Check out the trailer for the UK zombie film, THE DEAD

As you know, I am a huge fan of zombie movies.  Here is the newest one I have found that looks to be an instant classic if it lives up to what the trailer shows us.  It is a film from the U.K. simply titled, THE DEAD.  Here is the basic plot from the film's official website:

An American mercenary, the sole survivor of a plane crash, has to run the gauntlet across Africa, battling with the living dead. Joining forces with a local military man, desperately searching for his son amongst the chaos, they fight together to survive, in the first Zombie Road-Movie set against the stunning backdrop of Africa. 

The film looks amazing....check out some of those zombie effects!   


CLICK HERE to visit the official website of THE DEAD and watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to visit THE DEAD'S US Release Facebook page

I'm back from vaction!!! Read on about my SHINING moment!!

Greetings Boils and Ghouls!  I am back from a week long vacation...I hope you didn't miss me too much!!   I went on a week long trip to beautiful Estes Park, Colorado with the family and had a great time hiking the Rocky Mountains!! 

One very pleasant surprise I got when I arrived in Estes Park was a familiar looking hotel that was right across the field from our rental house.  It was a hotel called the Stanley Hotel, and I soon found out why it looked so familiar to me! 

Here is a brief description from wikipedia:

The Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for the fictional Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's novel THE SHINING. While he and his wife were staying at the Stanley, King conceived the basic idea for the novel. The 1997 television miniseries version of THE SHINING was filmed at the Stanley, and it has been used as a location site for other films as well, most notably as the "Hotel Danbury" in DUMB AND DUMBER.

Wow!  Every morning I woke up and went out on the back deck I could look across and see the hotel that inspired THE SHINING!  Pretty cool!!

The pic up above is a panoramic of the hotel I took when I walked over to visit the hotel.  It is a beautiful hotel both inside and out.
The pic below was the view I had of the Stanley while sitting on the back deck of our rental house.

HAYES HUDSON'S HOUSE OF HORROR will be taking a brief hiatus for about a week.....read more for details!

HAYES HUDSON'S HOUSE OF HORROR will be taking a much needed Summer Vacation.   As much as I love doing this blog, it is a lot of hard work and does take up a lot of time.  So, I will be taking a short break from the blog, but don't worry, I will be back in no time!  Check back next week (week of 7/31) and you will start seeing my daily posts again!  Until then, feel free to look around...check out the archives...there are over two years worth a posts over in the Archives section for you to look through.

Have a great summer and I will see you soon!!!   Stay scared!!

-Zombie Hayes

DVD Review: EYES OF THE CHAMELEON (2005)

EYES OF THE CHAMELEON
Directed by:  Ron Atkins
Distributed by: CAV Distribution and Troma Entertainment
 

Take a look at that cover.....this is one of my favorite DVD covers I have seen in a long time.  I thought this was an old film that Troma picked up based on the cover....it had a 70's or early 80's look to it.  Everything about the cover is perfect, from the gory picture to the retro looking font.  I was surprised when I saw that this is actually a fairly new film.  It is actually from 2005 and unfortunately, the DVD cover was my favorite part of this film.
Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Troma website:

Sara is stuck in Las Vegas working a dead end bartending job. A chance meeting with a member of the occult triggers a psychotic break and she descends into a world of group sex, unrepentant drug use and rampant violence. As she spins faster and faster out of control, her friends are slowly killed off in mysterious and brutal ways. Is Sara being stalked by an unnamed killer or is she the one guilty of the murders?

This film starts off good, and I thought it was going to be somewhat of a tribute of the old Italian gaillo films, but it quickly sank into your typical, low-budget, slasher flick.    I wanted to like this movie, I really did.  Again, check out that cover!  Bravo to whoever designed that cover.  It would definitely catch your eye if you saw it on the shelf of your local video store.  

The acting overall is just so-so, and there really isn't much blood for a slasher film, especially since that cover displays such a gruesome scene..I expected the film to be filled with scenes like this.  I will say that the scene in the film where they got the cover pic is very well done.  The makeup effect artist did a tremendous job with the the machete to the throat effect.  Too bad there were not more scenes like this one in this film.  The film was very slow at times and led up to what was a very anti-climatic ending in my opinion.

