Horror Squad http://www.horrorsquad.com Horror Squad http://www.horrorsquad.com/media/feedlogo.gif Horror Squad http://www.horrorsquad.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Syfy's Creature Feature Bonanzahttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/syfys-creature-feature-bonanza/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/syfys-creature-feature-bonanza/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/syfys-creature-feature-bonanza/#commentsFiled under:


If you've stopped peeing your pants with excitement over Roger Corman's upcoming Sharktopus -- set to premiere on Syfy later this year, then take a gander at some of the other nighttime creature features Syfy has in store. Their Original Movies lineup stars the likes of Hill Harper (CSI NY), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings), Lauren Holly (NCIS), Colin Ferguson (Eureka), Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet), Jewel Staite (Stargate Atlantis), Alan Cumming (Tin Man), Felicia Day (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ryan Carnes (Desperate Housewives), Lance Henriksen (Aliens) and Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch).

In other Syfy news, two gigundo features (4 hours long) on tap are Riverworld, which aired on the original Sci-Fi Channel in 2003 as a pilot episode based on the saga by Philip José Farmer -- but nothing further came to light. In Riverworld, an American war zone reporter and his fiancé are killed by a suicide bomber but awaken separated in a mysterious world where they seem to have been reborn along the banks of a seemingly endless river. A samurai warrior and an American novelist (Sam "Mark Twain" Clemens) join forces with Matt to locate his lost love. The show premieres Sunday, April 18, from 7-11PM (ET/PT).

The Phantom and his alter ego, Chris Walker, have been re-imagined for Syfy, based on the original comic and set in the present day. This hero relies on his wits, physical strength and skill with weapons instead of superhuman powers. Isabella Rossellini guest stars as the villainous Lithia, the head of an experimental mind control program. The four hour show premieres in June.

Hit the jump for all the creature feature details and visit Syfy's website for more info.

 

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]]>creature featureCreatureFeaturePhilip José FarmerPhilipJoséFarmerRiverworldroger cormanRogerCormanSharktopussyfyThe PhantomThePhantomAlison Nastasi2010-03-18T16:45:00 00:00'Dark Night of the Scarecrow' Finally Coming to DVD?http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/dark-night-of-the-scarecrow-finally-coming-to-dvd/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/dark-night-of-the-scarecrow-finally-coming-to-dvd/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/dark-night-of-the-scarecrow-finally-coming-to-dvd/#commentsFiled under:

Whenever lists of horror movies that should be on DVD turns up, Frank De Felitta's Dark Night of the Scarecrow is invariably mentioned. That's pretty impressive considering it was a made-for-television flick. We've heard various rumblings about the title finally coming to DVD, but none of them have panned out. The latest rumor, which was first reported over at Horror Yearbook, has the title finally coming to DVD players everywhere courtesy of VCI.

Writer J.D. Feigelson tells the site that we should expect the disc sometime around Halloween. If this turns out to be true, it's very good news indeed.

Originally airing back in 1981, Dark Night of the Scarecrow starred Larry Drake as a retarded man wrongly accused of raping a young girl. Charles Durning is so convinced that Drake's character has committed the crime that he rounds up a posse of vigilantes and dispenses his own brand of justice. When the men avoid prison for their crime, a malevolent scarecrow begins picking them off one by one...

This simple tale of supernatural revenge benefited from a genuinely spooky atmosphere and a frightening scarecrow costume. I was roughly nine years old the first time I saw Dark Night and it creeped me out so bad that I still remember some of the scenes almost thirty years later. I do wonder if it will hold up when compared to my childhood memories, but word from various folks who've seen it on bootlegs over the past few years indicate that it's as good as we remembered. No word on extras yet, but I'd settle for a bare bones disc just to have this movie in my collection at this point.

 

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]]>Charles DurningDark Night of the ScarecrowDarkNightOfTheScarecrowDVDLarry DrakeMike Bracken2010-03-18T15:55:00 00:00'Human Centipede' Slithers Toward an April Releasehttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/human-centipede-slithers-toward-an-april-release/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/human-centipede-slithers-toward-an-april-release/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/human-centipede-slithers-toward-an-april-release/#commentsFiled under:


Until all the hullabaloo about A Serbian Film (check out Luke's review) hit earlier this week, there were only two films that I had on my "must see in 2010 list". The First, Takeshi Kitano's return to Yakuza cinema Outrage, isn't even a horror film. The second would be Tom Six's messed up The Human Centipede. We brought you news that IFC had acquired the US distribution rights for the film not too long ago and now comes the official release date.

