung Tran

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

Tagline: Can you find the path to redemption?

Synopsis: “Ex-Los Angeles cop turned private eye Kline travels to Hong Kong in search of Shitao, the missing son of a powerful pharmaceutical conglomerate boss. Enlisting Meng Zi a friend and a former colleague now working for the Hong Kong Police, Kline follows a faint trail left by the ethereal Shitao. The path leads to local gangster Su Dongpo and his beautiful, drug addicted girlfriend Lili. But Kline is distracted from his search, haunted by memories of the serial killer Hasford whose ‘body of work’ was the reason Kline quit the police force. Will Kline once again need to lose his mind to find his latest quarry?” (Source: Central Films)

My comments: I’ll admit this one looks somewhat all over the place; but, with a cast that includes Josh Hartnett and Elias Koteas, I have to watch it, someday, somehow. My attempt to buy it from an overseas seller on eBay failed miserably.

Read more at: Facebook | IMDb | DVD Outsider

BITTER FEAST (2010)
Written and Directed by Joe Maggio

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

Tagline: N/A

Synopsis: “A celebrity chef exacts revenge on a food blogger who torpedoes his career.” (Source: Glass Eye Pix)

My comments: Finally! This one’s available to rent or buy. The premise is one writers and critics should enjoy and, perhaps, think about whenever they start to trash someone’s work.

Read more at: Official Site | IMDb | Netflix

MONSTERS (2010)
Written and Directed by Gareth Edwards

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

Tagline: Now, It’s Our Turn to Adapt.

Synopsis: “Six years ago, a NASA probe returning to earth with samples of an alien life form, crashed over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear, and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures”… The story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.” (Source: Magnet Releasing)

My comments: I love a good alien movie, so when I first heard about this one last year, I added it to my must-see list. The low budget coupled with the more character driven sci-fi story – versus million dollar F/X and action – are right up my alley.

Read more at: Official Site | Facebook | IMDb | Netflix

VANISHING ON 7TH STREET (2010)
Written by Anthony Jaswinski and Directed by Brad Anderson

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

Tagline: Fear lives in the dark.

Synopsis: “From director Brad Anderson (Session 9, Transsiberian, The Machinist) comes VANISHING ON 7TH STREET, a terrifying, apocalyptic thriller that taps into one of humankind’s most primal anxieties: fear of the dark. An unexplained blackout plunges the city of Detroit into total darkness, and by the time the sun rises, only a few people remain—surrounded by heaps of empty clothing, abandoned cars and lengthening shadows. A small handful of strangers that have survived the night (Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo and newcomer Jacob Latimore) each find their way to a rundown bar, whose gasoline-powered generator and stockpile of food and drink make it the last refuge in a deserted city. With daylight beginning to disappear completely and whispering shadows surrounding the survivors, they soon discover that the enemy is the darkness itself, and only the few remaining light sources can keep them safe. As time begins to run out for them, darkness closes in and they must face the ultimate terror.” (Source: Magnet Releasing)

My comments: The director and the plot should make for one helluva film, at least that’s what I’m hoping. And I suppose the yummy Hayden Christensen doesn’t hurt. What?! He’s a good actor, too; I recommend LIFE AS A HOUSE and SHATTERED GLASS as proof (both are dramas).

Read more at: Facebook | IMDb | Magnet Releasing | Netflix

Do you know about any other must-see Indie horror movies? Then please share with the rest of us and leave a comment below. I’m always on the lookout for new ones!

Photo credit: Dave Dyet

Pediophobia: The fear of dolls or, more generally, of false representation of sentient beings, such as mannequins or robots.

The above definition touches upon one possible explanation: false representation.

When we look at a thing, our brain automatically places it into its tidy drawer in the file cabinet of “the known.” Therefore, when we discover the thing is not what we labeled it, oftentimes completely the opposite, our fear of the unexpected, of the unknown, is triggered. An inanimate object modeled after human beings, such as a doll or mannequin, with a secret life of its own, feeds into our fear of the unexpected. If we can’t trust a thing to remain as we know it to be, then what can we count on? Our sense of control over things beneath the “all powerful human” takes a huge hit.

Or, perhaps, the fear of dolls is rooted in a fear of children.