From a technical aspect, the film has spots that are very blurry...almost pixelated at times.  The editing was also another issue I really noticed.  Normally you don't even think about the editing...normally the movie flows along and transitions from scene to scene seamlessly.  Not noticing the editing is a sign of good editing.  Unfortunately, I noticed the editing many times in this film.  It was very choppy at times and there were some very noticeable abrupt cuts between scenes. 

I am normally a fan of Troma's films....you usually know what you are getting yourself into.  You know they are going to be low budget and probably a little cheesy, but I usually like that.  This one
just didn't do anything for me.   

Chameleons are known for changing their outer skin to look like something else....EYES OF THE CHAMELEON did exactly that with its wonderful DVD cover, disguising itself  from what it really is.  This is a classic case of the old phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover".  The same applies to DVD's as well.

Now, keep in mind, this is one reviewers opinion.  I encourage you to still watch the film.  I always say everyone should give all films a chance, and some people might really dig this film, I just wasn't one of those people. 


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Check out the trailer to the twisted clown film, THE LAST CIRCUS!

While not a pure horror film, THE LAST CIRCUS definitely has enough horror elements to deserve a mention on this site.   This film looks amazing on many levels.   Horror, drama, comedy, action....I think this film is going to have it all.  It looks very well made and looks like more of an Artsy style film than I am used to, but I personally can't wait to see this one.   Read the synopsis then check out the trailer by clicking the link below!

Here is the official synopsis from Magnolia Pictures:

1937, Spain is in the midst of the brutal Spanish Civil War. A "Happy" circus clown is interrupted mid-performance and forcibly recruited by a militia. Still in his costume, he is handed a machete and led into battle against National soldiers, where he single handedly massacres an entire platoon. This absurd and disturbing scenario raises the curtain on a twisted tale of love, revenge, and psychopathic clowns that could only spring from the mind of filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia

Fast forward to 1973, the tail end of the Franco regime. Javier, the son of the clown, dreams of following in his father's career footsteps, but has seen too much tragedy in his life - he's simply not funny and is only equipped to play the role of the Sad Clown. He finds work in a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, but as the Sad Clown he must take the abuse of the brutish Happy Clown Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment.

It is here that he meets Natalia, a gorgeous acrobat, and abused wife of Sergio. Javier falls deeply in love with Natalia and tries to rescue her from her cruel and violent husband, unleashing Sergio's jealousy. But Natalia is torn between her affection towards Javier and her lust for Sergio.

With neither man willing to back down, this twisted love triangle evolves into a ferocious battle between Sad Clown and Happy Clown, escalating to unbelievable heights in this absurd, shocking, irreverent and unforgettable film.


THE LAST CIRCUS will open in select theaters August 19 from Magnolia Pictures.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for THE LAST CIRCUS
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official Facebook Page

This week's Horror related DVD releases: Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Here are the Horror related DVD's coming out tomorrow, 7/19:
(click a title to see a trailer for that film)

*  HELLRAISER VIII:  HELLWORLD  [Blu-ray]
*  MONSTERWOLF
*  THE REEF  [DVD & Blu-ray]

Not much coming out this week.  My pick of the week is THE REEF.   Check out the trailer, it looks like a really well made film and could be good for a scare!

DVD Review: SLAUGHTER (2009)

SLAUGHTER
Written and Directed by:  Dan Martin (Juno Jakob)
Distributed by:  Celebrity Video Distribution

SLAUGHTER is a "found footage" type of film where we are supposedly viewing the videotapes that a serial killer made that have been recently found by the authorities.
Here is the official plot from the CVD website:

Ride shotgun with a deranged, serial killing, rapist. Go inside the head of escaped mental patient, David Ward, as a he terrorizes the town of Collingwood, England.
As you watch from David's vantage point, you will see that drugs, rape, murder, and sodomy are all just a day in the life of this madman. David was kind enough to document his killing spree. Crawl inside his thoughts.

This film is a hard one to review.  It's hard to say this film is good, because of the awful subject matter it deals with.  Watching a killer beat, rape, and kill women is not really an enjoyably thing to do.   On the other hand, the film was done pretty well with some good acting and some good effects.  There isn't much blood, but you see if very well done and looks pretty realistic.    There are some very graphic scenes in this film, so be warned.   There is a castration scene that will have you squirming in your seat.  Many other scenes will really make you feel for the victims that are being put through this torture and abuse.

