Palace of Horror

New Midnight Movie Teaser Trailer

2008-05-04T18:43:59Z

The new trailer is on the official website and is pretty easy to locate. I’m liking this film so far because it looks like a combination of Demons and Friday the 13th. This particular trailer shows off more of the gore and blood than any of the previous trailers did.

In the film a midnight showing of an early 1970’s horror movie turns to chaos when the Killer from the movie comes out of the film to attack those in the theater. You can check out the trailer by heading over to the new official site.

Johnny Sunshine Review

2008-05-04T19:11:33Z

At first glance I thought this androgynous like creature was a man in woman’s digs but I was wrong Johnny Sunshine is definitely a female and she likes the kill fuck. Johnny might be a female but she kills like a man. She can kick some major ass and will if you fuck with her. In Johnny’s world reality TV is the in thing. Well wait a minute, I guess it is in our world as well.

Johnny goes out and selects her victims brings them back and tortures them right before she fucks then murders them. She needs the hot warm blood spurting all over her face and bodt to become extremely aroused, hey we all have fetishes right? Max seems to be the king of the city and he will not hesitate to watch you be maimed and killed.

This movie made my stomach turn a few times but never enough to turn away. If you are of a subtle nature this movie will whip you senseless and leave you lying in a quivering heap on the floor. It was way bloodier and twisted than I thought it would be, which was an added bonus. In the world we live in today loves conflict and brutality and this flick has both.

Somewhere in the back of your mind tells you that Johnny Sunshine has some severe mental problems that allow her to want and need these kills. Can this woman survive in such a holocaustic environment over run by evil? Do you like to watch? If so then this is certainly on your side of the fence. Reality bites, stabs, and fucks some major shit up while you the viewer tries to get a grip.

The Evolution of Villainesses in Horror

2008-05-04T18:27:17Z

Women have come a long way since the beginning of the beloved horror genre. They have gone from just playing hopeless damsels in distress to now playing kick ass “scream queen” heroines. However, there is one type of character women have not been able to conquer in the horror genre as well as their male counterparts, and that is the villain. (Or villainess I should say.)

Think about it. How many times have you seen a slasher movie where a strong, well-built, and seemingly indestructible killer (disguised in a mask, cloak or parka) who is hunting down teenagers who lack any survival skills whatsoever, reveal “himself” to actually be a female? All of a sudden that “Kane-Hodder” like body instantly metamorphsizes into a slender body, and the viewers are meant to believe that it’s completely plausible for a woman to be responsible for all the mayhem and the murders that happened before she exposed herself to the audience.

Every time I’ve seen this happen in movies, I always feel compelled to defend my gender to my male friends. (Even though I myself think it’s also completely ludicrous.) I’ve heard myself say things like, “What do you mean? Sure the Noxzema girl could hang, strangle, pour liquid Drano down grown men’s’ throats!” “Are you kidding? Jackie from Roseanne could totally pull Jamie Kennedy into a news van in broad daylight and stab him 20 times without him fighting back once!” “Betsy Palmer is totally scarier than Jason! Yes she is! Yes she f*cking is!” These obviously false statements are usually followed with the “Who the hell are you trying to kid?” glances. Which I always reply in defeat with the “I don’t f*cking know” shrugs.

It wasn’t until I watched Haute Tension (or Switchblade Romance as I prefer to call it) that I truly came to realize how women still had a long way to go to effectively play convincing killers. This is because when I first watched the film, all the scared sh*tless feelings I was experiencing were instantly dissolved when it turned out the strange male killing machine was in fact Marie all along. When she was chasing her friend with the saw, I couldn’t help but think how much scarier the film would have been if Alexandre Aja had just played it as a straight home invasion horror film, instead of using the twist at the end, because Cecile De France just didn’t invoke fear into me like Philippe Nahon did.