Tiny creatures with coveted amounts of energy, who are sweet and eager to please, children possess the ability to entertain themselves for hours and bounce back after the most horrific events. Their imaginations are filled with pictures, characters and worlds that amaze and astonish the dormant (or dead) adult imagination. And, most times, children aren’t suspected where foul play exists because, well, they’re innocents, aren’t they? Yet, we all know how sneaky kids can be. How cunning they are when they want something. Master manipulators in adorable packaging. Those probing questions we just can’t believe came from the mind of a child; they had to hear it someplace else, from a grown up or on TV. Could it be, we imply their innocence because we fear our vulnerability to the little darlings?

Of course, there are several more theories to explain the fear of dolls, so please share your two cents in the comment box below.

The subject fascinates me — being a long-time pediophob — and if I had to explain my fear, it’s a doll’s eyes. They look so real that I can’t stop wondering, “What is it thinking? Is there actually a soul inside there looking out at me? Does it want to hurt me?” Needless to say, Cabbage Patch Kids (with yarn hair) were the only dolls to survive my childhood; all the others went to a better place – far away from me.

Wanna test your level of pediophobia? Watch the following:
(But with the lights on and away from dolls.)

Friday the 13th Season 1, Episode 1, THE INHERITANCE (1987)

CHILD’S PLAY (1988)

X-Files Season 5, Episode 10, CHINGA (1998)

DEAD SILENCE (2007)

And just for giggles, or screams if you’re easily frightened, check out these baby dolls. Now, honestly, could you sit in a room with even one of those things and not freak out?

Web Resources

Pediophobia – The Fear of Dolls (Associated Content)

10 More Extremely Bizarre Phobias (Listverse)

Evil Doll Movie List (Undead Backbrain)

Even though the winner’s already been announced, I wanted you to have the chance to watch these 10 horror shorts and maybe discover a new filmmaker you’d like to support.

Below is a recap of the Top 10 finalists in the order in which I would’ve awarded prizes. I rate on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 star being the lowest and 5 stars being the highest.

#10 – MISTER WEDNESDAY’S PLAYGROUND
Written and Directed by Noah Reich (Twitter)


Click Here to Watch

A kid tortures some random blonde and then deems the victim “no fun.” When she’s finished getting the victim “ready,” Mister Wednesday makes an appearance.

The kid was creepy. However, what exactly was her role? Mister Wednesday’s minion? Daughter? Brainwashed victim? And who (or what) was Mister Wednesday? I dunno. Unfortunately, the score caused total disconnect and the story, as presented, felt choppy. Overall, just meh.

2 stars

#9 – HAZARDS
Written and Directed by Donny Kennedy

Click Here to Watch

An attractive young woman drives along a dark highway, swerves to miss an animal and then must stop to make sure the poor thing is alive. A half-naked man startles her and she runs away from her car, into the night, with only her flashlight to guide the way.

Yeah, sounds pretty familiar, huh? Anyone who’s watched a decent number of movies will predict the ending right away: that’s the biggest mark against this horror short. The other is relying too much on the radio. But, Kennedy succeeded at building tension in a short amount of time, casting a believable actress, and telling a complete story.

2.5 stars

#8 – THE WIDOWER
Written by Mustafa Eshanzada, Directed by Mustafa Eshanzada and Murad Amayreh (Facebook)

Click Here to Watch

A man is haunted by the ghost of his ex-wife and aborted daughter.

An okay ghost story, with rigid acting, that presented too many inconsistent images (scenes) to form a cohesive story. Plus, the voice over narration…not great. Why so many stars then? The score was spot on and I liked the “Boo!” style ending.

2.5 stars

#7 – LOVE ME TENDER
Written by Brian McAuley, Directed by Matthew Morgenthaler (Facebook)

Click Here to Watch

A young girl’s reaction to the boy who lied when he agreed to be her Valentine.

Immediate reaction: Can you scream without a tongue? Overall, the film offered high-quality production, good actors, a perfect score and an interesting story. The little girl reminded me of Dawn from the movie TEETH (2007), but, in my eyes, that’s a good thing.

And, it turns out this is just the opening scene from the real short film about the little girl, Emma, all grown up and in college. From the looks of the trailer, this one might be added to my “must-see Indies” list. [More Info.]

3 stars

#6 – SUFFERING IN ECSTASY
Written and Directed by Jason Karten (Twitter)

Click Here to Watch

An attractive blonde is beaten, mutilated at her own hands, and then committed.