IFC has decided that The Human Centipede will make its theatrical debut on April 28th (thanks to Shock Till You Drop for clarifying the date), two days before Platinum Dunes' remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street. All the buzz over the potential showdown between the two films is pointless, because The Human Centipede is going to open on a very limited number of screens and then slowly expand as time passes. A Nightmare on Elm Street, on the other hand, will open wide on the 30th.

As proof that there is truth in advertising, The Human Centipede is exactly what it sounds like. A crazed doctor (Dieter Laser) captures unsuspecting victims, removes their knees, sews them together mouth-to-anus, and forms the title creation. Interestingly enough, this is only part one of a planned trilogy.

Jump past the break to check out the trailer.

 

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]]>release dateThe Human CentipedeTheHumanCentipedeTom SixMike Bracken2010-03-18T14:45:00 00:00After Dark Films, Lionsgate & Syfy Set to Produce 'Originals' Serieshttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/after-dark-films-lionsgate-and-syfy-set-to-produce-originals-se/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/after-dark-films-lionsgate-and-syfy-set-to-produce-originals-se/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/after-dark-films-lionsgate-and-syfy-set-to-produce-originals-se/#commentsFiled under:


If After Dark left you hungry for more post their Horrorfest 8 Films To Die For series, then get ready for the thrice produced After Dark Originals (ADO) -- eight films which are expected to be released in September, in cooperation with Lionsgate and NBC Universal's Syfy. All the films have been handled by After Dark from concept, to script and through final editing (shot in the US or Bulgaria) -- with seven of the eight films are currently in post-production and the eighth slated to start production this month.

The ADO series spans the genre and your mission if you choose to accept it is to check out the first installment which includes Husk, Fertile Ground, Scream of the Banshee, Prowl, The Task, Re-Kill, Seconds Apart and 51. You'll recognize a few names in the bunch: Brett Simmons, whose short film Husk enjoyed the Sundance spotlight a few years ago, Seven C. Miller of Automaton Transfusion notoriety and After Dark friend Adam Gierasch (Autopsy). "The writers and directors in our After Dark Originals line are outstanding. We are excited to showcase their work and to give a home to all this fresh young talent that we will continue to develop over time", says After Dark Films owner and CEO, Courtney Solomon.

So far, I'm looking forward to seeing Miller's Scream of the Banshee -- mainly because Lance Henriksen is in it and I'm a little obsesso for his movies. Anything else catch your eye in this new lineup? Given their reputations (Lionsgate for dumping films to meet contract obligations, SyFy for making some films of dubious quality), does this new partnership fill you with hope or dread for After Dark's future?

 

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]]>51After DarkAfter Dark FilmsAfter Dark OriginalsAfterDarkAfterDarkFilmsAfterDarkOriginalsAutomaton TransfusionAutomatonTransfusionBrett SimmonsBrettSimmonsFertile GroundFertileGroundHusklance henriksenLanceHenriksenLionsGateProwlRe-KillScream of the BansheeScreamOfTheBansheeSeconds ApartSecondsApartSteven C. MillerStevenC.MillersyfyThe TaskTheTaskAlison Nastasi2010-03-18T13:32:00 00:00SXSW Review: Amerhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-review-amer/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-review-amer/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-review-amer/#commentsFiled under:


If you've been reading the site lately, you've probably already heard about Bruno Forzani and Hélène Cattet's Amer. Described as a neo-giallo from Belgium, our own Alison Nastasi has been chomping at the bit to see this film for months now, putting up several articles including the trailer. As you know, we love our giallo films here. Giallo, action, post-apocalyptic sci-fi ... the Italians have made some great genre films, and giallos in particular have become part of most every horror fan's lexicon. The holy trinity of Bava, Fulci and Argento made names for themselves with these types of films, so, needless to say, the expectations were high as I sat down for the first screening of Amer on the second night of SXSW 2010.

Amer, which is French for sour or bitter, is presented in three distinct sections, all of which follow Ana as she grows from childhood into womanhood. It is a sexual coming of age story, told in the specific style of giallo. We start with Ana's first discovery of her sexuality, walking in on her parents having sex and struggling to understand the feelings it evokes in her as a child. The film then jumps forward in time to her budding sexual identity as a teenager being the object of desire for those around her, before finally wrapping up with the mature sexual energy she possesses as a fully grown woman. If this stuff sounds a little strange, you can rest assured that it is.

