Saturday, March 23, 2013

The Pit Wants You This Summer



jug faceJug Face tells the story of a teen, pregnant with her brother's child, trying to escape from a backwoods community when she discovers that she must sacrifice herself to a creature in a pit. The film is directed by Chad Crawford Kinkle and stars Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Bridgers, Sean Young, Larry Fessenden, Daniel Manche. It is expecting a pre-July theatrical release on VOD which will be followed by national release. The specific VOD date is yet to be announced.

Ada, her family and a small isolated backwoods community worship a mysterious pit.  The pit has the power to heal and protect all who honor it but at a deadly price…it demands an occasional sacrifice.

New Poster And Trailer For Eddie The Sleepwalking Cannibal



Eddie-the-Sleepwalking-CannibalEddie The Sleepwalking Cannibal comes out VOD April 5th as well as a limited theatrical run. Check out the new trailer to celebrate the zombie comedy’s release. Directed by Boris Rodriguez the film stars Thure Lindhardt, Dylan Smith, Georgina Reilly, Al Goulem, Paul Braunstein and Stephen McHattie.

Lars Olafssen (Thure Lindhardt), once a young celebrity in the art world is slipping away fast into the land of has-beens. His long-time art dealer, Ronny (Stephen McHattie), is now an ungracefully aging hipster who desperately wants his meal ticket back. But Lars refuses to paint. His creativity comes at too high a cost – his inspiration is carnage – blood, guts and limbs. Not surprisingly, this lead to a dreadful breakdown in the past. Nevertheless, an eager Ronny arranges a teaching job for Lars with his old friend Harry (Al Goulem) at an art school in Koda Lake, a small Canadian town in the middle of nowhere. It’s a “therapeutic” measure for Lars – a means to conquer his need to paint in the “safety” of a country retreat… and perhaps lead to romance, with his fellow teacher, Leslie (Georgina Reilly). That is, until Eddie (Dylan Smith) comes into his life.

Psychotic Saturdays! Six Psychotic Shorts To Check Out


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Psychotic Saturdays! Almost past me by! Dealing with a little of that psychotica myself today. However I have been spending my time in mental unwind with some truly demented fictional characters. So to celebrate this day and all that is cray-cray here are some horror shorts that show the truly deranged minds that plague our nightmares. Check them out and as always have a very contrary-insane-psychotic Saturday!

Teddy 2011

teddy"Teddy" tells the story of four college students that get more than the bargained for. The film is directed by Steve Goltz and was written by Goltz with Kevin Sommerfield. . A throwback to the slasher films of the 1980's, "Teddy: It's Gonna be a Bear" tells the story of four college students that get more than the bargained for when a hit-and-run accident turns into murder. Revenge is a dish best served hot with a hatchet in one hand and a teddy bear in the other. Will they "bearly" be able to survive the night? Teddy can be purchased on the films site here!




Brian Dorton’s Doll Parts 2011

doll partsA young man goes on a killing spree, killing his family, and friends. Brian Dorton directed this serial killer short which starred Angie Keeling, Sean Kasky and Austin Kitterman. Doll Parts was part of the horror anthology Theatre Of The Deranged. You can check it out here!



Velvet Vengeance 2012

velvet vengeanceA young woman is faced with the tragic murder of her brother. The police swear that the murderer is dead but Alice can not shake the feeling that the killer is still alive. Against her friends and family's best wishes she travels to the location of her brothers murder to hunt the killer but little does she know that she is the one that is being hunted. Directed by Jeremy Campbell this one is in pre-production to become a feature film. Check it out here!






Horribly Slow Murderer With The Extremely Efficient Weapon (2008)

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The epic story of one man's encounter with what could be the most relentless murderer of all time. Directed by Richard Gale and you can check it out here!








Aftermath (1994)

aftermathWhen the others leave for the night, the last mortician begins to fondle the corpses. He quickly moves to the corpse of a young woman who died in a car crash, tearing her clothes off and mutilating her body. He then mounts her and rapes her corpse while taking pictures with a camera and timer. He brings her heart back home to his dog for food. Directed by Nacho Cerdà you can find out more about it here!







Unmimely Demise (2013)


unmimely demiseUnmimely Demise was filmed in 2011 but will be available to all on the Theatre Of The Deranged II anthology which comes out this year. I saw the short film for a feature review of the anthology. It is fun and twisted. After 10 years, Cheeky the Mime returns reaping havoc on anyone in his path. Armed with an arsenal of invisible weapons, it is up to a meek friend from Cheeky's past to stop him! Directed by James Cullen Bressack check out more about it here!

Check Out The Crowd Funding For Return To Arthouse Horror Flowers



fanNEW copy_thumb[1]Director Phil Stevens latest horror film Flowers is an abstract surreal film told absent dialogue and solely relying on visual stimulation to build upon emotion through a journey. The film has only fourteen days left on it’s Kickstarter campaign so there is still time to check out this project. Stevens states, “ Flowers is a film that builds on the journey and not the destination.”

Six dead women wake up in the crawl space below their killer's house only to discover that they are trapped in their own limbo and purgatory. The house itself contains many rooms revealing hints and clues to their past lives and how they've come to end up where they are. One by one and alone, each girl is forced to accept their fate or remain in place, between the walls of a rotting house.

Friday, March 22, 2013

22 Second Riddick Tease



riddick-3-vin-diesel-throneVin Diesel released a 22 second teaser trailer for the upcoming Riddick movie on his Facebook Page today. The film sees Riddick left for dead on a sun scorched planet, up against an alien race of predators. Activating an emergency beacon alerts two ships: one carrying a new breed of mercenary, the other captained by a man from Riddick's past. The film also stars Karl Urban and Katee Sackhoff.

Origin Bringing Cowboys VS Vampires To U.S.