Much like THE NIGHTMARE (2009, Jeff M. Breyer), I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on, but I enjoyed it. The story wasn’t totally clear but the visuals were almost overwhelming and the score made my skin crawl. The images coupled with the constant squealing noise at 2:35 forced me to turn off the sound — it was just too much. Cut those color scenes or make them black-and-white, and tame the sound in the last 20-ish seconds, and this film would’ve ranked higher on my list.

3 stars

#5 – TRICK
Written and Directed by William Rot (Twitter)

Click Here to Watch

A young boy’s penny-pinching father won’t allow him to buy a new Halloween costume, so with a little help from “The Demon’s Guide to Making Horrifyingly Scary Masks” and his imagination, he creates his own.

I’ve said it more than once, masks are just downright scary. At least to me. Creepy, twisted and fun – how could I not like this short?

There is an undeniable call out to the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974). And the film’s animation and storyline also seem to be inspired by TREAT ‘R TREAT: SEASON’S GREETINGS, a special feature on the TRICK ‘R TREAT (2007, Michael Dougherty) DVD. Perhaps not; it felt similar, though.

3.5 stars

#4 – JASPER
Directed by Elizabeth B. Schieffer (Facebook)

Click Here to Watch

An elderly woman searches for her cat, Jasper, at night in a not-so-great neighborhood.

Perhaps I’m cynical but the first thing I thought was, “There’s no way that old lady would be there,” which put me en garde straight away. So the twist was lots of fun, but a more believable setting would’ve kept it hidden a little longer, maybe. Aside from that, there’s a lot of potential in this female filmmaker and I look forward to watching her next film.

3.5 stars

#3 – THE MARKSMAN
Written and Directed by Chris Lunardon

Click Here to Watch

A man, possibly a serial killer, targets his next victim but realizes too late that she’s expecting him.

I felt THE MARKSMAN succeeded best at building genuine tension and suspense. A radio was used (again) as a way to work in the necessary information to set up (and conclude) the story but it seemed more organic in this short. Eliminate the ridiculous hair blowing and I would’ve awarded four stars.

3.5 stars

#2 – PARASITE
Written and Directed by S. Christian Roe (Twitter)

Click Here to Watch

A young woman watches a documentary about fear and experiences its message firsthand.

Probably the most relatable and realistic of the Top 10 finalists, which is why it’s my number two pick: Anything that could really happen or plays on our existing nightmares is true horror. Who hasn’t freaked themselves out before? And the best part of the film, for me, was showing the audience that we are our fears — it’s all in our mind and within our control.

4 stars

#1 – THE WINTER STALKER
Written and Directed by Stephen Reedy (Twitter)

Click Here to Watch

No recap for this one: Total surprise is the best way to go…trust me.

Steeped in talent and creativity, this horror short film is uber creepy and suspenseful but with a fun, unexpected twist. Stephen Reedy and Zerofriends Films are officially on my must-watch radar. There’s another short, BLOODBATH, posted on Clicker. Click here to watch it now.

4.5 stars

[Click here for the official winner.]

Even though the competition is over, you can still support these filmmakers by visiting their web site or blog, following them on Twitter, or friending them on Facebook. And, of course, buy their films when / if they are available for purchase.

Filmmakers: If you’re going to submit your work to a national contest, please include credits so we know who did what on your film, and at the very least have a Facebook or basic web page set up for your movie. That way fans of your work have a way to track and support your future projects.

Wanna see the entries that didn’t make the Top 10? Click here.

So ‘fess up: Which was your favorite?

When I saw the above doodle on Google this morning my day immediately brightened. All at once my head was full with munchkins coming out from wherever they were, Scarecrow falling off his hook, enchanted trees throwing apples, and on and on. In short, my imagination was alert and excited after being bored for weeks by monotonous, left-brained, work-related tasks.

The nostalgia evoked by THE WIZARD OF OZ is tremendous. I’ve loved film from an early age and this was one movie* I watched every time it aired on TV. Yes, that was before we had the luxury of owning a VCR. Most years we gathered as a family to watch it. Uh huh, commercials and all. And without fail, that green hag, accompanied by her minions, never ceased to scare the bejeezers outta me.

Really, if you want to get technical, the Wicked Witch of the West was my first experience with a villain and with the horror awakened by simple yet terrifying imagery and universal themes — the scarecrow being ripped apart by the flying monkeys and the ageless lust for power are examples, respectively.