Writer/Director Dan Martin says he was 17 at when the film was completed.   That is a very impressive fact and amazes me that someone so young could make such a controversial film (the film was banned from any screenings in several U.K. counties)

This film won't be for everyone.  It is well done, but like I stated before, the subject matter is awful and will be hard for some people to watch. While I didn't like the subject matter or seeing these things take place on screen, I can respect a filmmaker for making this sort of film and making it was well as this one was.  I'm sure it was a hard film for the actors to make.


CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD





CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Celebrity Video Distribution

Horror in the News: Sausage Factory Worker Killed in Meat Grinder!

On Tuesday, July 12th, a horrible accident occurred at a meat plant in Southwest Oklahoma.  A man in charge of cleaning the factory equipment fell into a huge meat grinder while cleaning the machine.  Here is the original story from the KFOR website:

LAWTON, Okla. -- A horrible accident at a Bar S plant in Southwest Oklahoma has taken the life of a young man. Twenty-six-year-old Michael Raper lived in Duncan with his fiance and four children, but Wednesday afternoon his promising life came to an abrupt end.

"He made my niece very happy," Diane Ferris said.

Ferris remembers the man who was months away from becoming a part of her family.

Raper was engaged to be married to her niece in February.

Monday Raper celebrated his 26 birthday.

"I just can't believe it," Ferris said. "It just happened all so fast."

Late Tuesday night Raper was working at the Bar S plant in Lawton where he was in charge of cleaning the machinery.

"He slipped and went into the machine. He was still conscious at the time," Ferris said. "So I can imagine the agony he was in, and he lost both of his legs in this accident."

Ferris says it took about two hours to free Raper, but the trauma was just too much.

He died Wednesday afternoon leaving behind a fiance and four children.

"She's going to have a tough time with this," Ferris said. "He was a good person."

News Channel 4 contacted OSHA and were referred to the US Department of Labor.

Department of Labor officials tell us an OSHA investigation is now ongoing, and they can't comment about specifics.

The investigation could take up to six months to complete.

STATEMENT FROM BAR-S FOOD SPHOENIX:

On Tuesday, July 12, an employee of the Bar-S Foods manufacturing facility in Lawton, Oklahoma was involved in a tragic accident while cleaning a piece of equipment. The employee sustained severe injuries, and was immediately transported to a local hospital where he died the next day. No other employees were involved in the incident. “The entire Bar-S Foods family is mourning the loss of our friend and co-worker,” said Tim Day, CEO and Chairman of Bar-S Foods. “We extend our deepest condolences to the employee’s family, and we are committed to helping them and our employees get through this difficult period.” Bar-S Foods is cooperating with all government authorities, and the company is launching its own investigation into the incident. Bar-S Foods has a strong safety track record and is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all its employees

HAYES HUDSON'S HOUSE OF HORROR is featured tonight on the IT'S ON RANDOM blog...

IT'S ON RANDOM is an awesome Zombie themed blog run by 'Random Girl', who talks about all sorts of things related to Zombies and Horror in general.   Lately she has been featuring a "Get to know your Bloggers" section on her blog, where she showcases some of her favorite Horror bloggers.  Well, I am honored to say that I was one of those bloggers picked by 'Random Girl' to be featured on her site!  I am tonight's featured blogger, so check out my short interview on her site by clicking HERE. 
Also, browse around the IT'S ON RANDOM blog and check out some older posts.  You will find lots of cool stuff and you can find some more great Horror blogs by checking out some of the older "Get to know your Bloggers" entries.

Thanks again 'Random Girl'!  Keep up the great work on your site!!