DVD Template 30.10.03Origin Releasing is heading off there 2013 film slate with Cowboys VS Vampires. The film was successful overseas winning IndieFest Best Picture 2011. The film, written and directed by Douglas Meyers stars Jasen Wade (Amber Alert), Emmy award winner Angelica Celaya (Perro Amor) and Shannon Whirry (Me Myself and Irene).  Fans who are heading to the Lone Star Comic Con will get a chance to view the film followed by a short festival run before wide release. Cowboys and Vampires is a dark humored Vampire/Horror film that also pays homage to the Old West and a generation that believed in John Wayne instead of Freddy Krueger.

The stage is set for terror when a new management team takes over a famous western theme park and film studio and transform their annual Halloween Fright Fest into a spectacular horror event for the tourists billed as "a truly horrifying descent into hell," The climax of opening night is a thrilling excursion into the town's "Lost Dutchman's Cave," which goes deep into the bowels of the earth, but a couple of park hands enter the cave and stumble upon an ancient burial urn which they accidentally break causing a horrific chain of events to take place and hell opens it's gates!

New Poster For Easter Casket Movie

ecposterA new poster for the horror film that plans to color your eggs red has released a new poster. Easter Casket is being directed by Dustin Mills. It is still in the fundraising stages that are set up over at Indiegogo.

All hell breaks loose when Peter Cottontail aka The Easter Bunny hears that the Catholic Church is about to do away with all Easter rituals not pertaining directly to the resurrection of Christ. With Father Asher (A warrior priest) hot on his trail Cottontail starts a rampage leaving the bodies of the clergy (and a few schoolgirls) in his wake. Can Asher stop him before its too late?


Tinsel Gets DVD Release Date



tinsel dvd coverThe short film Tinsel will be released on March 26th and is now available for pre-order at the film’s site. The movie directed by Mikel Ledesma tells the story of a girl’s nightmare turned real. An escaped psychopath finds it's way into a young woman's nightmares, turning a seemingly normal Christmas party into a whirlwind of psychological thrills and twists. The film stars Michael Gardner, Roni Hummel, Bryan Quinn, Houston Ries, Mika Abdalla, Alisha Revel, Kensley Grant, James Dewitt, Jori Gill, Hollee McMurray, Tabitha Evans, Kristin Butler, Tylor West, Ebonee Pittman And Chance Gibbs.

Mikel Ledesma is currently in pre-production for the follow up to this film with Tinsel II: The Beginning. That story will be more of a prequel taking the nightmare back to start of this horrific journey. Among the cast members so far there is Mika Abdalla, Houston Ries, Roni Hummel, Bryan Quinn and Katharine Joy Franco.

New Trailer For Acclaimed Railway Children



railway childrenCheck out the newest trailer for the critically acclaimed film Railway Children. The film is written, produced and directed by Jason Figgis. It is under negotiations for U.S distribution deal now.

The world has been devastated by a virus that has decimated the adult population leaving small children and teenagers to roam the scarred landscape attempting to form some kind of society with dramatic and violent results. Sisters Evie (Catherine Wrigglesworth) and Fran (Emily Forster) have been travelling from town to town, gathering food and finding accommodation as they move from place to place. They keep to themselves; Evie reading chapters from E. Nesbit’s classic children's story ‘The Railway Children' to her little sister in an attempt to bring a sense of normality to their bleak existence - the novel was a favorite bedtime read as both girls were growing up; their mother (Jennifer Graham) their favorite reader. Finding overnight shelter in a derelict building, the sisters soon settle down only to be awoken by shouts from another room. Investigating, Evie witnesses the beating of a girl. She watches in horror until the mob leaves the building and the girl behind. Tentatively going to her aid, the girl whom Evie discovers is called Alice (Justine Rodgers) leads them to a large building at the edge of the city from where they hear singing coming from a basement window. They investigate . . .
. . .so begins a battle of wills between newcomers and those holding tenuous threads of a commune civilization together; add to this further invidious threats from two of the girls’ darker pasts and an already tense atmosphere is soon to explode into violence.



RAILWAY CHILDREN (2013) - Official Trailer from Jason Figgis on Vimeo.

Intruder Clip From State Of Emergency Film



state of emergencyCheck out this clip for the zombie film State Of Emergency. The film is due out April 6th through Image Entertainment and stars Jay Hayden, Andy Stahl, Tori White and Scott Lilly. It is directed by Turner Clay.

After an explosion unleashes the contents of a military bio-weapons plant, the unsuspecting populace is transformed into a roaming army of flesh-eating zombies. Trapped in the quarantine zone, Jim (Jay Hayden, A Warrior's Heart) finds himself cut off, confused and fighting for his own survival. Contacted by a small band of others unaffected by the toxins, Jim sets out to reach their besieged warehouse. Becoming the group's de-facto leader, he struggles to keep order as they hunker down, fortify their stronghold and arm themselves against the attacking mutants. Fragmentary radio reports from outside hint at a last-ditch government rescue plan. But can the survivors hold out until help arrives... or will they succumb to the living hell of an undead apocalypse?

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Get Ready For Some Trash March 31st 2013



trashologyBrian Dorton’s Trashology comes out on DVD March 31st 2013 courtesy of Slasher//Video.  The side image is from the anthology’s insert artwork. Below you will see the actual DVD cover art and details about this awesome little piece of Indie trash! The film stars Rodney Horn (Geri Horn), Douglas Conner, Brian Dorton, Laura Lee Black, Jenny Coulter, Angie Keeling and Sean Kasky. College student Tracy (Laura Lee Black) has just received an assignment to write a report on her favorite film genre. In her research she discovers a book, now Tracy is taken into three interlocking tales of the unexpected.