But the movie, to me, transcends cinema; it’s become a staple in many people’s childhoods. Do you know anyone who hasn’t watched THE WIZARD OF OZ? I certainly don’t, and if one such person happened to stumble into my neck of the woods, I’d smack that person upside the head with the biggest broom I could find and sick my minions** on them. Oh wait, I don’t have any minions…yet. The point being, this is one movie with which everyone is able to connect — it speaks to our imaginations, our desires, and even our fears.

Most of all, though, THE WIZARD OF OZ is timeless. Sure, there’s not the same level of awe when watching as an adult; however, its magic is the same. The joy I get from singing along hasn’t diminished, not one iota; the immense satisfaction I feel from “I’m melting! Melting!” hasn’t lessened. And I laugh out loud every time I hear, “You mean she bit ya?”

Therefore, I invite you all – young and old – to pull out your copy and watch this cinematic treasure the next chance you have. And for those of you who don’t own a copy, rent one! Most libraries carry it on DVD nowadays. Everyone should watch at least once a year.

What’s your favorite scene from The Wizard of Oz (1939)? Why?

*Second only to my all-time favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

**Anyone else watch Despicable Me (2010)? The minions are the best part!

And over the years I’ve discovered that foreign movies are largely overlooked by American audiences. Why? From what people have told me, what I’ve overheard people say, and what I’ve read in reviews the main reason is people don’t like to read subtitles. My film-loving heart breaks when I hear or read that: those people have no idea what they’re missing out on.

Therefore, I felt compelled to share a small sampling of my favorite foreign movies. I’ve included their English title, their original title and their original language as well as the genre and a very brief recap so you know why I love these films and why you should definitely get over the whole “I don’t want to read; I just want to watch a movie” thing.

Antibodies (Antikörper, 2005) German
IMDb | Netflix | Amazon

Written and directed by Christian Alvart, Antikörper is listed first for a very good reason: It’s awesome! I thoroughly enjoyed this film and rank it up there right after The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en. The acting was excellent and the last 15 minutes or so I was in complete nail-biting agony, nearly in tears, hoping for…well I don’t want to give anything away. Simply put, this is one of the best thrillers – American or Foreign – that I’ve seen in a long time.

NOTE: There is animal and child violence, a couple scenes are pretty graphic, too. However it is not gratuitous – it’s not violence for shock’s sake – and it keeps the tension and suspense at an almost unbearable level.

[Netflix Watch Instantly on 8/9/2008]

Voice (Yeogo gwae-dam 4: Moksori, 2005) Korean
IMDb | Netflix | Amazon

VOICE is an uber creepy film written by Ik-hwan Choe and Joon-Seok Sol, and directed by Ik-hwan Choe. I had such bad heebies jeebies after watching this one that I left my bedroom light on all night. My one piece of advice to you is to just enjoy the ride; don’t try to take pit stops along the way to figure out what this means or why that’s there and so on. It’s really not that hard of a movie to get if you’re patient and wait for everything to reveal itself. There’s a lot of jumping around in time, but again, just be patient.

NOTE: There is actually very little gore or onscreen violence. However, the one slightly gory scene did make me cringe but not for the reason you might expect.

[Netflix DVD rental on 7/25/2008]

House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu, 2004) Mandarin
IMDb | Netflix | Amazon

Written by Feng Li, Bin Wang, and Yimou Zhang, and directed by Yimou Zhang this film may be a little out there for some moviegoers but I thought it was amazing. Visually stunning, imaginative plot, terrific acting — just a great story. There’s action (martial arts), adventure, fantasy, romance and mystery so I cannot really label it for you.

[Netflix DVD rental on 1/19/2006]

Evil (Ondskan, 2003) Swedish
IMDb | Netflix | Amazon

Based on the novel by Jan Guillou – screenplay written by Hans Gunnarsson Mikael Håfström and Klas Östergren – and directed by Mikael Håfström, this film will grip you from its opening scenes. Erik (Andreas Wilson) is a great character and he represents so many people, so many underdogs, fighting to survive in the world today that it’s nearly impossible not to empathize with him and hope for his future. Powerful themes are addressed and the violence really hammered home the story’s points. I loved this movie!

NOTE: The violence mentioned is not gory or gratuitous. It’s just realistic, brutal fighting.