DVD Review: DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR (2010)

DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR
Directed by:  Jim Wynorski
Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay brings us another of  SyFy's animal mix up movies with DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR.    This is another film in the likes of SHARKTOPUS and DINOSHARK that was produced by Roger Corman.   Here is the plot from the Anchor Bay website:


They were created deep within the secret island laboratories of an unscrupulous biotech corporation and grown to horrific proportions...until they both escaped. Bullets won’t stop them. Explosives only make them meaner. And their ravenous reptile appetites for scientists, tourists, S.W.A.T. teams and swimsuit models have only just begun. Now an undercover investigator, a sexy Fish & Game officer, and a cold-blooded swamp hunter known only as ‘The Cajun’ are all in pursuit of the scaly beasts that can outrun SUVs, crush buses, and snack on sleazy producers in hot tubs. But when these monster lizards ultimately meet in battle, will mankind be the defeated species? David Carradine (Kill Bill, Death Race 2000) – in one of his final performances – stars in this epic Syfy smash about the bone-crunching, body-chomping, earth-trembling smackdown of Dinocroc Vs. Supergator!

 If you liked SHARKTOPUS and DINOSHARK, then I don't see any way you would not like DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR.   These are all basically the same movie, just with different creatures, and this film is different in that we dont' have any sharks in site.  Now were are dealing with gators and crocs that have been genetically engineered and have grown to massive size.   With the shark movies, you were at least safe if you stayed away from the water, but with these creatures, you are not safe anywhere...land or water. 

 The acting in this film is well....lets face it.  It is just not that good.  In fact, in some instances it is just awful.  But are you really watching this film for the acting?  No.  We watch these types of films for one thing and one thing only, and that is to see the creatures eat people.  Simple enough.  I do have to mention that there is one bright spot when it comes to the acting, and that is of course the legendary David Carradine.  He is not in the film much, but in the few scenes he is in, he brings a huge sense of genre credibility to the film.   It looks like this was one of the the last few films Mr. Carradine did before his untimely death in 2009.

 Now, on to the good part....the creatures eating people!  I think this film had a much higher body count than SHARKTOPUS or DINOCROC...I am not 100% sure on that, so don't quote me, but it definitely felt that way to me.   There was one scene in particular where a woman is literally bitten in half by one of the creatures. It was very well done and very effective.

 If you are a fan of the creature features, you will definitely want to check this one out.  Special features on the DVD include the  trailer and an Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Roger Corman and Director Jim Wynorski (A.K.A.  Jay Andrews).  DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR was released on DVD and Blu-ray this past Tuesday, 7/12, so is available now!



CLICK HERE to visit the official website of the film and watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD or Blu-ray



CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Anchor Bay Entertainment

THE EVIL DEAD remake is a go!!

I know a  lot of people hate horror remakes, but I personally love them.  They don't take anything away from the original...we will always have those, but they can introduce a new generation of movie watchers to some great stories and characters and even get them interested in seeing the originals if they haven't already.

I say all this because Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell have announced an official THE EVIL DEAD remake!   Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Rob Tapert will all be producing the film with the directing duties being given to Fede Alvarez.

I am personally very excited about this.  Anything involving THE EVIL DEAD is ok in my book, even if it is not the EVIL DEAD 4 we've all been wishing for.  I am confident Sam will make sure this is a top notch film that lives up to its name.  


CLICK HERE to read the full article from The Hollywood Reporter

This week's Horror related DVD releases: Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

Here are the horror related DVD's coming out tomorrow, 7/12/11:
(Click a title to see a trailer for that film)


*  CURSE OF THE PUPPET MASTER
*  DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  GEORGE A. ROMERO PRESENTS: DEADTIME STORIES VOL. 1
*  INSIDIOUS  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  MANEATER
*  THE MAN WHO COLLECTED FOOD
*  REC 2
*  THINGS

Well, my pick of the week is another easy one.....INSIDIOUS blew me away at the theater.  I hope it has the same effect when watching on the TV at home.  It was one of my favorite horror movies I have seen a number of years.  Check it out for sure!

DVD Review: BLOODLUST ZOMBIES (2011)

 

BLOODLUST ZOMBIES
Written and Directed by:  Dan Lantz
Distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures/Vicious Circle Films

Wow!  Have you ever written a film off just from the DVD cover only to be blown away by the film once you actually get to see it?  That is exactly what happened with me when I watched BLOODLUST ZOMBIES.  Here is the basic plot from the Breaking Glass Pictures website:

Like typical 9-to-5 cubicle dwellers, the workers at Zlantoff Industries are just counting down the minutes and seconds by the end of the day. And just like any office, mishaps are bound to happen: split coffee, jammed fax machines..mutant viral outbreaks. When a chemical spill in the lab on an otherwise uneventful weekday puts the entire office on emergency lock down, the entire staff unwittingly becomes the first test subjects for an experimental mutant virus. Now, if the biological weapon doesn't spur cannibalistic murder, the passive aggressive office banter surely will.  Featuring adult film superstar Alexis
Texas in a breakout role, Bloodlust Zombies is a a roller coaster ride of sex, gore and action. Part office satire, part apocalyptic catastrophe, director Dan Lantz's debut feature keeps the laughs - and heads - rolling.