First in THE VAT, two women (Jenny Coulter / Rodney Horn) are harassed by a jealous fanatic (Angie Keeling) about their worldly ways. When the bible thumping hypocrite threatens violence, chaos takes it's toll. Next in BIG DEBBIE, a robust woman (Rodney Horn) is abandoned at the altar, she runs into two guys that use her to fulfill their odd sexual fetish. When one accidentally dies, they're forced to get rid of the body... the only problem: a woman on the edge (Rachel Stout) witnesses the ditching and blackmails them into killing her cheating girlfriend (Kelli Ellis). Finally in INGLOURIOUS BITCHES, a quirky pair of female vigilantes (Douglas Conner / Brian Dorton) use an app on a cellphone to track down and murder sex offenders. You can read my review of the film here.

trashology dvd cover

More Byzantium Photos

Byzantium-4-610x428Check out these new stills from the Vamp flick Byzantium starring Gemma Arterton Saoirse Ronan, and Sam Riley. The film is directed by Neil Jordon. It is due out in limited release on June 28th 2013.


Eleanor and Clara, two mysterious and penniless young women, flee the scene of a violent crime and arrive in a run-down coastal resort. They try to find money and refuge along the tawdry seafront and in the dilapidated hotels.

Clara, ever-practical, sells her body. She soon meets shy and lonely Noel, who provides a roof over their heads in his seedy guesthouse, Byzantium. Clara, always looking towards the future, turns it into a ‘pop-up’ brothel.

Meanwhile Eleanor, the eternal schoolgirl, meets Frank, a kindred spirit who unwittingly prompts her to tell the truth about her life. She tells him that Clara is her mother; yet Clara is only a few years older. She says that she was born in 1804; yet she is just sixteen. She confesses that she must drink human blood to stay alive – and so must her mother. In the small, quiet town, people start to die.
And the past that the girls have been running from for so long, finally catches up with them – with astonishing consequences.
 
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My Review Of South Of Sanity 2012



south of sanitySouth of Sanity is a UK thriller/slasher flick directed by Kirk Watson and is the first ever fictional feature shot entirely on location in Antarctica. The movie deals with a small research team tucked away on the icy snow covered shores of the continent within the small confines of a British facility during the winter. The movie blends elements of dramatic character study with classic horror slasher in one dark story of afflictions of the mind and isolation. It is a pretty well written story with a classic yet modern spin to the traditional horror tale of man facing the psychotic monster that is neither otherworldly nor fantastical rather very human and even more dangerous. The setting is similar to other films located in these desolate corners of the earth still untarnished by industrialization only with South Of Sanity the location is very much for real, not set recreations nor faux locations more hospitable. This film was shot and edited entirely on that one mysterious frozen continent lavishing pristine at the bottom of the globe. 

Now for my thoughts on the film. First I set down not really expecting much and as I began this somber tale I almost felt justified in that notion. The movie starts in that melancholia state that lingers between droll and mundane with the majority of the on screen action belonging solely to dialog and near emotionless human interaction. That was only for the first 20 minutes though and I was pleasantly surprised by the movies ability to slap me out of my discontent with how simple and yet sadistic the murders transpire. No big fanfare or harkening  instrumental sounds to herald in the horror. This film as you might tell from my language moves in a rather slow and steady pace almost right up to the very end. Just a warning to anyone seeking heavy thrills or insane gore that this film will not hit that g-spot for you. However the movie is straight up chilling in delivering a great unknown masked slasher that is unapologetic and brutal in his systematic method of execution of the characters. When the killer is on screen it almost snaps you back to the glory days of horror with deranged killers that seem to have no love or remorse what so ever. The film gives a gradual rise in climax toward the end of the film and holds your attention until the final moment when the killer is realized. That scene already has me wondering if we will see him again maybe in the Galapagos or South America some where. Or maybe he will just linger around the research facility knocking off any more vile representation of humanity who dare come to Antarctica. Either way the movie is a good Indie film that takes the story serious and presents us with a great new slasher character.

Trailer For Spanish Horror Witching & Bitching Released



witching and bitchingCheck out the trailer for the Spanish grindhouse horror flick Witching & Bitching/Las brujas de Zugarramurdi . The film comes from director Alex de la Iglesia and is scheduled for release this fall 2013. It stars Hugo Silva, Mario Casas, Carmen Maura Terele Pavez and Caorlina Bang.

When you have your marriage on the brink and your bank account in red, it's time to rob a Cash-for-Gold shop. That's the last-ditch decision made by a group of desperate guys led by divorced dad JOSEPH. Unfortunately for all, José never lets his kid down and the day of the break-in is his day of the Week with his 8-year old son. Looks like little Sergio Will Have to tag along. They make it out of the shop with a bag full of 25.000 gold wedding rings only to find Their getaway car has Disappeared: Antonio's wife had to go shopping.

Dark Comedy Happy House Gets Release Date



happy houseHappy House is directed by D.W Young and follows a couple leaving their Brooklyn home for a chance to get back that spark that seems to have died. They set of to a weekend B&B. Arriving at The Happy House, they soon begin to suspect they’ve wandered into a real life horror movie. The film stars Khan Baykal, Aya Cash, Kathleen McNenny, Oliver Henzler, Mike Houston, Charles Borland, Stivi Paskoski, Curtis Shumaker, Leah Lawrence and Luca B. Henzler. Happy House will see theatrical release on May 3, 2013 at Cinema Village in New York. Check out the trailer.

My Review Of 9 Days 2013



9-DAYS-FRT9 Days comes from writer director Samuel M. Jackson and stars Maura Murphy, Chris Schleicher, Simone Fraund, David Alan Graf and Jennifer Lawrence (don’t be quick on that last name it is a very “minor” part). Anyway the story is a modern perverse spin on Dante’s Inferno that deals in the world of arthouse meets torture-porn. To escape her abusive foster home, headstrong 18-year-old Danielle Hitches a Ride with an affable psycho who calls himself Virgil and has an axe to grind against women based on his warped religious beliefs.  She realizes she hasn't quite found her knight in shining armor when she awakens half-naked, chained to a post in Virgil's basement. As Virgil, puts Danielle through a sadistic "moral cleansing" of debauched torture sessions that could kill her at any moment, she must choose either to fight back or to become as inhuman and deranged as Virgil himself.  What Virgil doesn't know is that Danielle may be more than up to the challenge of his psychotic head games.