 

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]]>AmerSXSWSXSW10Luke Mullen2010-03-18T12:05:00 00:00SXSW Review: A Serbian Filmhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/sxsw-review-serbian-film/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/sxsw-review-serbian-film/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/sxsw-review-serbian-film/#commentsFiled under:


Context is often your most powerful ally when faced with something you don't understand. And in that vein, a little context is probably best presented before diving into a movie like A Serbian Film. Alamo maestro Tim League was disturbed and blown away by this film. Here's a guy who watches countless movies at film festivals around the globe as well as on screeners that filmmakers send him in his capacity as co-founder and head honcho for Fantastic Fest and the SX Fantastic slate that runs during SXSW. Tim's the guy who fought to get Pascal Laugier's Martyrs shown at Fantastic Fest a few years ago. The man has seen movies that have never seen the light of day in most places. And he got up on stage during this film's introduction and admitted to flinching more than once based on the heinous acts depicted in A Serbian Film.

The basic setup is that Milos, a former porn star, has retired and settled down to start a family. But his savings won't last forever, so when a former co-star approaches him with an opportunity for a big payday if he'll shoot a high-concept porn film for a mysterious producer/director, he finds himself saying yes despite his numerous reservations. Milos meets with Vukmir, the mastermind behind the plan, and he signs a contract to appear in the film, despite Vukmir's refusals to tell him much of anything about it. Vukmir is obsessed with exploring the boundaries of art and film through pornography, and even though Milos is uneasy about the arrangement, the money is simply too much to pass up. With his responsibility to provide for his family weighing upon him, Milos finds himself tumbling down the rabbit hole.

 

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]]>Serbian FilmSerbianFilmSrdjan SpasojevicSrdjanSpasojevicSXSW10Luke Mullen2010-03-17T17:32:00 00:00Season's Bleedings: 'Dead Meat'http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/seasons-bleedings-dead-meat/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/seasons-bleedings-dead-meat/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/seasons-bleedings-dead-meat/#commentsFiled under:


While Brian's off having fun at SXSW (lucky bastard...) some us are still stuck here at Horror Squad bringing you all the cool news and features you've come to expect. One of those aforementioned features is Brian's Season's Bleeding columns, wherein he covers a horror film for each major holiday (can't wait to see what he has lined up for Arbor Day! My guess is Treevenge). However, since he's not here, I'll be talking about an Irish horror flick to round out your St. Patty's Day experience.

Naturally, the obvious choice would be Leprechaun. It's got a Leprechaun in it and that's about as Irish as you can get. However, I suspect you'll be seeing hundreds of Leprechaun reviews today-so I decided to go in a different direction.

Ultimately, it came down to two choices: Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain or Dead Meat. Evil Breed would have probably won out if Lionsgate hadn't butchered it on DVD (seriously-see the workprint or don't even bother), but since they did I went with Dead Meat-a zombie film set on the Emerald Isle, directed by an Irishman.

Jump past the break to read about Ireland's most famous zombie flick.

 

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]]>Conor McMahonConorMcmahonDead MeatSeasons BleedingsSeasonsBleedingsSt Patricks DayzombiesMike Bracken2010-03-17T16:02:00 00:00Indie Excursions: 'Hot Rod Girls Save the World' Reviewhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/indie-excursions-hot-rod-girls-save-the-world-review/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/indie-excursions-hot-rod-girls-save-the-world-review/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/indie-excursions-hot-rod-girls-save-the-world-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hot rods, aliens, zombies and pin-up girls inhabit the world of D.A. Sebasstian in his first feature film, Hot Rod Girls Save the World. The campy, but stylish B-flick is dominated by a rip-roaring soundtrack, original score (recorded by the director's band KsK) and enough hot rods to make any gearhead happy. While the film is somewhat of an homage to the rockabilly lifestyle, there are some things for genre enthusiasts to sink their teeth into.
When big city newspaper reporter, Vanessa Trojan (Lindsay Calkins), follows up on a story about two street racing legends, the trail leads her to Anywhere, WA. She has no idea that the group of misfit greasers, creepers and dames that "adopt" her will soon end up missing or dead. The shenanigans are led by the racing hottie duo-the boisterous Jo Leene Dodge (Melene Marie Brown) and her mute sidekick Betty Petty (Kimberly Lynn Layfield). The ladies, along with a slew of other characters, converge at a rockabilly house party where things take a turn for the worse.