Wait a minute...did I read that right?  This is a Dan Lantz's debut feature?  Wow, way to hit a home run your first time up to bat there Dan!!  If this is his debut feature, I expect great things of of Mr. Lantz if he continues in the horror genre.

Let me start by saying this is not your typical zombie film....the "monsters" in this movie aren't really zombies at all...they are just people infected by some kind of experimental virus being concocted in the lab at the office building.  Once infected, they do take on zombie like qualities, though, sorta like the "zombies" in the film 28 DAYS LATER.   The virus in question was being created to infect our enemies whom we are at war with.  The virus causes people to become highly aggressive and attack each other with cannibalistic tendencies, so they are similar to zombies in that regard.

The acting in this film is actually very good.  I'm always very concerned when an "adult superstar" makes their debut in a mainstream  (i.e. non porn) film.   I mean, lets be frank, I wouldn't think adult films would take much acting skills to be in.  Your acting skills don't have to be huge as long as other parts of you are!  BUT...saying this, adult superstar Alexis Texas did a great job.  She is actually a very good actress and  since I have never seen any of her films, if they wouldn't have mentioned anything about her being an adult superstar, I would have just thought that she was a regular up and coming actress making her start in a cheesy horror flick!  Well done Alexis!!
My only issue I had with an actor was with the character of Darren, played by Adam Danoff.  At first his lines didn't seem to flow too well, but towards the end he really grew on me and he actually had some of the funniest lines in the film.  He actually seemed to get better as the film went on.

Speaking of funny lines, did I mention this film is almost as much a comedy as it is a horror?  Well, maybe not as much, but it was a very funny film for a horror flick.  This was not your typical funny when it comes to horror/comedies...that is usually pretty juvenile and is usually more of spoof type comedy.  This film actually had some great and funny scenes and dialog.  Not just one liners, but conversations that were actually very funny.  The elevator scene still makes me laugh just thinking about it. 

Ok...so we covered the acting and the comedic aspect of the film, now on to my favorite part....the gore!!  These were some of the best gore effects I have seen in a long time.  Rarely do I go look to see who did the effects of a film, but this one made me do just that.  I wasn't surprised when I saw that the production company was actually called Impulse-FX.  That all makes perfect sense!  Michael Harvey is listed as the man behind the special Make-up effects, so Kuddos to Mr. Harvey and his team of workers.   The blood is this film is very plentiful so all you gore hounds take notice.   There is once scene when a security guard gets attacked and is bitten on the neck where the blood literally squirts out of his neck.  It was a very disgusting, and I mean that as a complete compliment!

Finally, let me end this review by saying the the ending of this film is one of the most enjoyable endings I have seen in some time.   We end with Alexis Texas' character, who after having a slight breakdown from being chased and seeing people attacked, pulls herself together and actually goes on the offensive to take care of the "zombies".   I will try not to give too much away, but her final stand-off against an infected man was a thing of sheer beauty.  It also results in one of the greatest decapitation scenes ever put on film, at least in this reviewers opinion.  I am not kidding, I hit rewind on the remote at least three times to watch it again.   Not only was it done so well in terms of special effects, it was done in such a stylistic manner that it deserved a repeat viewing.    If Quentin Tarantino ever did a zombie movie featuring a hot chick in a full hazmat gear be-heading a zombie with an axe, I have a felling this is exactly what it would look like. 




CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD


CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Breaking Glass Pictures

DVD Review: SHELLTER (2009)

-------------Review by contributing writer Scott Baker------------------

 
SHELLTER
Written and Directed by:  Dan Donley

I'm not sure why the title is misspelled, but that doesn't matter at all: SHELLTER is one hell of a movie and deserves your immediate attention.
 