9 Days is a pretty decent film that focuses more on character relations and suspenseful drama. Most of the terror involved comes from the surrealistic yet organic setting of the film and the simple fact that a psycho lures young girls to his home and sets out to torture them into a better way of life. In some serial circles this is probably a great “date-movie”. Schleicher’s Virgil is a fun demented kind of crazy which makes you like his type of sinister shit but I found Murphy’s Danielle a bit inconvincible in her role. I had to push the fact that she looked more 28 than 18 from my mind to appreciate the character’s story. However I never really believed she ever feared for her life or was anything but mildly aroused by her captor. That being said Murphy did give a straight performance and was able to draw enough of the character out for me to enjoy the movie. It is a dark off-beat portrayal that rides heavy on melodrama with some really raw yet minimal violence. Toward the middle of the film I did find myself drifting off in thought but I came back to the story as it neared day nine. That is when the story gets stimulating once more. There is not much of a high intensity to the film instead riding a steady psychological antagony. I saw this film as more of a story about “how to pick up chicks in Hell” anti-romantic drama as opposed to a tense thrilling story of torture and survival. 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Crowd Funding Started For Thorn



Thorn-1-610x859Thorn is one of the oldest stories from Mycho Entertainment and the short film won at Scary Or Die Film Festival. Now the crowd funding has begun to see that the feature length adaptation brings the legend back to life. The film harks back to classic slasher movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th, but with the usual Mycho twist. It is written and directed by MJ Dixon.

4 years ago on February 29th… Jessica Harper and her friends lived a nightmare that has left her pursued from that moment by the unstoppable Killer known as Thorn… Four years on, Jessica and a band of survivors from that night make an attempt to stop him once and for all… but how can you stop what can’t be stopped?

My Review Of Giant From The Unknown (1958)


giant from the unknownGiant From The Unknown is a standard classic in my collection in that I have watched it nearly a dozen times since purchasing the DVD. I like most of my generation grew up on these B-movies almost second hand through late night television shows with strange horror hosts who poked harmless fun at the pictures but really taught us to embrace the classic films usually ignored by big box office standard studios. That feeling of nostalgia is why I still turn to these films as an almost "comfort food" for the soul.

This film although rattled with the faux pas of most classic B-movies in that there is a basic male chauvinism and xenophobia subtext to the story is a fun and light sci-fi flick for all ages. It is just how film and television flowed in those days. Push it aside and Giant From The Unknown like a lot of old movies is really a great story that is both entertaining and filled with adventure. Especially when dealing with the 50's sci-fi genre. It is directed by Richard E. Cunha and stars Ed Kemmer, Buddy Baer, Sally Fraser and Bob Steele.

This movie has a pretty interesting and fantastical story that deals with real giants of historical legends which just sets the mind to wonder. The dialog and acting is classic melodrama which is slightly over-the-top but fun to watch. The Giant is pretty intimidating and unlike most movie monsters of the era he looks convincing realistic. Over all the film is a great way to introduce kids to the old black & white genre stuff and a film that hold's it's own against any giant lizard or mummy. Just let yourself set back and enjoy a fun classic film.

Filming To Begin In June For Peelers



peelers_poster1March 11th, 2013 – Independent Horror Feature PEELERS starts off with a social media BANG on KICKSTARTER! The makers of the Independent Cult Horror Feature SKEW step it up a sinister notch as they get ready for production this summer on their new film PEELERS. They still need a hand in raising funds to make this bloody film happen. Set to shoot in June of 2013, pledges are vital to see this feature claw its way into theatres the following summer of 2014. Get involved right now as you only have a limited time to receive some amazing rewards.

PEELERS takes place on the closing night of a small town strip club when a group of unwanted guests arrive and all hell breaks loose. Club owner and ex-ball player Blue Jean Douglas, is our sexy, confident, ass-kicking heroine who rises to the task of protecting both her girls and her bar from psychopathic infected killers who will stop at nothing to slaughter everyone. PEELERS destroys the cliché stripper horror sub-genre by giving us a story packed with strong characters, exciting twists and lots of blood. Oh, and did we mention strippers?

“Much like how SKEW brought an original and unique twist on the found footage sub- genre, PEELERS will be a stripper horror feature film that actually delivers on tension, terror, and trepidation.” – Sevé Schelenz (Producer/Director)
 




Pagan Festival Shout Outs!



alderThe Celtic meaning of the Alder deals with giving and nurturing among the sacred Ogham for many reasons. Namely, its root system provides rich nutrients to the soil, more so than other trees. The alder can successfully restore poor soil conditions back to healthy Ph levels. Celts observed their roots serving as intricate shelter systems to fish, specifically trout and salmon. Further, the alder's leaves easily decompose in the water providing rich nutrients to all manner of water creatures.These acts of generosity and shelter against harsh conditions can be translated in our own lives. By simply standing firm in our own positive environment, we can affect those around us in positive ways. By emitting our signals of tranquility, and peace, we are enhancing the lives of others just be sheer association.Although it is primarily associated with the element of water, the alder gracefully crosses into the realm of air and fire as well. For example, ancient legend indicates the wood of the young alder is traditionally used for crafting whistles, pan flutes and recorders. This establishes the alder's claim to the air element.Within the realm of fire, the alder's coloring transmutes into a fiery orange after it is cut, indicating to the Celts that the alder secretly harbors sacred flame within its flesh. To prove the point, the alder (although a poor firewood) makes a pristine grade of charcoal, and was perfect for steadily hot conditions utilized to forge fine Celtic weaponry.