A group of aliens living on the planet of Moosha Maa have developed a dislike for Homo Sapiens (mainly because their TV transmission is being interrupted by human "noise") and decide to zap a beam down to earth, which spreads a deadly virus that transforms everyone into zombie-like creatures. David, a young alien boy, touches down on the city of Anywhere and may have the answer to earth's problems. That is, of course, if Betty's blind grandma (famous for her bad cooking and badass record collection) or the swanky Detective Lloyd (Jimmi Davies) can't save the world first. [more Hot Rod Girls after the jump ... ]

 

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]]>b-horrorb-moviesd.a. sebasstianD.a.Sebasstianhot rod girlshot rod girls save the worldHotRodGirlsHotRodGirlsSaveTheWorldindependent filmIndependentFilmindie horrorIndieHorrorjimmi daviesJimmiDavieskimberly lynn layfieldKimberlyLynnLayfieldlindsay calkinsLindsayCalkinsmelene marie brownMeleneMarieBrownAlison Nastasi2010-03-17T14:32:00 00:00Horror Blogger Preserves the Greatness of VHS Cover Arthttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/horror-blogger-preserves-the-greatness-of-vhs-cover-art/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/horror-blogger-preserves-the-greatness-of-vhs-cover-art/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/horror-blogger-preserves-the-greatness-of-vhs-cover-art/#commentsFiled under:


This is an awesome item that I am thrilled to bring you guys. We all know that no DVD cover will ever be able to match the beauty and genius of VHS cover art. If you haven't given Portable Grindhouse: The Lost Art of the VHS Box, Vol.1 a good thumb-through, you have to do it post-bloody-haste! Someone who needs no lecture on the superiority of VHS cover art is North Carolina horror blogger Phelpster from The Manchester Morgue.

What this warrior of lost formats has done is to retrofit DVD boxes with classic posters, logos, and one-sheets to make it look like vintage VHS. As the writer of Terror Tapes here at Horror Squad, this guy's stuff makes me want to cry. It's not only the DVDs for cult horror that get the retro treatment, but films that are so recent that they are still in theaters. I've included his cover for The Crazies remake because the thought that any theatrical horror film could be brought to us by my beloved Media Blasters is almost too exquisite. Please, please, please check out The Manchester Morgue and these multimedia masterpieces. And a big thanks to @zombiefreak for bringing this to my Twitter-tention.

 

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]]>cover artCoverArtfan artFanArtPortable Grindhouse: The Lost Art of the VHS BoxPortableGrindhouse:TheLostArtOfTheVhsBoxVHSBrian Salisbury2010-03-17T13:02:00 00:00Interview: Mark Young, Director of 'The Killing Jar'http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/interview-mark-young-director-of-the-killing-jar/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/interview-mark-young-director-of-the-killing-jar/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/17/interview-mark-young-director-of-the-killing-jar/#commentsFiled under:

If you're a fan of Tooth & Nail, one of the better selections After Dark Films has picked up for their past Horrorfest slates, take notice: director Mark Young has a new film on the horizon that you should keep an eye out for. The Killing Jar, starring Michael Madsen, Harold Perrineau, Amber Benson, Kevin Cage, Jake Busey, and Danny Trejo will be making its way to theaters in New York and LA this Friday, March 19th, with 7 other markets to follow later.

Horror Squad recently got a chance to volley some questions off of Young regarding The Killing Jar, which is about a handful of diner patrons held hostage by a psycho, only the psycho might not be as dangerous as the secret one of the patrons may or may not be hiding. Don't worry, this is all spoiler free.

Horror Squad: I'm curious where your starting point for The Killing Jar was in regards to the setting. Did you know you wanted to make a film set in one location and then wrote around that? Did you know that you wanted to tell this story and then decided it would work best set in one location?

Mark Young: I had this story in the back of my head; a handful of ordinary people trapped in a roadside diner by a mysterious man with a shotgun - sort of an Edward Hopper painting gone berserk. I had limited access to funds and a paltry budget, and knew intuitively that shooting in a single location would translate into an economical production. So I wrote to that. Midway through the writing process, I really started to embrace the novelty that the audience's point-of-view never leaves the diner. It adds to the claustrophobia.