If you're not familiar with SHELLTER, you should be. This film has several acclaims, including winner for Best Feature at the Phoenix Fear Film Fest and a nomination for Best Feature at the Dark Carnival Film Fest. Here is the plot, courtesy of imdb.com:

A young woman, Zoey, finds herself in a hospital room in an underground fallout shelter. The doctor, who runs the shelter, explains that an infection has killed the entire population above ground. The only people left are either a few lone survivors like herself, and the infected... the living dead. The only way of curing the infection, she is told, is by surgically removing the affected area. The doctor is assisted by a nurse who has seemingly gone completely insane. Together, they "treat" a steady stream of survivors. The doctor wants Zoey to to replace the unstable nurse and become his new assistant. Zoey is very hesitant, but the doctor is willing to do whatever it takes to survive, no matter how questionable or terrible the acts. But after a patient offers to trade places with Zoey and do "anything" the doctor wants, Zoey realizes that if she doesn't do these terrible things, someone else will do these things to her...

This movie is excellent. It has all the elements that good horror contains: excellent acting, loads of suspense, great gore, and a nice, twist ending.

The cast is superb, with Cari Sanders leading the way playing Zoey, and Will Tulin as the unforgettable Doctor. I have to say, these two folks are stellar in their performances. Tulin's portrayal of the sadistic Doctor is amazing. I've never felt more creeped out than when he smiles, right before doing something disgustingly inhumane. 

 

Which brings up the gore. WOW. For being a low budget film, SHELLTER  has some stunning gore. Gruesome and brutal, the gore adds more realism to the already surrealistic yet barbaric brutality in the film. I have to admit: I almost cringed a couple of times during some of the 'procedure' scenes. Not to mention several procedures that are discussed but now shown. Bleh! Well done, production team, well done

The story is great as well, with the ending providing a nice surprise. I can't say that I didn't see it coming, but the solidification of my suspicions was very satisfying and almost humbling to a point. I certainly commend writer/director Dan Donley for his imagination and vision. I hope to see much more from him in the future.

The bottom line for Shellter is that it earns an A+. Put this one high on your Must See List and check it out as soon as you can. You won't be disappointed, but you might be a bit shocked at times. You'll definitely be entertained, though. 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE to visit the official SHELLTER website and watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Congratulations to the winners of the latest 4H giveaway!!

CONGRATULATIONS  to the winners of the latest 4H Giveaway!!  Of those that entered, only the XL and 2XL shirts were requested.   So....the winners of those two shirts are as follows:

XL    shirt winner is:    R. Oliver

2XL shirt winner is:     GOREHOUNDS

No one requested the size L shirt, so we will hold a future giveaway for that one.  

Thanks to all that entered and check back as we will have a new giveaway later in the month!
Remember to purchase your copy of III SLICES OF LIFE by clicking the link below!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to order the DVD
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website

Horror in the News: Grizzly Bear Attacks and Kills Yellowstone Hiker

Yesterday, 7/6, a man hiking the trails at Yellowstone National Park was attacked and killed by a Grizzly bear while his wife watched.  It was the first bear related human fatality in 25 years at the park.  Here is the official story from msnbc.com:


YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A man hiking with his wife on a Yellowstone National Park trail was mauled to death by a bear on Wednesday, the National Park Service said, noting it was the first such fatality in 25 years.   

The couple was about a mile and a half into the Wapiti Lake Trail when they came across a grizzly sow with cubs.

"In an apparent attempt to defend a perceived threat to her cubs, the bear attacked and fatally wounded the man," the park service said in a statement. "Another group of hikers nearby heard the victim’s wife crying out for help, and used a cell phone to call 911. Park rangers were summoned and quickly responded to the scene."

"Patrols are underway to clear the area of all backcountry users," it added. "All trails and backcountry campsites in the area have been closed until further notice."

The 57-year-old victim's name was withheld pending notification of family members.

"Our heart goes out to the family and friends of the victim as they work to cope with their loss," said Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk.

No Yellowstone visitors were injured by bears in 2010, the park service noted. "This is the first bear-caused human fatality in Yellowstone since 1986," it added.

Park spokesman Al Nash said park officials have not euthanized or tried to find the bear.