[Netflix Watch Instantly on 1/31/2010]

The Devil’s Backbone (El Espinazo del Diablo, 2001) Spanish
IMDb | Netflix | Amazon

This is a superb film, written by Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras and David Muñoz, and directed by Guillermo del Toro, who – in my opinion – is one of the best directors in the world. His films, including this one, never feel like only one genre. There’s horror, fantasy, and mystery elements that work seamlessly together to create a film that will scare the bejeezus outta you but also touch you deeply. I’m embarrassed it took me seven years to finally watch this movie.

[Netflix DVD rental on 7/30/2008]

What’s your favorite foreign film? (any genre)

Side note: I’ve only watched the trailer, not the full-length movie, and these films are in various stages of production – from planning/fundraising to completed projects – so please show your support.

Death Movie (2011) UK

Written and directed by David Paul Baker, DEATH MOVIE is in the planning stage and needs our support to move forward into pre-production. Please visit the official web site for all the details then click here to show your support.

“50 young people are found scared to death in front of a drive-in movie screen. Forensic gather up video mobile phones at the scene, then begin to edit the footage to see what scared them to death.

We go back 48 hours to follow several characters video diaries. They got a mystery invite via the web, to view the scariest film ever made. We follow them from the previous day as they go on a road trip to this secret screening of “DEATH MOVIE.”

The story is told through the POV of two female characters However, most of the movies promotion will be told through the multiple cameras that the FBI recovered, and media spins, conspiracy theories.

You will have to see the main movie to find out what scared all these people to death!”

DEATH MOVIE on Facebook | Twitter | Blog

The Dobson Files (2010) USA

Written by Travis Opgenorth and directed by Marty Skibosh THE DOBSON FILES is an alien movie filmed in the style of The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield but with the atmosphere of Paranormal Activity. Join the filmmaker’s campaign to get this film distributed by filling out the “Demand It” form on the web site (see link below). Once you sign up you’ll receive weekly clips of never-before-seen footage and personal messages from Marty and other crew members.

“There are 270 million digital cameras and cell phones in use today. There have been 5 million reported alien encounters. It was only a matter of time before one was caught on tape. Click It. Watch It. Demand It.”

THE DOBSON FILES official web site

The Man Who Collected Food (2010) USA

Written and directed by Matthew Roth, THE MAN WHO COLLECTED FOOD has been at the top of my must-see list for ages. Recently, the film’s director won an award at the 2010 Indy Horror Film Festival, which has piqued my curiosity even more.

Please visit the official web site for all the details.

“Miguel Appet is a serious collector. He must have the color variants, the rarities, the 1950s originals: every food he can find–and keep–in mint condition. No one but his overbearing mother knows that his home, tucked in the quiet suburb of Cibuston, has become a massive museum to comestibles. His neighbors to the right, dad Horace and son Eustice, don’t notice a thing as they plot their next deer hunt. His neighbor to the left, Kelvin Green, is too busy searching for the alien he’s sure attacked him once. And Miguel eats…people. He has to, since eating his precious food is not an option. However, being a cannibal is not as easy as it seems, especially when you have a collection of food to take care of…”

THE MAN WHO COLLECTED FOOD on IMDb | Facebook | Twitter

Closed for the Season (2010) USA

Written and directed by Jay Woelfel, CLOSED FOR THE SEASON is set in an abandoned amusement park in Chippewa Lake Park, Ohio, where it was also filmed. So perhaps CLOSED is on my list for sentimental reasons as well as horror fandom.

Please visit the official web site for more information, pictures and video.

Also, Shadowcast Pictures’ YouTube channel features webisodes with behind-the-scenes clips and interviews. I suggest that you start with CFTS Webisode 1: ‘What is Closed for the Season?’ and view each episode in order.

“Trapped in a forgotten amusement park, a young girl (Kristy) finds herself terrorized by the living memories of the park. She must break free from the park’s grasp before she becomes its next victim.”

CLOSED FOR THE SEASON on IMDb | Facebook | Twitter

Denizen (2010) USA

I’m always searching for horror films made by women so that’s how I found DENIZEN written and director by J.A. Steel. After reading the synopsis and watching the trailer for this Creature Feature I’ve added it to my “DVD Download or Buy” list. Please visit the official web site for cool stuff: trailer, plot, poster, characters and more.

“Peace gets shattered in a small town, when suddenly a mysterious creature starts to leave a bloody trail. The last hope for the residents to fight the terror and prevent the destruction by military forces rests on the courage and the resourcefulness of a small group of scientists.