 

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]]>Mark YoungMarkYoungThe Killing JarTheKillingJarPeter Hall2010-03-17T12:05:00 00:00What the Hell is a 'Serbian Film'?http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/what-the-hell-is-a-serbian-film/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/what-the-hell-is-a-serbian-film/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/what-the-hell-is-a-serbian-film/#commentsFiled under:

There is a film currently generating a lot of buzz at SXSW that I just had to blurb about. The title of the movie seems a playful jest on the cinematic ambiguity of a certain region of the world but the subject of the film is apparently as playful as a round of mini-golf at Auschwitz. The film is definitively titled A Serbian Film. To be clear, I have not yet seen this film. But the reaction from the horror community here at the festival has been equal parts vocal disbelief and telling speechlessness. From what I've gleaned of the topic of the film, certain questions are forming.

What is a Serbian film? This country, as noted for its horror cinema as I am noted for my career as a professional street fighter. Go ahead, name three Serbian horror films that you've seen? Need concrete evidence? Check out this link to IMDB showing the search results of Serbia and horror. Why does this matter to anyone ever? Because from what I'm hearing about Serbian Film, the film itself may be an angry reaction to the assumption that hardcore horror is a game in which only America and/or France participate.

 

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]]>festival buzzFestivalBuzzSerbian FilmSerbianFilmsxsw2010Brian Salisbury2010-03-16T16:45:00 00:00Know Your Zombies With the Zombie Identification Field Manualhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/know-your-zombies-with-the-zombie-identification-field-manual/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/know-your-zombies-with-the-zombie-identification-field-manual/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/know-your-zombies-with-the-zombie-identification-field-manual/#commentsWith the upcoming release of Romero's Survival of the Dead (review), zombie fever will once again rip through the horror community as everyone complains that the creator of the zombie has ruined his own ever-evolving creation. Naturally, no release of a film in a popular zombie franchise can be without its viral marketing materials.

To coincide with the release of Survival of the Dead in theaters on May 28th and VOD, XBOX Live, Amazon and Playstation on April 30th, Magnet has released the handy-dandy Zombie Identification Field Manual to ensure your complete safety when dealing with the zombie apocalypse. Never again will you confuse your drooling great grandfather or drunk roommate for a zombie, as the field manual highlights the attributes necessary to discern the living from the undead.

Survival of the Dead takes place in a desperate, nightmarish world where the dead walk the earth, relentlessly attacking the living. It is the story of Plum Island - a beautiful refuge whose isolation allows two powerful families to maintain a semblance of order in the wake of the zombie holocaust. But as the inhabitants slowly die off, the two clans become sharply divided: the O'Flynns believe that the undead must be destroyed without exception, while the Muldoons insist that afflicted loved ones be kept "alive" until a cure is found. The result is an escalating showdown with echoes of a classic Western stand-off that erupts in brutality and violence.

The guide can be viewed or downloaded here or by clicking the image up there in the top right. Check out more on Survival of the Dead at its official Facebook page and the official website. The red band trailer can be found here.

 

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]]>George RomeroGeorgeRomeroMagnetSurvival of the DeadSurvivalOfTheDeadzombiesBrad McHargue2010-03-16T15:35:00 00:00'Tetsuo: The Bullet Man' Makes North American Premiere at Tribeca Film Festhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/tetsuo-the-bullet-man-makes-north-american-premiere-at-tribec/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/tetsuo-the-bullet-man-makes-north-american-premiere-at-tribec/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/tetsuo-the-bullet-man-makes-north-american-premiere-at-tribec/#commentsFiled under:

I was introduced to Shinya Tsukamoto's cyberpunk classic Tetsuo: The Iron Man by way of its ridiculously awesome soundtrack masterminded by Chu Ishikawa, who hails from the band Zeitlich Vergelter -- often known as Japan's Einstürzende Neubauten. Ishikawa used hand-made metal instruments, samples and other grotesquely gorgeous sounds to create one hell of a soundtrack. The film was shot on 16mm black-and-white and tells the story of a clash between two men who transform into a man/machine hybrid and whose lives become overrun by increasingly nightmarish visions and bizarre, metal-filled sexual fantasies. Think Giger and Cronenberg times twenty. As someone who was raised on industrial/noise music and horror, watching Tetsuo for the first time reigns as one of my most memorable movie going experiences ever.