Celtic Zodiac sign : Alder - The Trailblazer

March 18 – April 14
If you are an Alder sign within the Celtic tree astrology system, you are a natural-born pathfinder. You’re a mover and a shaker, and will blaze a trail with fiery passion often gaining loyal followers to your cause. You are charming, gregarious and mingle easily with a broad mix of personalities. In other words, Alder signs get along with everybody and everybody loves to hang around with you. This might be because Alder’s are easily confident and have a strong self-faith. This self-assurances is infectious and other people recognize this quality in you instantly. Alder Celtic tree astrology signs are very focused and dislike waste. Consequently, they can see through superficialities and will not tolerate fluff. Alder people place high value on their time, and feel that wasting time is insufferable. They are motivated by action and results. Alder’s pair well with Hawthorns, Oaks or even Birch signs. (info from: What’s Your Sign and Wiki)
 

220px-Ostara_by_Johannes_GehrtsThe festival is one of celebration of the renewed life of the Earth which accompanies the coming of Spring. It is a solar festival, marking the time when the length of the day and the night are equal, which has been celebrated throughout history; with each culture associating the festival with a particular deity: Aphrodite by the Cypriots, Persephone by the Greeks, Hathor by the Egyptians and, of course, Ostara of the Scandanavians. The festivities are generally associated with an increase in the powers of the God, and Goddess, through which the changes witnessed at this time of year are being manifest: the gods themselves often appearing in the guise of the Green Man, in his various forms, and Mother Earth. The festival of the Spring Equinox usually falls on the 21st / 22nd March, but this year, due to the recent leap year. While Pagans and Wiccans are celebrating  Ostara, and Christians are observing Easter, it's important to remember that the dawning of spring has been observed for a long time in many other cultures as well. Traditions vary widely from one country to the next. Here are some ways that residents of different parts of the world observe the season.
Egypt:
The Festival of Isis was held in ancient Egypt as a celebration of spring and rebirth. Isis features prominently in the story of the resurrection of her lover, Osiris. Although Isis' major festival was held in the fall, folklorist Sir James Frazer says in The Golden Boughthat "We are told that the Egyptians held a festival of Isis at the time when the Nile began to rise… the goddess was then mourning for the lost Osiris, and the tears which dropped from her eyes swelled the impetuous tide of the river."
Iran:
In Iran, the festival of No Ruz begins shortly before the vernal equinox. The phrase "No Ruz" actually means "new day," and this is a time of hope and rebirth. Typically, a lot of cleaning is done, old broken items are repaired, homes are repainted, and fresh flowers are gathered and displayed indoors. The Iranian new year begins on the day of the equinox, and typically people celebrate by getting outside for a picnic or other activity with their loved ones. No Ruz is deeply rooted in the beliefs of Zoroastrianism, which was the predominant religion in ancient Persia before Islam came along.
Ireland:
In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated each year on March 17. St. Patrick is known as a symbol of Ireland, particularly around every March. One of the reasons he's so famous is because he drove the snakes out of Ireland, and was even credited with a miracle for this. What many people don't realize is that the serpent was actually a metaphor for the early Pagan faiths of Ireland. St. Patrick brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and did such a good job of it that he practically eliminated Paganism from the country.
Italy:
For the ancient Romans, the Feast of Cybele was a big deal every spring. Cybele was a mother goddess who was at the center of a Phrygian fertility cult, and eunuch priests performed mysterious rites in her honor. Her lover was Attis (who also happened to be her grandson), and her jealousy caused him to castrate and kill himself. His blood was the source of the first violets, and divine intervention allowed Attis to be resurrected by Cybele, with some help from Zeus. In some areas, there is still an annual celebration of Attis' rebirth and Cybele's power, called the Hilaria, observed from March 15 to March 28.
Judaism:
One of Judaism's biggest festivals is Passover, which takes place in the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan. It was a pilgrimage festival, and commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt after centuries of slavery. A special meal is held, called the Seder, and it is concluded with the story of the Jews leaving Egypt, and readings from a special book of prayers. Part of the eight-day Passover traditions include a thorough spring cleaning, going through the house from top to bottom.
Russia:
In Russia, the celebration of Maslenitsa is observed as a time of the return of light and warmth. This folk festival is celebrated about seven weeks before Easter. During the Lent season, meat and fish and dairy products are prohibited. Maslentisa is the last chance anyone will get to enjoy those items for a while, so it's typically a big festival held before the somber, introspective time of Lent. A straw effigy of the Lady of Maslenitsa, is burned in a bonfire. Leftover pancakes and blintzes are tossed in as well, and when the fire has burned away, the ashes are spread in the fields to fertilize the year's crops.
Scotland (Lanark):
In the area of Lanark, Scotland, the spring season is welcomed with Whuppity Scoorie, held on March 1. Children assemble in front of a local church at sunrise, and when the sun comes up, they race around the church waving paper balls around their heads. At the end of the third and final lap, the children gather up coins thrown by local assemblymen. According to the Captial Scot, there's a story that this event began ages ago when troublemakers were "scoored" in the Clyde River as punishment for bad behavior. It appears to be unique to Lanark, and does not seem to be observed anywhere else in Scotland.
 

Spring Goddess of Fertility and bouncy bunny girl Ostara:

ostara-altar-cc-cronewyndShe has her own festival on 21 March, the Spring Equinox, in which bouncing springy behavior is encouraged.
OSTARA was very popular with the Anglo-Saxon pagan brigade who worshipped her under the name EOSTRE.
OSTARA's sacred animal is a cute rabbit — an obvious symbol of fertility — and the egg is her symbol of fertile purity. So Easter Egg hunts are actually packed with symbolic meanings of rebirth and renewal.
In case you think we're being flippant, recent research suggests that OSTARA herself was actually invented during a mischievous moment by the Venerable Bede. This well-known monk mentioned her in connection with the pagan festival Eosturmonath in a book written in 750 A.D. — but extensive research has failed to find a trace of her prior to that. Could he possibly have been fibbing?
Rabbits and hares are ubiquitous in mythology. Every culture seems to have a Rabbit God — and they're nearly always trickster spirits.
 