Starring Julie Lisandro (Cheerleader Massacre), Glen Jensen (Fingerprints, Soul’s Midnight), Ben Bayless and Jody Mullins the latest J.A. Steel directed horror-action shocker DENIZEN will be accompanied later this year by a stunning comic tie-in, created by Lawrence White and White Eye Comics.”

DENIZEN on DVD | IMDB | Facebook | Twitter

Mass Acre Hill (2009) Canada

Written and directed by Dan Francis and Jamie Francis. Please visit the official web site for all the details.

“When a secret government aircraft crash lands on a remote hillside, two pilots Ben Boone and Coen Smith, find themselves alive but struggling to stay that way against a deranged cult, drug dealers and the living dead.”

MASS ACRE HILL on DVD | IMDb | Facebook | Twitter

Strigoi (2008) UK

Here’s another Creature Feature but this time with vampires and a little harder to slap with one specific genre. STRIGOI, written and directed by Faye Jackson, her first full-length film, has won a few indie awards and I cannot wait to see it. If I could buy it, I would.

Please check out the official web site for more information and be sure to read the interview with Faye Jackson.

“Vlad (Catalin Paraschiv) investigates a mysterious death in his grandfather’s village that raises questions about land ownership in the community. The trail points to ex-communist bully Constantin Tirescu and his wife, but when Vlad confronts them, he discovers that the richest landowners in the village have become real bloodsuckers.”

STRIGOI on Netflix | IMDb | Facebook | Twitter

If you’ve already watched any of these films, I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, or feedback.

For those who haven’t seen any of these films, which one would you most like to watch right now, if any?

———————————————————————————————————

Are you an indie filmmaker who needs fan support for his/her latest project?

Contact me and I’d be happy to check out your project. Horror films usually get preferential treatment but I’m open to all genres as long as the story is tight with clear direction.

4 stars out of 5

Remember when horror moviegoers used to pee their pants for movies with killers they didn’t know a thing about? Sometimes the killers wore masks and moviegoers never even saw the killers’ faces? And the mystery added to the film’s scariness and the villain’s badass factor.

Ah, the good old days.

Apparently, “modern” horror fans can’t be bothered to observe the characters, listen to the dialogue, pay attention to the setting and, if necessary, make an inference once or twice. When did it become a requirement for “good” horror movies to lay everything out on a silver platter and tie it all up with a bow at the end? Uh, hello, Michael Myers didn’t need a reason or a face–he was just evil. Period.

If you’ve read any other reviews then you probably saw something mentioned about plot holes in THE COLLECTOR. Well I disagree, to a certain extent. Sure, I had to overlook one bump in the plot, suspend my disbelief – just once – to stay in the story. But it was worth it.

The writers didn’t take shortcuts anywhere else in the screenplay so I can allow them one “quick fix” because it moved the story forward and plopped me down smack dab in the middle of the fire. I found the opening scenes were more than sufficient to give me the backstory on Arkin (Josh Stewart) and foreshadow the events to come. Around the 25 minute mark was when the action started and it didn’t let up until the credits.

Let me geek out over the writing for just a minute, okay?

Writers are always instructed to throw everything AND the kitchen sink at their characters, especially the main character. We’re taught, if something bad happens, look at the bad thing and make it even worse. Take your character to the brink, dangle him over the edge, then he either saves himself or dies trying. Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan did just that when they wrote the screenplay for THE COLLECTOR. And what they did even better than that was to keep you engrossed in the story and invested in the characters’ survival so that you didn’t sit there looking for what they could do or what might happen next.

You had no choice – you just had to wait and see.

Well I’m not really great at the whole “patience” thing; I just fidgeted in my seat at first and mumbled a bit. But as the tension grew so did my anxiety. It wasn’t long before I yelled comments like “Go! Go! Go!” All the while tapping my foot and teetering on the edge of my seat. I’m not sure the last time I’ve been that anxious and tense. The Strangers (2008) comes to mind but surely there’s been something else since then? (My memory is on vacation at the moment.)

I do know you won’t find too many other horror flicks with as good a match up – protagonist versus antagonist – as this one. Arkin makes smart choices, albeit mostly defensive ones, that really test The Collector (Juan Fernández). It’s quite fun to watch their cat and mouse game; although, in this case, it’s more like a cat and cat game. Good times!