Tsukamoto followed Iron Man up with Tetsuo II: Body Hammer which was done in color and was released what feels like eons ago in 1992. Finally Tetsuo: The Bullet Man has arrived and is going make its North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Early reviews were lukewarm and honestly this is one of those times where I really don't care -- I'm that obsesso about these films. This will be Tsukamoto's English language movie debut and has an American man at its center point. Antony is living and working in Tokyo and married to a Japanese woman. When their son is killed in a car accident rage takes over and Antony starts to transform. Cue orgasm.

There are several genre goodies at Tribeca this year, so check out their official website for details and scheduling. Watch the Japanese trailer and International teaser after the jump.

 

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]]>Chu IshikawaChuIshikawaEinstürzende NeubautenEinstürzendeNeubautenShinya TsukamotoShinyaTsukamotoTetsuoTetsuo II: Body HammerTetsuo: The Iron ManTetsuo:TheIronManTetsuoIi:BodyHammerTribeca Film FestivalTribeca Film Festival 2010TribecaFilmFestivalTribecaFilmFestival2010Zeitlich VergelterZeitlichVergelterAlison Nastasi2010-03-16T14:25:00 00:00Watch Paul Bettany Kill Vampires in this 'Priest' Cliphttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/watch-paul-bettany-kill-vampires-in-this-priest-clip/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/watch-paul-bettany-kill-vampires-in-this-priest-clip/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/watch-paul-bettany-kill-vampires-in-this-priest-clip/#commentsFiled under:


I've been keeping my eye on the cinematic adaptation of TokyoPop's manga Priest for a long time now--from back in the days when Gerard Butler was attached to star in it. Since then, the film's had casting changes (Butler out, Paul Bettany in), landed a new director, and been bumped on its release schedule. However, as last night's Entertainment Tonight proves, the film is still coming.

ET scored an exclusive first look at the title, which finds Bettany playing a warrior priest who defies the church when vampires kidnap his niece. Cam Gigandet and Stephen Moyer co-star.

The clip finds the three stars talking a bit about their experience shooting the film and highlights some of the wire-work used to pull off the elaborately choreographed fight scenes. Moyer goes so far as to say he thinks Priest's vamps are stronger than the ones on his other foray into the land of bloodsuckers, True Blood.

Priest is set to kick off the human/vampire war on January 14th, 2011 Jump past the break to check out ET's early look at the film.

 

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]]>Cam GigandetclipPaul BettanyPriestStephen MoyervampiresMike Bracken2010-03-16T13:15:00 00:00Richard O'Sullivan Talks More About Sasha Grey Trading Porn for Purity in 'Hallows'http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/richard-osullivan-talks-more-about-sasha-grey-trading-porn-for/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/richard-osullivan-talks-more-about-sasha-grey-trading-porn-for/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/richard-osullivan-talks-more-about-sasha-grey-trading-porn-for/#commentsFiled under:


People don't usually equate Sasha Grey with the Jonas brothers but her latest film Hallows, directed by Richard O'Sullivan, has her playing a bible thumper type who takes a purity pledge refusing to have sex before marriage.

According to O'Sullivan, Grey was offered a part closer to home but she opted for virgin over whore. And opposite day continues for Hallows as producers have also signed Christina Cupo, an actress who has strong ties to the growing Christian film community but will be starring in the horror flick as a heavily pierced and tattooed goth girl with a penchant for rough sex.

In the film, "little Johnny Warlow was a nice, normal boy ... until he saw his father cut off his mother's face with a butcher knife one Halloween night. Now, after two decades in a mental institution, he's out to prove that he's all better now, even if he has to kill every man, woman, and child within a ten-mile radius to do so."

O'Sullivan gave us a sneak peek at his vision for the film:

"Hallows basically takes the standard kids-in-the-woods-running-from-a-killer genre and flips it on its ear. The deaths aren't random. They're not cookie cutter. Each character dies in a fashion relating to the way they live their life. I'm less interested in gore-for-the-sake-of-gore (although there is gore in this film and plenty of it) than the psychology behind the characters and how they react to what happens. That's why we're happy to be working with Sasha. She's more interested in the psychology behind the action than just the action itself. That's what she conveys in her work in the adult genre and that's what we're going for in this film."

Grey's other horror venture, Smash Cut, inspired by splatter fiend Herschell Gordon Lewis, will be released on March 30. Purchase it here.