Festival of Isis
isisThis ritual celebrates Isis in all her forms, and is a formal Ritual, which consists of all members giving an offering to the Great Goddess and asking for a gift in return.
Cast Sacred Space in your usual manner but substitute another Goddess in place of Isis if she is a Cardinal Point Goddess. Once Sacred Space has been cast, and you are protected, start the music of Isis. (chant of Isis, from band Incubus and Succubus ). Once members become familiar with the chant, they should join it.
If you have a Priestess of Isis to receive the offerings, then she should do so. She would stand next to the balefire and accept the offerings of each person, draw an ankh of Holy oil on the forehead of the member and place their offering within the balefire. If you do not have a Priestess of Isis, then the High Priestess or Priestess should perform this duty.
As this is going on, each Temple member holds the hand of the person next to them and forms a circle around the balefire. All members begin to move in a clockwise direction in a dance. It is a simple dance involving small steps, and is a good way to focus energies upon the work at hand.
Everyone’s right foot and leg crosses their left foot and leg, to the front. Then everyone steps with their left foot out to the left, then step with the right foot behind the left foot, and then steps with the left foot to the left. Repeat till HP speaks.
Great Goddess of the words of power
Join us now in strength by the hour
Everyone stops moving, raises their hands to the skies, and continues to chant, but does so quietly, so that the sounds is a background whisper.
The Priestess of Isis says:
Thank you great Goddess for joining us here.
We honor your name with these offerings
which we have placed within this fire.
All members stop chanting and say:
We honor you
We honor you
We honor you
All members move to benches or chairs within the sacred space, and the Priestess of Isis moves to the work table. She stands behind the table and says:
As each is willing to give, so to should they be able to receive.
This is as it was promised since the dawn of time.
Please come forward and speak of your desire
I shall help you bring your offerings and request
To the Great Goddess Isis.
Each member steps up to the work table and writes their desire on a piece of paper. They then wrap the paper around their gift and toss it into the balefire, then resume their place within the circle.
When all spells have been done, some type of group activity should be done. Such projects as making a coven oil, incense, etc and best. It should be something which can be made by the donations of all people. Silver candles can be inscribed with symbols and lit from the balefire by each member so they will have a consecrated Isis candle for their own altars.
Once all work has been accomplished, close your circle or begin your feast. Have the food set up buffet style and allow everyone to fill their plates and sit casually around the balefire. When the meal is finished and you have not as yet closed your circle, do so now and ground all energies.


Trailer Released For Provoked



ProvokedCheck out the trailer for the horror flick Provoked. The film follows a group of amateur investigators who, despite investigating for months, have never found any proof of the paranormal. During the group's most recent investigation, like many times before, they come up empty. At this point, team member Matt losing faith in the existence of the paranormal performs risky attempts to provoke the spirits. At first, Matt's taunts appear to go unanswered but while on his way home the investigating equipment starts to register at it's highest level. The spirit answered Matt's taunts and followed him home. Terror quickly escalates for Matt, and his girlfriend, who attempts to defend his house from the ghostly intruder.

Provoked was written and directed by Jordan Pacheco and stars Tony Moran, Chris O'Reilly, Nicole LaSala, Dan Liebman, Jami Tennille, Sean Carmichael, Kati Salowsky, Camille Farnan, Michaelah Nunes, Charles Tacker, Jeanne Lohnes, Kenneth Siddons, Jackie Fabian, Paul Flebotte, Angel Connell and Alana Taylor. The film has plans for a fall release this year (2013). It is being produced by Lock it Down Productions.

First Poster For Squeal Released



squealThe horror film Squeal is in pre-production and has released the first teaser image of the film which will star Bill Oberst Jr. as “Ollie” a very creepy uncle. The film will be produced by Dismal Productions and has tagged Ted Payson as director. The news was released by Seth Metoyer who is co-owner ,with Oberst Jr., of Dismal Productions. The screenplay for Squeal was penned by Mike Hultquist. More details from the film are to follow in the coming weeks most notably will be cast updates. Based on the poster alone I would have to go with the film as a return to classic grindhouse gore horror but probably with a more modern approach.

A Butt Load Of Visual Goodies From Shadow People



shadow peopleCheck out the featurette and clips  from the movie Shadow People below. They have released to coincide with the DVD/Blu-ray release of the film which happened yesterday. It stars Dallas Roberts, Alison Eastwood, Anne Dudek and Mattie Liptak.

Shadow People is based on a true story about small town radio personality Charlie Crowe (Roberts), who unravels a conspiracy about encounters with mysterious beings. These “Shadow People” were the cause of hundreds of unexplained deaths. He encounters CDC Epidemic Intelligence Agent Sophie Lancombe (Eastwood), whose investigations entwine her with Charlie’s own discoveries, leading them both into a dark world and a decades old cover-up.

The film explores the actual historical evidence of SUNDS and the real phenomenon of an inverse placebo effect, where the mind can actually kill the body through false belief. The film is backed up by real archival footage of a suspected outbreak of SUNDS, which occurred in rural Kentucky, and takes the found footage genre to a new level by intercutting the story with the actual interviews of the real-life participants, local news footage, and radio clips from the event.
 






First Clip From Long Awaited 6 Souls



6 soulsThe first clip from the Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers thriller 6 Souls has been released. Based on the footage there is no question as to the direction and substance of the films intent. I have to say that I jumped a bit when David was called up. The film is obviously a blend of possession and multiple personality disorder- are all people with the disorder plagued by circumstances of their own childhood misfortune or are there more diabolical forces that go beyond our understanding at work in these people condemned by the affliction. I have to say that this film rubs two of my sweet spots – that of my obsession with possessed people and that area of my mind horded with thoughts of psychological theories wrapped in a chaotic orchestra of sociological confluence. Maybe I over think stuff too much…

Anyway 6 Souls is directed by Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein and also stars Jeffrey DeMunn, Frances Conroy. It is expected to hit theatres on April 5th.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Trailer Released For Emotional Zombie Flick Halley



halleyHalley is an emotional character driven theatrical prose from Sebastian Hofmann. The Spanish zombie film takes a more compassionate approach to the story. It  is an essay on the anguish experienced when the illusion of control over our bodies disappears. It is a contemporary gothic story that focuses on the helplessness of on man’s slow decay. Alberto’s condition offers a reflection of our mortality and the solitude of decay. The film had it’s US debut at Sundance and stars stars Alberto Trujilo, Hugo Albores and Luly Trueba. Check out the new trailer released for Halley below.