Trailer:

Synopsis:

Desperate to repay his debt to his ex-wife, an ex-con plots a heist at his new employer’s country home, unaware that a second criminal has also targeted the property, and rigged it with a series of deadly traps.

Solid writing and genuine acting combined with an excellent use of light, sound effects and music all work together to create a top-notch seriously intense flick that horror fans will enjoy. It’s important to note, however, if you cannot stomach in-your-face gore then you might want to skip THE COLLECTOR. Also, there’s some brief nudity during a sexual situation.

Do you ever talk to or yell at a character during a movie?

Web Resources

The Collector official site | on IMDb | on Netflix | Purchase the DVD

(DVD viewed on 5/5/10)

4 stars out of 5

Watching THE SIGNAL I experienced every emotion known to man except disappointment. There were some really bloody, violent scenes that made me cringe. Then there was a good 20 minutes or so where I thought I’d pee myself from laughing so hard — the scene with Clark and Lewis, “not Jim Parsons…” was friggin’ hilarious whilst being an excellent way for the writers to show us just how deranged some people might be in that situation.

I didn’t realize THE SIGNAL was directed by three different people until after I’d already watched it; however, that totally explains the three sequences and their almost bipolar variances in dialogue, tone and atmosphere. I enjoyed the basic plot of the film: a signal broadcast over the TV and radio causes people to go homicidal (“Do you have the crazy?“) but not in the traditional zombie sort of way.

The love story / love triangle, which had me pulling for Mya and Ben until the very end, was vital to the film’s success. Had the writers not given me someone to care about before the darkness set in I might not have connected with the story. And hands down, without Anessa Ramsey, Justin Welborn and AJ Bowen, I would not have enjoyed Mya, Ben and Lewis quite as much.

Despite repeated views, I’m not quite sure I get the movie or its ending, but I was definitely entertained. Like I wrote earlier: a love it or hate it flick, for sure. Oh yeah, the brief nudity mentioned in the rating is a quick shot of Justin Welborn’s butt at the beginning of the film.

Very weird movie; check it out for yourself.

Do you ever question the effects of all the signals zooming around us every day? Or what would happen if someone manipulated those signals?

WEB RESOURCES

The Signal official site | on IMDb | on Netflix | Purchase from Amazon

(Watched Instantly on 6/14/08)

3 1/2 stars out of 5

Okay, if I’m being completely honest, a few of those 80 minutes I wasn’t entertained; hence, only 3 1/2 stars. But when the writing dulled or the plot holes threatened to swallow me whole, either the great soundtrack or the chunks of gore saved the day. Or, Nathan’s best friends, Henry and Diggs, dropped some comic relief, which caused me to laugh and overlook the not-so-stellar moments.

Since BOY EATS GIRL was released in 2005, I have to think the filmmakers attempted to follow in the footsteps of Shaun of the Dead (2004), which is just fine except those are wicked big footsteps. SHAUN was the first RomComZom (romantic comedy with zombies) and thus far, the best. BOY grasped the concept and took an impressive bite out of the premise but fell short of its mark in the overall scheme of things.

The love story resembled My Boyfriend’s Back (1993) while the relationship dynamics were closer to those in Dance of the Dead (2008); Neither of which was close to the awesomeness that is SHAUN OF THE DEAD. Plus, not only did the zombies in this movie run (and snarl), but they were the result of a mother’s incorrectly performed Voodoo ritual to resurrect her dead son, who then transmitted the condition to others through a bite. Hmm… And these zombies could be cured by — wait for it — a snake bite.

At any rate, despite its flaws, rabid zombie addicts will get a kick outta this movie. If for nothing else than to see a young man gettin’ head from a zombie chick.

Yeah, that doesn’t end so well for the young man.

Or his penis.

Here’s the trailer:

Here’s the synopsis:

A boy declares his love for his girlfriend, only to die the same night. He is brought back to life by his mother as a flesh-craving zombie, who sires more teen undead while trying to control his, er, appetite for his beloved.

One more thing: There was a scene that had to be an homage to Dead Alive (aka Braindead, 1992) and that scene was all kinds of gorelicious fun so give this flick a chance.

Are Voodoo zombies more plausible than the virus variety? Why?

WEB RESOURCES

Boy Eats Girl on IMDb | on Netflix | Purchase from Amazon

(Watched Instantly on 3/12/2010)