 

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]]>Christina CupoChristinaCupoHallowsRichard OSullivanRichardOsullivanSasha GreySashaGreysmash cutSmashCutAlison Nastasi2010-03-16T12:20:00 00:00Summit Snags Cory Goodman's 'The Last Witch Hunter'http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/summit-snags-cory-goodmans-the-last-witch-hunter/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/summit-snags-cory-goodmans-the-last-witch-hunter/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/16/summit-snags-cory-goodmans-the-last-witch-hunter/#commentsFiled under:

There appears to be a logical progression in the popularity of popular monsters in cinema. Zombies dominated the first two-thirds of of the decade, while vampires, both conventional and otherwise, have become the topic du jour for the past couple of years. The release of The Wolfman might signify a return to werewolves, though one would not be foolish if they placed their bets on vampires.

Deadline New York has reported that Summit,who is behind the popular franchise that shall not be named, has jumped on a pitch by the Brood remake and Priest writer Cory Goodman for somewhere in the range of a crap ton of money (read: six figures). Tossing around phrases like "franchise potential," the film follows the eponymous hunter of witches, one of the remaining members of a rare breed whose job is to keep the population of witches and warlocks in check. Much to the chagrin of, well, everyone, they're on the verge of experiencing a repopulation boom, and it's up the last witch hunter to prevent this from happening.

Sounds intriguing, right? Combined with Dead Snow director Tommy Wirkola's two, count 'em two upcoming witch-centered films (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and Kurt Josef Wagle And The Legend of the Fjord Witch), witches are poised to take over the cinema, at least until filmmakers stop overlooking the poor Mummy. Look at him, sittin' in the corner, drying his tears with his own wrappings. It's just not right.

The film will be helmed by Timur Bekmambetov, the Russian-Kazakh mastermind behind the Russian-language vampire flicks Night Watch and Day Watch, and executive produced by Adam Goldworm.

Special thanks to Dread Central for the heads up.

 

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]]>Cory GoodmanSummit EntertainmentSummitEntertainmentThe Last Witch HunterTheLastWitchHunterTimur BekmambetovBrad McHargue2010-03-16T10:44:00 00:00SXSW Review: Tonyhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/sxsw-review-tony/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/sxsw-review-tony/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/sxsw-review-tony/#commentsFiled under: ,


The first words we hear Gerard Johnson's title character utter to someone in his debut film, Tony, are "Hello, are you all right?" and from the moment we see him, we know he is not. He's an amalgamation of every awkward and repressed person we've ever met, but that doesn't stop Tony from reaching out to make a connection with anyone and everyone who will listen to him. That is, when he isn't being knocked down, taken advantage of, or pushed out the door. He finds comfort in the company of druggies (one who spots the "bleeders" from the "leaders"), hookers (for just a "cuddle") and gay club boys, who all seem to satisfy his need to go through the motions of "normal" social behavior: being polite by shaking hands and then offering drinks or snacks before he strangles them and props them up like dolls in his morbid collection.

Tony is as forgotten as the world he inhabits: the vertical slums of London, the neon thrall of the red light district and the murky channels he wanders when disposing of the bodies he methodically packages like meat. Thanks to Johnson's script and the stellar performance of Peter Ferdinando (someone please give this guy more work), there are plenty of dark, comedic moments in Tony's life. Things like his obsession with violent action films on VHS (he quotes First Blood to a victim moments before ... ), cleverly timed (and often awkward) conversations with people and corpses alike inject levity into an overwhelmingly grim reality. Complementary to this is Matt Johnson's haunting score, which punctuates every moment perfectly while remaining organic and unobtrusive. Similar is the photography which uses the natural light of the city landscape as its focal point. Johnson occasionally contrasts this with a more theatrical tone using the same naturalistic elements (a street sign, an elevator, etc.) and the effect is striking.

 

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]]>British HorrorBritishHorrorGerard JohnsonGerardJohnsonMatt JohnsonMattJohnsonPeter FerdinandoPeterFerdinandoserial killerSerialKillerThe TheTheTheTonyUK horrorUkHorrorAlison Nastasi2010-03-15T16:25:00 00:00What's Coming Up for Team Melton and Dunstan?http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/whats-coming-up-for-team-melton-and-dunstan/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/whats-coming-up-for-team-melton-and-dunstan/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/whats-coming-up-for-team-melton-and-dunstan/#commentsFiled under: ,

I don't care much for Feast and I'm not a fan of the Saw series but writer Patrick Melton and co-writer/director Marcus Dunstan's The Collector is definitely my cup of team and Melton recently spoke with Dread Central about the possibility of a sequel to the home invasion horror flick. He also chatted with Dread about Saw II, 3D technology, the Oscar's awkward nod to horror films and more.