Halley seeks to reassert the temporality of our bodies in a culture engaged in its collective denial. By means of fictional infomercials, and the gym culture Alberto lives in, the film will explore how we conceal the frailty of our condition as living beings underneath a pathological idealization of beauty. We will see human beings running, though never escaping, the more disquieting facts of their existence. The film’s name is a metaphorical reference to Halley’s Comet orbits the sun every 75 years; the only short-period comet plainly visible from Earth. Records of its existence can be found in Ancient Greek and Chinese writings. Halley has been an enduring witness of our cyclical history. The time that spans each of its visits is the average length of a human life.


Halley - International Trailer from La Suerte Divina on Vimeo.

Hatchet III Gets Official Release Date



hatchet IIIThe much touted third installment in the slasher franchise Hatchet has finally been given it’s official release date. Hatchet III will be released on June 14th and is the directorial debut of BJ McDonnell. Along with the release date Dark Sky Films released a teaser trailer. In the series the bayou is plagued by the infamous supernatural killer of legend-Victor Crowley. The film stars Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder, Zach Galligan, Derek Mears, Sean Whalen and Caroline Williams.

Hatchet III continues the tale of the now-iconic villain Victor Crowley. As a search and recovery team heads into the haunted swamp to pick up the pieces and carnage left behind from the first two films, Marybeth hunts down the true secret to ending the voodoo curse that has left the ghost of Victor Crowley haunting and terrorizing Honey Island Swamp for decades. Check out the teaser below.

Trailer Released For Micro Budget Zombie Flick The Battery



the batteryThe Battery is an Indie zombie film made on the micro budget of just 6,000 dollars. The flick is directed Jeremy Gardner and comes from O. hannah Films. The film follows Ben and Mickey as they learn to survive each other in a world over-run by the undead. Check out the official trailer just released for this intensely charged character study .

In The Battery, the personalities of two former baseball players clash as they traverse the rural back roads of a post-plague New England teeming with the undead.

Trailer Released For The Colony



the colonyCheck out the trailer for The Colony. The film is directed by Jeff Renfroe and stars Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Zegers, Bill Paxton. The film comes to theatres in April and tells of life after society’s inevitable collapse due to climate change but mostly due to an apocalypse of our own making. Based on the trailer the film looks tight, well produced and visually exciting. Plus the added element the gives a hint of H.G.’s twisted split in human evolution seen in The Time Machine that really brings the thrills.  The official date for the film’s release is April 12th.

Beneath the icy surface, survivors of Colony Seven struggle as food supplies dwindle and temperatures continue to drop. Plagued by illness and internal conflict, the colonists suspect the worst when they mysteriously lose contact with Colony Five – the only other known settlement. Sam, a strong-willed mechanic with a tragic past, joins a team headed up by Briggs on a dangerous expedition to find out what happened. After a hellish trek, they discover a threat much worse than imagined, and now Colony Seven must win a savage battle to preserve the last of humanity.

Death By VHS Cover Art Revealed



death by vhsThe cover art for horror anthology Death BY VHS has been unveiled and much like the movie itself the cover expressive the fondness for that bygone era of VHS. Lately there has been a new found love affair in the community for VHS from filming to cassettes and even the players themselves. I kind of regret selling all of mine save Return Of The Living Dead back when I switched to DVD. On a more up beat personal note- I made the cover! “Death BY VHS Celebrates Those Gory Glory Days Of VHS” – that is me! Death By VHS is the return to cult horror anthology making of Scarlet Fry with co-directors David Sabal, Jacob O'Neal . The film stars Tyler Gallant, Kat Garcia, L. Hotshot, David C Hayes, Victoria Paege, Scarlet Fry and features five tales of horror.
A battered and mysterious VCR...A bevy of lethal video- tapes... These are the building blocks of horror in "DEATH BY VHS".

A mind blowing descent into madness and death. Five shocking vignettes, designed to take your sanity and devour your soul! Mild curiosity leads to severe consequences when a couple rents a supposedly cursed video cassette recorder. An urban legend renowned for leaving a trail of agonizing and torturous death. Unbelieving, they take the plunge... And another legend is horrifyingly born. USA PREMIERE MAY 2013 PHOENIX COMIC CON-USA DVD RELEASE WITH WORLD WIDE MULTI MEDI... SPRING 2013

Do you dare give fate a winning hand, and test yourself against the hellish consequences of the VHS machine?
Insert Cassette Press Play...DIE!

My Review Of The Trouble With Barry



The Trouble With BarryThe Trouble With Barry is an Indie low budget film from writer/director Mike Justice and co director Stephen Kitaen, starring Peter Stickles, Lynn Lowry, Rena Riffel, Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, Linnea Quigley, Matthew Stephen Herrick, Shannon Amabile, Juliette Danielle, Brian Nolan, Bruce L. Hart, Kelly Keaton, Chris Pudlo, Craig Taggart. It is a dark comedy that warps genres into a wild surreal melodrama of political incorrectness and fast past wicked hilarity. The story follows a disaffected narcissistic Hollywood actor well into his downward spiral of a decaying career. Barry Montenegro is a crude, offensive thespian who once had a shining career but fucked that up with his own sociopathic tendencies and is now relegated to the ranks of “web series” obscurity. An unfortunate career turn that also finds him as prime suspect in a sudden case of homicide that begin to plague the show still in pre-production. He is not a character that one should like or every hope to run into in life or career and somehow he is so relatable that he is almost lovable  The movie is 100% unequivocal genre driven kitsch fist fucked camp theatre that brings so much more Trash cinema than even the Logo dependent politically correct LGB&T community could find acceptable and that is what makes The Trouble With Barry one of the best fucking Indie flicks that I had the distasteful pleasure in viewing. Yeah I know a lot of that sounds extremely negative and may read as if I didn't like this film but much like this movie I tend to relate the “bad” words as “good” words, I guess that is why  this movie was a big piece of fabulous for me. So let me explain.