This got me thinking as to how funny it is how viewers can buy how once defenseless women can change into strong protagonists who can set up “Home alone” like booby traps in less than 20 minutes and defeat killers who seem to have every move premeditated, but somehow the majority of us can not buy women playing deranged serial killers.

The only time we ever seem to find women scary is when they are possessed, scorned lovers, anal retentive transvestite camp counselors, ghosts who have long stringy black hair covering their faces, or chronically horny nymphomaniacs with ice picks. (Although half of that list is not as much “scary” as it is over the top and hilarious!)

Finally, filmmakers have started to figure out how women killers appear on screen and decided to switch things up a bit. Late last year, I witnessed two movies called The Girl Next Door and A l’interieur. (Better known to horror fiends as Inside.) In both these films, they had lead female antagonists that shook me (and those around me) to the core. They didn’t need to use supernatural forces, sex appeal, or boil a bunny to prove that they were frightening. Their bloodcurdling and chilling performances as ‘Aunt Ruthie’ and ‘the stranger’ said it all.

Being female, I can definitely admit that we still have some way to go when it comes to being portrayed as powerful villainesses; however women now are definitely giving the male counterparts a run for their money. (THANK GOD! )

So what are your thoughts, horror fans? Do you think women can be equally as scary as men in horror films?

Another Director for Clock Tower

2008-05-04T18:24:18Z

The first director announced for this job was Jorge Olguin but soon his vision wasn’t meshing well with the studio so he is was dropped. Then Don Carmody was up for the job and for some reason he was dropped. Lastly Eric Valette was up for the job. But according to Variety we now have a new director behind the project, Martin Weisz.

Eric Poppen who worked on the Borderland script will try and make this story combine elements of all of the Clock Tower games. But the focus of this new film will be on “Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within,” in which the heroine finds herself locked up in a psychiatric hospital as she tries to escape the curse that has haunted her family for generations.

My hope is that Weisz does not turn this into another Hills Have Eyes 2. The game is spooky because of the atmosphere that is created. Not because of the gore or the shock element which is pretty much all we know him for. Shooting on the film is expected to begin in July.

Details on Filmax’s Paintball

2008-05-04T18:54:04Z

Filmmax has released quite a few details about their upcoming project Paintball. Several horror films have used a paintball scenario in their film but none have built an entire film around the idea. So this should be an interesting film with Daniel Benmayor making his directoral debut.

The script was written by Mario Schoendorff. The synopsis that is given is extremely long so instead of breaking it down for you I’ll let you read over the entire thing below:

A truck rumbles down a potholed track. In the back sit a group of passengers, their eyes blindfolded. They don’t know each other, but they have a lot in common: they’re young, urban workaholics, with an appetite for extreme experiences. They’ve signed up for a weekend of adventure.

As they head out into the unknown, they hear the others breathing in the darkness, steadying their pulses in silence as the adrenaline begins to flow…

The blindfolds come off to reveal a dense forest. Each player is equipped with supplies to last the weekend, a powerful paintball gun, ammunition, maps and instructions. They have to complete an adventure trail that takes in ravines, caves and obstacle-ridden trekking paths. The group is split into two teams. The winners will be the team that wipes out their opponents and completes the circuit. They wanted adventure? They got it.

Deep in the woods, one group is ambushed. Invisible snipers pin them down in a hail of paint – then one of their number collapses, writhing in agony. Red blood mixes with the paint. Confusion reigns. Who is shooting at them? In the silence, they stare round at each other, and into the forest, looking for a traitor – or some kind of explanation.

The rules of the game have changed. The only law is the law of the jungle, and nobody trusts anybody else. Hidden among the trees, camouflaged by leaves and branches, there are deadly traps. Hunted down like prey in a lethal game, the teams face a desperate struggle for survival. There’s nothing like a brush with death to make you feel alive.