The duo is penning the script for the latest installment in the Saw series (lucky number 7) and director Kevin Greutert is halfway through principal photography after a studio debacle where Lionsgate went head-to-head with Paramount and exercised an option in Greutert's contract to force him off Paranormal Activity 2 and back to the Saw series. Adding insult to injury, this happened literally a few weeks before filming. What kind of film can you expect when the helmer has been unwillingly plopped into a chair just days away from shooting? Melton is keeping the faith:

" ... If anyone can do it, it's Kevin. He's been involved in every single Saw movie, and he directed the last one so he knows the limitations of the crew and the limitations of the resources, and so he's been able to adapt pretty quickly, and it's looking good. Because we are playing with the idea that this may be the last Saw movie and we are trying to wrap things up, it's made it a ton more ambitious."

 

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]]>3D horror3dHorrormarcus dunstanMarcusDunstanoscarsOscars2010patrick meltonPatrickMeltonSawsaw viisaw vii 3dSawViiSawVii3dThe CollectorThe Collector 2TheCollectorTheCollector2Alison Nastasi2010-03-15T16:01:00 00:00Matt Reeves Talks 'Cloverfield 2'...Sort ofhttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/matt-reeves-talks-cloverfield-2-sort-of/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/matt-reeves-talks-cloverfield-2-sort-of/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/matt-reeves-talks-cloverfield-2-sort-of/#commentsFiled under:



Cloverfield 2 is starting to remind a lot of Evil Dead 4--it's a movie that comes up in every interview with principles of the first film (Matt Reeves and JJ Abrams) and the answers are always tantalizingly vague, but just intriguing enough to keep everyone talking about it.

MTV caught up with Reeves at SXSW this weekend, and naturally the topic of a sequel to the duo's hugely successful monster movie came up. True to form, Reeves' responses were cryptic but guaranteed to get the fans buzzing about a follow-up yet again.

Reeves tells MTV, "I can tell you nothing, [but] there are these spikes in activity. There are things that we keep talking about and things spike up. It very well may happen."

Yeah, there's your big Cloverfield 2 update. Spikes in activity and "it very well may happen." Not exactly Earth-shattering stuff.

Reeves then goes on to talk about his schedule and Abrams' schedule, and when you read it, it's easy to get the impression that we won't be seeing Cloverfield 2 anytime soon.

What do you think? Still interested in a Cloverfield sequel, or has so much time passed that you just don't care anymore?

 

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]]>Cloverfield 2Matt ReevesMattReevesmonster moviessequelsMike Bracken2010-03-15T15:15:00 00:00Horror Comics: 'Hack/Slash' Now Exclusively at Imagehttp://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/horror-comics-hack-slash-now-exclusively-at-image/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/horror-comics-hack-slash-now-exclusively-at-image/http://www.horrorsquad.com/2010/03/15/horror-comics-hack-slash-now-exclusively-at-image/#commentsFiled under:

SXSW wasn't the only exciting thing going on in the world of geekdom this weekend. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you could have headed out for the Emerald City ComiCon and got your comic geek on.

Amidst all the cosplaying and back-issue-buying came a pretty big announcement (thanks to Shock Till You Drop for spreading the news) for horror fans. Tim Seely's indie comic Hack/Slash is making the jump to Image. A new four issue miniseries entitled Hack/Slash: My First Maniac will introduce my Ms. Hack and her giant guardian Vlad to readers who might have missed her on other publisher's imprints.

My First Maniac will take readers through Cassie's first case and fill everyone in on the backstory of how she had to kill her own mother (a notorious serial killer known as The Lunch Lady) and her current struggles regarding whether she should continue to use her slasher-killing skills to save other innocent people from the monsters all around us, or just try to live a normal life (well, as normal as you can when you've murdered your own serial killer mother...). You don't need a doctorate in English Lit to guess which way this is gonna go...

Hack/Slash: My First Maniac will debut this June. Seely assures fans that the new version will appeal to longtime fans since his entire creative team is making the move with him. Plans for a Hack/Slash film are still in the works as well.

 

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]]>cassie hackHackSlashImage comicsMy First ManiacMike Bracken2010-03-15T14:05:00 00:00