I find this new world of political correctness and social equality tedious, emotionless and restrictive. People just need to get a sense of humor. Thankfully there are a few writers and directors willing to prove to me that somewhere in this mass produced over sanitized conformist reality humor is still out there. The Trouble With Barry manages to play up the satirical aspect of stereotypes and clichés in the most fun, smart and devious manner. The dialogue is fast and witty throwing out more pop culture deep digs to offend pretty much every one who is or once was anyone in Hollywood. I am willing to bet that the writer and both directors cut their contacts list in half within the first stages of production of this film, if not then by now they have because these characters are obviously from personal interactions within the industry. And if they are not then that is just an injustice within itself! This film will not be for everyone, it is filled with offensive, possibly racist commentary layered with scenes of exaggerated stereotypes of not only those personalities expressed within the film but pretty much anyone that watches the film as well. However it is all in fun, with even the people involved with the film excited to poke fun at themselves and our bizarre cultural bromides.

For me personally- The Trouble With Barry is a cult classic B-movie that plays up the campier side of dark satire in the gayest way, but that being said this movie is far from a “gay only” movie. The humor and melodrama is very relatable to Indie cult hetero community as well and if not then for gods sake get your self a gay friend or admit that you’re a racist (and/or) bigot. The fact that the top cult scream queens cameo the first sequence within this movie is reason enough for all genre fans to give the movie a once over. The reason to embrace it is that it manages to be an insanely funny, intelligent and over-the-top piece of Trash/Camp cinema that proves individual expression and humor is not dead yet. The story stays mostly light with most of the edginess relying on the fact that most of the material can be quite offensive to the sensitive viewer but at the end it takes a strange sobering dark turn that reminds you that Barry is a fucking sociopath born of a sociopath. This film somehow gets it right on all accounts with nods to every style of genre film making technique used in the past 30 years plus I think they may have given a total shout out to every musical score used from night time Trash TV to classic Hitchcock with the 80’s VHS era thrown in just in case. Usually that much styling is a hot mess but The Trouble With Barry keeps it copacetic.

Monday, March 18, 2013

New Trailer For Hemlock Grove Released



hemlock-grove-netflix-posterCheck out the new trailer for Eli Roth’s Hemlock Grove series to be shown on Netflix. The series “a riveting and eerie mystery from executive producer Eli Roth and based on Brian McGreevy’s novel of the same name, will be available for members to watch instantly and in its entirety beginning April 19, 2013.” as stated in the press release which goes on to say “All 13-episodes of the series, which stars Famke Janssen (“X-Men”), Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd (“Simon & The Oaks”), Landon Liboiron (“Terra Nova”), Penelope Mitchell (“6 Plots”), Freya Tingley (“X”), and Dougray Scott (“Mission Impossible II”) will debut concurrently in all territories that Netflix is available – U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Brazil and Scandinavia.”

Hemlock Grove’ is unlike anything else in its genre,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix. “It’s sexy, gripping, emotional and twisted, and we’re certain viewers are going to be captivated by its intensity.”

The series revolves around the eccentric residents of a dilapidated former Pennsylvania steel town and the murder of 17-year-old Brooke Bluebell.  Through the investigation, the town’s seamier side is exposed, revealing that nothing is what it seems.

“Hemlock Grove” marks the first foray into television by internationally acclaimed horror master Eli Roth (“Hostel,” “Cabin Fever”), who also directed the first episode. The series is executive produced by Roth, McGreevy & Shipman, Mark Verheiden, Deran Sarafian, Eric Newman and Michael Connolly. The series was developed by Brian McGreevy & Lee Shipman. This one-hour murder mystery is produced by Gaumont International Television for Netflix.



Trailer Released For Nailbiter



nailbiterCheck out this chilling trailer for the intense thriller Nailbiter . The film is directed by Patrick Rea and stars Joicie Appell, Emily Boresow, Jason Coffman, Tom Conroy, Michelle Davidson, Ian Dempsey, Meg Saricks, Erin McGrane, Zane Martin and more. The film comes out on DVD May 28th and the blend of natural survival and monster nightmare horror shown in this 2013 trailer has my interested elevated. Check it out for yourself.

Forced to take refuge from a deadly tornado, the Maguire family finds shelter in an abandoned storm cellar. As the storm passes, the family tries to make their way out, only to realize that someone - or something not quite human - is holding them captive. Struggling to get out alive, they soon find out they aren't alone.

Check Out The Motherfucking Movie Motherfucker!



motherfucker photoBehold the motherfucking movie aptly titled Motherfucker-The Movie! The film is a new grindhouse Indie flick coming out of Toronto. It is being directed by Chris Goodwin and is straight up modern horror. There is a campaign underway over at Indiegogo right now to help get this motherfucker made so take your motherfucking ass over there and check it out! Also hit up the Motherfucker Facebook Page to keep up with the motherfucking details on this obviously awesome piece of motherfucking grindhouse trash because I know I motherfucking will! Man that is a lot of motherfucking and motherfuckers typed out…I feel somehow spiritually whole again. Hell yeah motherfuckers! Now here is the motherfucking plot to Motherfucker – The Movie!

After a run-in with the law, Mallory and her troubled boyfriend Mike are forced to lay low in a rural farmhouse with her distant family.

When she arrives, she discovers much has changed since her last visit: her Uncle has disappeared, her Aunt has locked herself away in a disgusting room, and her cousin Jake seems to be the only one who knows what's going on.

Unfortunately, Jake is not the most welcoming host. Secretive, antisocial and more then a little odd, his behavior implies that not all is what it seems at the farm.

As time goes on, strange occurrences begin to trouble Mallory but it's the unusual closeness Jake has with his mother that may prove to be her biggest concern.

On the night the young couple host a party at the farmhouse, she discovers just how gruesomely strong a son’s love for his mother can be...

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