 

A mother grizzly did kill one man and injure two other people in an unusual night-time attack on sleeping campers just outside Yellowstone in Montana last July. That bear was trapped and destroyed because the attacks were considered to be unprovoked.

In June 2010, a grizzly just released after being trapped and tranquilized for study killed an Illinois man hiking outside Yellowstone's east gate.

Yellowstone and nearby surrounding areas are home to a growing number of grizzlies, at least 600 and some say more than 1,000. Once a rare sight, they've become an almost routine cause of tourists lining up at Yellowstone's roadsides at the height of summer season.

Their growing numbers require constant vigilance by tourists and park workers alike, said Caleb Platt, a service station manager at Canyon Village.

Platt lives most of the year in Yellowstone and said over the last eight years he has had three fairly close run-ins with grizzlies while hiking.

"When it's close and you realize it does see you, it gets the heart racing," he said.

Platt said he carries bear spray — pressurized hot-pepper oil in a can — so he's able to defend himself in case a bear gets too close on the trail.



I personally can't imagine anything worse than being killed by an animal....shark, bear, whatever.  I can't imagine the pure terror that runs through you while something like this is happening.  My thoughts and prayers go out to this man's family, especially his wife who had to stand by and watch helplessly as her husband was killed right before her eyes.  That is a scene that will probably be burned into her mind forever.

Blu-ray Review: VAMPIRE CIRCUS (1972)

 
VAMPIRE CIRCUS
Directed by Robert Young
Distributed by Synapse films and CAV Distributing

I have to admit....as big of a horror fan that I am, I have seen very few of the original Hammer Films. VAMPIRE CIRCUS is one I had not only never seen, but I had never even heard of until I saw it was coming out on Blu-ray. After watching this film, I will definitely be visiting more classic Hammer titles in the future. Here is the basic plot of VAMPIRE CIRCUS, from the Synapse films website:

A little girl is brutally slain by a vampire in a tiny 19^th century Austrian village. Seeking revenge, the townspeople invade the foreboding castle of Count Mitterhaus and kill him for the crime. As the Count dies, he curses the villagers and vows that their children will all die so that he may someday return to life.
Fifteen years later, as the village is ravaged by the plague, a traveling circus comes to town and distracts the villagers from their current hardships. Little do they know that their troubles are only beginning! The circus is actually a troupe of shape-shifting vampires and, as the local children start disappearing, they realize the prophecy of the long dead Count is coming true.

This was one of the most enjoyable films I have seen in a long time. The movie is not perfect by any means, and has some minor flaws like some mild over-acting at time, but you can't deny that the film is entertaining. Sure it is cheesy at times, but this was made in the early 70's and is a movie about a shape-shifting vampires who run a circus, so what do you expect! HA!

The movie starts out excellent with a woman under the spell of Count Mitterhaus who brings a young girl to him. He kills the girl and makes love to the woman....setting the tone for the entire film. I loved this opening and was glad that they didn't back down and started with such a heavy opening. The rest of the film is just as good with a few good scares, some creepy images and some cool circus acts!

I have always loved films (esp. horror films) with a carnival or circus setting. Carnivals have such a fun exterior, but can hide such horrible things. Sideshows and "Freak shows" as they used to be called were like small Horror theaters, set up to scare and thrill the carnival patrons. Tod Browning's 1932 classic, FREAKS, was my first foray into the carnival/circus horror film, and I have been a fan ever since. For this reason, I thoroughly enjoyed VAMPIRE CIRCUS and would highly recommend it to all horror fans.

Synapse has gone all out with this awesome Blu-ray / DVD combo pack and have loaded it with some awesome extras! These extras include:

* The Bloodiest Show on Earth: Making VAMPIRE CIRCUS Documentary
* Gallery of Grotesqueries: A Brief History of Circus Horrors Featurette
* Visiting the House of Hammer: Britain's Legendary Horror Magazine Featurette
* VAMPIRE CIRCUS: Motion Comic Book
* Still and Poster Gallery
* Theatrical Trailer


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack

This week's Horror related DVD releases: Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Here are the Horror related DVD's coming out today, 7/5/11:
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

*   2
*   THE ANNIVERSARY AT SHALLOW CREEK
*   BLOODRAYNE:  THE THIRD REICH  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*   BLOODLUST ZOMBIES
*   DRIVE IN HORROR SHOW
*   THE FRANKENSTEIN SYNDROME
*   HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*   NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
*   STRANGERS ONLINE
*   WAKE WOOD  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*   WISCONSIN PROJECT X
*   THE WITCHMAKER

Well, it's a no brainer this week....for me at least.  HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN is my DVD pick of the week.  If you haven't seen the trailer yet, check it out NOW!