Art of the Devil Remake Coming

2008-05-04T18:22:29Z

This should come as no surprise that Art of the Devil, the extremely popular Thai horror series has been acquired by Cerenzie-Peters Prods. for a remake. While each installment of the series follows a new story line, what links them are the themes of revenge, black magic and mysterious deaths. CP will begin by focusing on the second installment, which featured a group of high school kids who fall victim to supernatural tattoos.

“There is a wealth of material that we feel culturally translates extremely well from the pan-Asian regions, and we feel we have an amazing franchise on our hands,” CP Prinicpal Christine Peters told The Hollywood Reporter.

Top Ten Werewolf Movies Worth Watching

2008-05-01T00:31:27Z

As many of you know, werewolf films are my favorite. All of my life I have been mesmerized by watching men change into beasts…and now as an adult I see it all too often. But this week, in honor of the new Benicio del Torro Wolf Man that keeps teasing me, I have decided to list my favorite werewolf films. If you have seen these, then you are ready. If not, I suggest you get out there and enjoy. Howl at the moon, rip off your clothes, and gorge yourself on the:

Top Ten Werewolves Worth Watching

10. The Howling 2 (1985) - This may seem like an odd film for this list, but I have to admit it’s a guilty pleasure for me. This movie is just flat out fun. And hey, Christopher Lee is in it…how awesome is that? As a sequel, it’s pretty usual fare, especially for the 80’s but I dig it. And for you boobie hounds, make sure you stick around for the end credits just to count how many times Sybil Danning rips her top open. It’s pretty funny.

9. The Wolf Man (1941) - So you know I have to give some love to the Wolf Man. I would like to put it higher, but it’s more a sentimental nod than anything. This film helped shaped all the werewolf films after it. Even if Lon Chaney Jr. looks like nothing more than a hirsute man about town and is probably the only known carnivore to choke his victims, this transformation is still cool to watch today.

8. Wolf (1999) - I know a lot of people crapped on this film but I think it is highly underrated. Jack Nicholson’s wolf man is another example of poor shaving hygiene and although I prefer the more wolfy wolves, this film is plenty deeper than most realize upon the first viewing.

7. Wolfen (1981) - Wolfen is another one that doesn’t fit the traditional werewolf film ideas, but it’s cool nonetheless. These are shape shifters in the sense that they turn into actual wolves from Native American folklore. A nice change from the full moon bit. Plus there is a great cast with Albert Finney, Gregory Hines and Edward James Olmos.

6. The Company of Wolves (1984) - This fractured fairytale is one of my favorites (obviously it’s on the list…I know). It has a creepy feel that puts me in mind of Sleepy Hollow. Neil Jordan who also directed The Crying Game, In Dreams and Interview with the Vampire brings the fable of Little Red Riding Hood to life with a nasty little twist. This film is much more than your everyday werewolf movie. It delves deep into numerous themes and is saturated with sexual connotations. Men really are beasts.

5. Ginger Snaps (2000) - Just when I was starting to think that the days of good werewolf flicks were behind me, along came Ginger. And she rocked. The wolf itself was a little disappointing for me, but everything up to it made it well worth the ride. Ginger and her equally twisted sister, Beatrice love the macabre and spend the majority of their time setting up grisly displays of death and morbidity. I love these chicks. One day, though, reality comes a-knockin’ and Ginger answers the door. That is when the fun really begins.

4. Silver Bullet (1985) - How can you not love a film that involves a drunk Gary Busey? Doesn’t every Gary Busey film fit that category? And every home video he wandered into? Oh well. In this entry based on a Stephen King story, Corey Haim is in a wheelchair, his sister mostly gets on my nerves and someone in town is having their time of the month. A staple in any lupine video collection, Silver Bullet ended up being much better than it should have been. It is chock full of one-liners and fun scenes. How can you not laugh when the creature steals your weapon and beats you with it?

3. Dog Soldiers (2002) - Wow. All I could say when I watched this film was “wow.” Neil Marshall (The Descent, Doomsday) brings forth a masterpiece of modern lycanthropic cinema. Superb performances are seen from Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Liam Cunningham and one of my favorites, Darren Morfitt. You actually care about the characters, it’s fast-paced and scary, and I am crazy about the effects. Marshall proves you don’t have to be chained to your PC to produce clever, enjoyable creatures.

2. An American Werewolf in London (1981) - John Landis’ perfect film is not only scary but funny and even created an Oscar category. Damn. In this film you will witness the greatest ever transformation scene. 27 years later and no one has touched it or even come close. David Naughton is the sexiest werewolf I have ever seen too. You absolutely cannot go wrong here and if you have never seen it, what are you waiting for? How can you call yourself a fan? Get out there NOW and watch it.

1. The Howling (1981) - Okay, while I am perfectly aware that AAWiL is the superior film technically, there will always be a special place in my heart for The Howling. Isn’t it interesting though that two of the greatest werewolf films ever made came out in the same year? I saw them both in the theater and even back then loved The Howling. I knew it would always be my favorite. For one, I have a thing for bipedal werewolves. They are scarier to me because they look completely unnatural. Also this film is sexy and raw. I probably quote this film more than any
other.

The Stepfather Trailer

2008-04-15T00:02:46Z

A seemingly average man, after murdering his entire family, remarries a widow with a teenage daughter in another town and prepares to do it again.

My Bloody Valentine 3-D

2008-05-04T19:22:11Z

It’s the classic horror film setting: A quiet small town with its storefronts, alleys and police station providing the backdrop for a crazed killer’s spree of murder, mayhem and wreaking havoc on unsuspecting residents.

Those sites have caught the eye of moviemakers who spent Tuesday scouting locations in Kittanning and Ford City and at area coal mines for the filming of their movie, “My Bloody Valentine 3-D.”

The Lionsgate Production movie is a remake of a 1981 Hollywood slasher flick about a madman who preys on a town on Valentine’s Day.

The Hollywood movie crew will be shooting some of the scenes for the film next month on the streets of Kittanning, on the Kittanning Bridge, at Sprankle’s Market in Kittanning and the Ford City police station, outside the Logansport Mine in Bethel and inside the Tour-Ed Mine in Fawn, Allegheny County.

Production begins May 11 in Kittanning. The schedule has film crews in Ford City on May 15. The movie is to be released next January.
According to producers, Armstrong County has exactly what they are looking for.

“Our story is in a small rural town,” said Jack Murray, executive producer. “Kittanning and Ford City are beautiful small towns. This whole area is very scenic, and yet it’s got a nice peaceful quality about it.”

On Tuesday a busload of about 40 movie producers, directors and technicians arrived and walked through the two communities checking out buildings, measuring things and doing a lot of pointing.

It was their last chance to look over locations before filming starts next month.

“We’re scouting,” Murray said. “This is all of our technical crew and they’re looking at things like where we would put up a light, where would the cables go, where do we park all the trucks. We’re a sprawling bunch.”

The cast and crew will number more than 100 during the week of shooting.

“It’s a good way to promote the borough,” said Ford City Councilman Tom Shaffer. “The crews will be visiting restaurants and other businesses. It will be a good stimulus for people and good for businesses.”

Kittanning will be prepared for the short movie-making stay, according to borough council president Gerald Shuster.

“The community is responding exceedingly well to what they’ve asked us to do,” Shuster said.

Shuster said arrangements are being made to park about 40-50 production equipment vehicles around town.

In addition, PennDOT and Kittanning police are cooperating with the movie company on the closing of one lane of the Kittanning Bridge for filming on Mother’s Day, May 11, he said.

“My Bloody Valentine 3-D” will be the third major movie shot in the county. Previously, “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Mothman Prophecies” filmed scenes here.

“They told us that “Mothman” brought them back,” Shuster said of the movie made partly in Kittanning several years ago. “They said the area was a great place to be in for making a movie.”

“There will be a lot of excitement here again,” Shuster said.