Have a fun and safe 4th of July!

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!  There wont be any new post today (except for this one), because I will have too much going on today due to the holiday....can you believe I actually have to work today?!  Then will be firing up the grills as soon as I get home and entertaining friends tonight. So, enjoy the good food and fireworks today and I will be back tomorrow with your list of new horror related DVD's for this week!   Thanks!

Blu-ray Review: GROWTH (2010)

   
GROWTH
Written and Directed by:  Gabriel Cowan
Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment


For those that didn't catch GROWTH when it was released to DVD earlier this year, now you can take advantage of seeing it on the Blu-ray edition that was just released June 21st.  Here is the basic plot of the film from the Anchor Bay Entertainment website: 

In 1989, a breakthrough in Advanced Parasitic Development at the Cuttyhunk Island Research Facility led to a mysterious outbreak that killed most of the center’s staff and the island’s residents. Twenty years later, a young woman who fled the original epidemic has returned with a group of friends to sell her family’s property. But a new breed of parasite may have evolved and survived. They are fast moving. They can slither into – or out of – any orifice in the human body.

I love movies with crawly slug things.  I'm not sure what it is about it I like....I guess I just think they are cool.   Maybe it goes back to seeing one of my favorite horror films of all time,  NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, as a child.  I also enjoyed the sluggy goodness of 2006's SLITHER.  Well, now I can add GROWTH to my list of cool "slug" movies.  These aren't really slugs, but I don't know what else to call them, so I will call them that for the purpose of this review.  

First off, if you haven't seen the trailer for this, go watch it right now.  It is a great trailer that packs a lot of footage into it.   You will see the caliber of film this is.   The film is shot very well with great cinematography and some great set pieces.   The acting in this film is very good as well. All the characters play their part well and do a good job displaying a range of emotions. 

Another great thing about this film are the effects.  The slugs are all CG, but they are done really well.  Even though I could tell they were all CG  (especially when they showed them crawling under people's skin), they still looked good and I enjoyed the effect.  There was quite a bit of gore in this film as well...more than I expected for this type of film, so that is always a plus.  And what other film can you see a guy rip some one's arm of and them beat him with it.   If that happens in another movie, I wanna see it!

This is a great film and one I will definitely be re-watching...from the great opening sequence to the very end, this film was fun and kept me entertained the entire time.  Check this one out for sure!

 
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website and view the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD or Blu-ray

Check out these cool Horror themed fireworks!

While visiting my local Ka-Boomers firework stand today, I couldn't help but notice the numerous Horror themed fireworks for sale.  I have never noticed this before, so not sure if this is something new or maybe I just haven't been as observant in the past.  This was also my first time to shop at a Ka-Boomers stand, so maybe this company just has more Horror themed fireworks than the tents I have visited in the past. 
Anyway, I just thought these were cool so thought I would share some pics of a few of my favorite ones!



MUMMY MADNESS


















CREATURE FEATURE

















ZOMBIE ZONE

















 HAUNTED SCARECROW


















SHARK ATTACK














CLASSIC KONG

















THE GATES OF HELL














I have no clue who the artist is for the Snake Bite company which makes most of these fireworks, but the drawings on all these packages are actually really good...I almost hate to blow them up!

Check out the trailer for the Spanish home invasion thriller, KIDNAPPED!

I just ran across a film called KIDNAPPED.  The film was written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Miguel Ángel Vivas.  The plot is pretty simple:

Three hooded Eastern-European criminals burst into a home in a Madrid gated community, holding the family hostage in its own home, and forcing the father to empty his credit cards. But the family fights back - brutally.

Home invasion films are very scary to me, as they are the most realistic of all the sub-genres of  horror films.   The chances of you getting slashed to death by a masked killer are pretty slim, but having your house broken into and being held against your will...well, that happens everyday somewhere in the world.   This looks very creepy.  Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer