TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND is finally here!!

After months and months of waiting, I am super excited that TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND 2010 is finally here! It seemed like it would never get here and now it has arrived. I am off to Dallas and I hope to meet some of my blog readers there! I am also super excited about meeting all the guests such as George Romero, John Carpenter, Bill Moseley, and Sid Haig just to name a few. So, I probably wont have time to do any new posts over the weekend, but check back on Monday and I should have some pics from the weekend posted. In the meantime, for newer readers of the 4H blog, take some time to check the archives section and look back at some older posts. Have a great weekend, and if you are going to be at TFW, be sure to stop me and say HI!

Pic from TFW 2009. Me with Bobbi Sue Luther and Jana Kramer from LAID TO REST

DVD Review: SPIRIT CAMP (2009)

I have really been seeing a lot of really great low budget horror films over the past few months, and this one ranks up at the top for sure! SPIRIT CAMP is being released by Kerosene Films and was both written and directed by Kerry Beyer. In fact, he was also the Executive Producer and Cinematographer! And he was the Film Editor. Oh, did I mention he starred in the film as well? Ha! This guy is amazing. The credits looked almost like a joke as he was listed in almost every category of the film crew! More on him later.

Here is the plot synopsis from imdb.com:

When a street smart "goth girl" (Roxy Vandiver) is forced to attend cheerleader camp as part of her rehabilitation from a juvenile correction facility, she clashes with the "popular girls," and finds herself embroiled in a bitter rivalry with the bitchy ringleader Rachel (Julin). But when members of the spirit squad start turning up dead, the girls must put aside their differences and struggle to survive the murderous rage of a crazed psycho-killer lurking among them!

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This movie is listed as a Horror/Comedy and it is a perfect blend of both. The comedic parts are actually really funny and the horror side of the film is a perfect slasher flick. The ads for the film describe it as "FRIDAY THE 13th meets BRING IT ON" which is a pretty good comparison. Although there were actually more similarities and nods to the film HALLOWEEN than there was to FRIDAY THE 13th (the action takes place at Loomis Lake and the camp director is named Mrs. Haddenfield). You will also see some more subtle nods to HALLOWEEN if you watch close enough...I won't ruin them all for you here.

The acting is the movie is superb. There is not one bad performance in the group. A few performances that really stuck out as really great were the part of Sheriff Todd played by veteran actor Brandon Smith, the part of Rachel played by Julin, and the character of Missy played by Megan Moser. These were great performances, but really all the actors did a great job.

The gore scenes is the film are great too. One thing this Horror/Comedy didn't do was skimp on the blood. There are plenty of great kills to satisfy even the most die hard slasher fans. This film is definitely one to watch again and is going on my list of favorite slasher flicks!

Ok....back to writer/director/Cinematographer/Editor and actor Kerry Beyer. Be sure to watch the behind the scenes documentary on the special features. Beyer talks about making this movie with such passion, you can tell he really loves the genre and film making in general, and it shows in his final product. Also, during this behind the scenes look, we get a very personal glimpse of a tragedy that struck his family, as during shooting his mother had to undergo brain surgery to remove a brain tumor. Mrs. Beyer did all the catering for the film and was very involved and supportive of her son and this project. There is a very touching interview with Beyer's mother and even footage of her right after having been through the surgery. This was a very interesting behind the scene featurette with a lot more substance than most of the making of documentaries we are used to on other Horror DVD's. I hope Beyer sticks with the Horror genre and I look forward to seeing future projects from this amazing filmmaker.

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CLICK HERE to visit the official website of SPIRIT CAMP and watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase a DVD of the film

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Kerosene Films

DVD Review: ZOMBIE DEAREST (2009)

Quirky zombie films are a simple joy for me, for the most part.

Shaun of the Dead immediately springs into my mind, as do films like DEAD SNOW, FIDO, and even ARMY OF DARKNESS. And after watching ZOMBIE DEAREST, I’m glad to say it is going onto this list as well.
Here is the basic plot synopsis from imdb.com:

When failed comic Gus Lawton pushes his wife too far, he finds himself chasing her across the country to the abandoned farmhouse of her childhood. Given the choice between losing Deborah or living by her plan, Gus gets busy fixing up the old place, starting with the septic tank. In a moment of desperation, he digs up the very thing he needs, a zombie who'll do anything he wants... for now, anyway. As the zombie's own desires threaten their plans, Gus and Deborah come together in a desperate struggle to get what they want, regardless of the cost.

Let me start off by saying ZOMBIE DEAREST is one of the most original zombie flicks I have ever seen. The plot was excellent, a unique and welcome romp that had me laughing at certain parts and cringing in suspense during others. The acting was great as well, and the overall production was superb.

Mixing a smart blend of humor in with the thrills and chills of a horror movie can be difficult. But first-time director David Kemker seems to pull it off with ease. One of my favorite scenes is around the beginning of the movie, where Deborah has just learned of her husband’s attempt at infidelity. She confronts him, saying, “I don’t care about the fact that you wanted to screw her! What I care about…what hurts me the most, is that you were making her laugh in the bedroom! That’s mine!”

The wrap-up at the end of the film is another of my favorite scenes, and is one of the most intense parts of the plot as well. I cannot say anything about it because I will give too much away, but the ending was a pure joy to watch. I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming and, again, it is very unique.

Fans of original horror movies should definitely give this one a go. If anything, just watch it to see how well it is done for a lower-budget production. I hope to see more from director David Kemker in the very near future.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for ZOMBIE DEAREST
CLICK HERE to buy the dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Anthem Pictures

This week's Horror DVD releases: Tuesday, April 27th

Here are the Horror related dvds coming out on Tuesday, 4/27/2010

(Click on a title to see the trailer for that film)

* THE DESCENT PART 2

* THE FEAR CHAMBER
* LEGEND OF THE WITCHES
* LIFE BLOOD (formaly known as PEARBLOSSOM)
* MARKED
* MEGAPIRANHA
* PASSED THE DOOR OF DARKNESS
* SPIRIT
* SYMPATHY
* TRANSYLMANIA

DVD Review: ISLE OF THE DAMNED (2008)

Before I get to the review of ISLE OF THE DAMNED, please CLICK HERE and buy this film now. You will not be disappointed. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun watching a Horror film! Ok, now on to the review. ISLE OF THE DAMNED is from Dire Wit Films and was written by Mark Leake and directed by Mark Colegrove. Here is the plot synopsis from the Dire Wit Films website:

In Antonello Giallo's follow up to the notorious Pleasures of the Damned, private investigator Jack Steele is hired by a mysterious treasure hunter to help find the lost treasure of Marco Polo. Along for the trip is Jack's adopted son, Billy. Their search brings them to an island off the coast of Argentina... and into the clutches of a primitive cannibal tribe, the Yamma Yamma. Alexis Kinkaid, a mysterious recluse who has made his home on the island amongst the cannibals, may hold the key to unlocking the island's secret... if they don't end up in the belly of a savage first! Isle of the Damned, shot on location in Argentina in 1980, brought Giallo under fire yet again... this time by the Argentinean government, who issued a warrant for Giallo's arrest under suspicions of abuse of the native peoples. Giallo fled the country before he could go to trial. The film has been long out of print, but is presented here in a digitally remastered form.

ISLE OF THE DAMNED is a perfect parody of the Italian Cannibal films of the 70's and 80's. The film is even made to look like an old, lost films, from the intentional bad voice dubbing, right down to the grainy footage and film imperfections. I just can't say enough about this film. The film had me laughing out loud at some parts, and had me turning away in disgust in other parts! A great combination that every Horror/comedy film should have, but most don't. Most Horror/Comedies are either funny with not much Horror, or more of just Horror with not much funny stuff...this is a perfect combination.

For those that just want Horror, then you will not be disappointed by any means. The film is full of over the top gore, including scenes of a mans ribcage getting pulled from his chest, and then his skin completely pulled off of his face, leaving a disgusting looking blood and muscle covered skull. There is also the famous genital mutilation scene that will make any guy that watches this film squirm!!

I really have nothing negative to say about this film. The acting in the film is great. It is actually really bad, but it is supposed to be bad, so by that reasoning it is actually very good! Make sense! The make up and gore effects are superb as well.

Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of ISLE OF THE DAMNED right now!!

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Dire Wit Films and to watch the trailer for ISLE OF THE DAMNED

CLICK HERE if you haven't already to buy this film NOW!!

DVD Review: RED HOOK (2009)

I recently watched the movie RED HOOK, and I have to tell you this is one of the better Horror movies I have seen in quite some time. The film was written by Sammy Buck and Elizabeth Lucas and was directed by Elizabeth Lucas as well. The film is distributed by Phase 4 Films.
Here is the plot synopsis from imdb.com:

Ten years after witnessing her older sister's brutal murder, Jenny Traylor leaves her hometown in North Carolina to start her freshman year at the University of New York City. Still traumatized by her sister's death and struggling with crippling agoraphobia, Jenny tries to cope with the overwhelming city and figure out her new life. When Jenny's over-enthusiastic Resident Advisor organizes a Welcome Week scavenger hunt, Jenny is reluctantly persuaded to join the game. But as she and her new friends decipher the cryptic clues texted to their cell phones - clues that lead them through darker and increasingly remote parts of the city - it becomes terrifyingly clear how high the stakes have become. Someone is hunting for real.

I have a feeling that not too many of you horror fans out there know about this film or have ever even heard of it. I know I hadn't heard anything about it going into it. I am so glad I watched this film and hope you check it out for yourselves. I love when I run across a Horror movie that I don't have any real expectations for and come away really having enjoyed watching the film.
RED HOOK is a good mix between a slasher film and a classic murder mystery. A who-done-it sort of film, if you will. The movie is very stylish and there is a telephone theme running all throughout the movie that is interesting. Phones play a major part in this film (the scavenger hunt clues are given out by text messages). The opening credits are done in a very interesting way, with the names being put up in numbers first then turning into the letters that make up the names (with the numbers turning into the to the corresponding letters on a phone's keypad).
The acting in this movie is superb for this type of lower budget film with no big name actors. Christina Brucato as Jenny and Hollis Scarborough as AnGela (that is An-GEL-a...not Angela and she reminds Jenny upon their first meeting) both gave excellent performances in this film. The character of AnGela brought some comic relief to the film throughout and has some really funny lines.
Ok, now to the good stuff...I'm sure you want to know about the kills in this film. There are quite a few, but only a few are actually seen on-screen. BUT...the few that are seen are very well done, very graphic, and brutal. Don't worry, you will see plenty of the red stuff in this film! One of the more gruesome scenes involves a woman getting stabbed in the lower stomach by the killer who is standing behind her.....the killer then pulls the knife up and cuts from her lower stomach all the way to the top of her chest! ICK!!
The ending is a nice twist, with the killer being revealed and, of course, is not who everyone thought it was. Fans of this type of movie will probably see this coming, and guess the killer pretty early on, but that shouldn't keep you from enjoying this film at all.
Overall this is a great film that I would highly recommend. I hope to see more from director Elizabeth Lucas in the future.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for RED HOOK
CLICK HERE to visit the RED HOOK official website

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Phase 4 Films

It's time for....A NEW DVD GIVEAWAY!!! DVD giveaway #8: INDICAN PICTURES dvd 6 pack!!

That's right folks, it is time for a new dvd giveaway, and this one is our biggest yet! The awesome folks over at Indican Pictures have provided me with a couple of great dvd prize packs to give away to a couple of my lucky readers! The first prize pack giveaway will start today, and the second prize pack will be part of a future giveway. Our first prize pack consists of the following dvds: SCREAM QUEEN, LITTLE ERIN MERRYWEATHER, GORY GORY HALLELUJAH, A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, DEAD IN THE WATER, and BLACK WINE. That's right...count 'em again! SIX dvd's to the lucky winner of our latest contest courtesy of Indican Pictures and Hayes Hudson's House of Horror!

TO ENTER THE CONTEST, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. If you are not already, become a FOLLOWER of this blog! (Click the FOLLOW button under the "Followers" section of the blog on the right hand side).
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2. Leave a comment on this post with your NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS so I can contact you for your shipping info if you are the winner (if valid email address is not given, I will post the winners name on the site and winner will have one week to contact me with their shipping info. If prize is not claimed within one week, prize will be forfeited).
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3. Only one comment per person. Multiple comments will result in removal of all your comments therefore removing your chances of winning!
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4. Contest is scheduled to end on Wednesday, May 26th, 2010. Comments must be left by NOON Central time on 5/26/10 in order to count towards the contest.
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5. Contest winner will be chosen by random.org and must agree to let me post their name in a separate post stating who won the prize.
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6. Due to shipping costs, contest is open to U.S. Residents only. Thank you for your understanding.
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GOOD LUCK!!

DVD Review: WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED (2009)

WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELELASED is not your typical Horror film. In fact, I guess it isn't really a Horror film at all, although there are definitely some horrific scenes and topics throughout the film. This is more of a Drama and believe it or not, a romance story. The film was written by Kai Lanette and Shane Ryan and directed by Ryan as well. Ryan and Lanette actually co-stars in the film together as the couple which is very impressive, as I thought their performances in this film were spectacular. I especially enjoyed the acting of Ryan and thought he played this part with great emotion that made him very believable as this character.

Here is the plot summary from the Cinema Epoch website:

An 18 year old boy (Malachi) is accused of molesting a 12 year old girl (Echo). They call each other "soul mates" and claim they never more than kissed. He's put away for 6 years and she waits for him but in the meantime is beaten, gang-raped, impregnated and thrown out onto the streets only to eventually turn to a life of drugs, theft and prostitution. Did society make things better for her by putting this "sex offender" behind bars? And when he's released can they ever go back to how things once were? This is the story of true love.

It is hard to believe a film with this title could be a love story, but it really is. These two kids (well, I guess one kid and one adult...hence the whole issue here) really do love each other, and it makes you sad that they can't be together and really blurs the answer to the question about what is "right" and "wrong".

From watching the film, we learn that Malachi and Echo did not have any physical relationship except for hugging and kissing and Malachi really was falsely accused and imprisoned for something he did not do. What is really moving and horrific is how he is treated 6 years later after his release. Echo has waited on him, but society will still not let them be together. Posters are hung up around the neighborhood with Malachi's picture on it and the phrase "Warning!!! Pedophile Released" at the top. He is picked on everywhere he goes and is told by neighbors that "his kind" are not welcome in their neighborhood. Finally, Malachi has had enough and decides to leave that town and go somewhere where he is not known. In a very emotional scene, Echo confronts Malachi as he is trying to leave town and Malachi pours out all the emotions and feelings he has been bottling up since leaving prison. He tells Echo that his life will never be the same and the posters being put up with his face on them were too much and he even seems to blame her saying that all this happened because of her. This is a very moving scene between two people that obviously love each other.

I highly recommend this film, but keep in mind this is not a Horror movie in the usual sense, so don't go into it thinking that or you may be disappointed. Although, that is what I expected going into it and I was not disappointed, as I am not just a fan of Horror movies, but a fan of just good movies in general. This is a good movie, very emotional, and really makes you think, which are attributes that are missing from many of today's films.

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CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED

CLICK HERE to purchase your copy of the film on Dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Cinema Epoch

DVD Review: EARTH DAY (2009)

Since yesterday was Earth Day, I decided to watch a movie called....EARTH DAY! The film was written, produced, and directed by Mister Ooh-La-La, and is distributed by Rsquared Films. Here is the plot synopsis from imdb.com:

Earth Day tells the tale of a group of ex eco-crusaders who find themselves being systematically slaughtered as the one year anniversary of the tragic Earth Day death of their leader, Pixie, approaches. Detective Trent Torrance suspects only one man: Hassan, who grew up in the most extreme terrorist sect in all of Pakistan, only to be expelled for "going under the Burga" and embracing the forbidden art of Women's hair care. Together with Priscilla, Pixie's nihilistic twin sister, they strive to prove Hassan's innocence, while trying to avoid her insanely overprotective plastic surgeon father Dr. Percival Peever, and his plastic surgery casualty of an assistant, Lenora.

Don't go into this movie expecting a cinematic masterpiece...it is not by any means. But, it did keep me entertained which is what a movie should do. The acting is ok, not great, not horrible, just ok. The movie is a bit slow at times with not much going on but dialog, but what keeps it entertaining is that the dialog is so good. There are some genuinely funny lines in this film and I would say that this film is basically more of a comedy than the Horror/Comedy it is stated to be, if it weren't for some pretty gory death scenes. There was more blood in this film than I expected from a Horror/Comedy film. One of the greatest scenes is when a guy gets his manhood cut off by the killer with a broken wine bottle. Yuck! A lot of people have compared this movie to the films of Troma, which is a great comparison. If you are a fan of Troma films, you will love this film. If you are a fan of really good, smart, horror films, this film is not for you. I myself like all types of Horror films, and can usually find good in all of them, so while not going on my top 10 list of Horror films (or lets be honest, top 50 Horror films), it was still a good flick that is worth a watch.
I don't know who this Mister Ooh-La-La, guy is, but this being his first (and only) film so far, I look forward to seeing his growth as a writer and director and hope to see more from him in the future!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for EARTH DAY
CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of EARTH DAY on dvd


CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Rsquared Films

Check out the trailer for BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY

I ran across this yesterday while browsing through the awesome Planet of Terror blog. It is a new film called BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY that is coming to dvd on June 29, 2010. Here is the basic plot description from the E1 Entertainment website:

A trio of vacationing twenty-somethings experience the fright of their lives when they pull into a remote Texas town populated by vicious but none-too-bright vampires. Fate, Texas isn't your typical Lone Star state town; sure it's got a convenience store and a down-home restaurant, but they just happen to be run by bloodsucking creatures of the night rather than average folks with a family to feed. On the heels of a frightful encounter with a pair of fanged convenience store clerks, the terrified vacationers beat a hasty retreat and attempt to seek refuge with the few remaining humans in town. But these vampires just can't resist the opportunity to feast on some fresh flesh, and as night falls over Fate the humans prepare to do battle with an underfed army of the undead that won't stop fighting until they've had their fill. Tom Towles and Nicholas Brendan star.

This looks like a great low budget film, that could be a new cult classic in the making! Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY

CLICK HERE to visit the official website for BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY

CLICK HERE to pre-order BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY on dvd

Check out the trailer for the short film SERIAL: AMORAL UPRISING

SERIAL: AMORAL UPRISING is a 58 minute "short" film written and directed by K.M. Jamison. Here is the plot synopsis from imdb.com:

SERIAL: AMORAL UPRISING is a prologue that we filmed, funded and produced ourselves in effort to get the promotional ball rolling on a much bigger script that we plan to shoot in the summer of 2010. SERIAL: AMORAL UPRISING is just the beginning of a much larger story that profiles the life and crimes of a manipulative sociopath and serial killer. Greatly inspired by crime/horror films such as Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Maniac, Kalifornia and legendary true crime author Ann Rule. Although the character and story of SERIAL: AMORAL UPRISING may be fiction, the actions and events that transpire throughout his life are in fact inspired by a large number of true life cases such as Ted Bundy, Edmund Kemper, Henry Lee Lucas and Tommy Lynn Sells just to name a few. This is NOT your garden variety slasher flick. He's not Freddy or Jason. He's someone you could see as your drinking buddy, your co worker or the guy hired to fix the roof on your house. Using his sleek exterior and cunning personality as a tool to his advantage, especially when it comes to using manipulation to get what he wants out of people and particular situations. Under an artificial mask of sanity lies the true identity that is only shown to a select few.

I love that line "an artificial mask of sanity"! Good stuff! Check out the trailer below. This is a film I am really looking forward to seeing, as I have always been a fan of True Crime Horror and Serial Killer films.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for SERIAL: AMORAL UPRISING

CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE is getting a remake!!?

Not sure how this one slipped by me, but it seems the Meir Zarchi classic I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE from 1978 is being remade. I love the original and am excited to see what they can do with a new version. I will be getting a sneak peak of the new film next weekend and the Texas Frightmare Weekend, so I will report back afterwards to let you know what I thought.

Here is a photo from the new film showing the new star of the film, Sarah Butler, taking over the roll of Jennifer, originally played by the amazing Camille Keaton.

Now I know some of you HATE when they mess with these classics and remake them, but I say, what harm do they do? If in order to do a remake you had to destroy all existing copies of the original film, then yes, we would have something to be mad about. But if the remakes are no good, then we will always have our beloved originals to go back to! And look at it this way....some of today's kids and teens have probably never heard of I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. If anything, they will check the new one out and then it might generate some interest on their part to see the original. I think anything that brings attention to the original films is a good thing. What do you think?

DVD Review: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE (2010)

Tonight's review is of Eagle One Media's release of ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. It was directed by Ryan Thompson.

I read somewhere online that this film was shot with a $5,000 budget. If that’s true, the production team did an outstanding job with the little funds they had to work with. This movie is one of those low-budget joys that comes along only once in a great while.

The plot is complex but not difficult to follow:

It starts with two agents of an undisclosed company, Miller and Net. Miller is handcuffed, an obvious prisoner of the other man. Net releases a couple of zombies, the results of an experiment gone wrong at the company, in an attempt to kill Miller by violent means. But after Net departs, Miller kills the zombies and escapes…unfortunately, releasing a single zombie “survivor” into the populace.

Time passes. Strange attacks are reported all over the city. Bizarre deaths and incidents plague the news. But most of this happens without anyone realizing the true threat.

We then meet two underachieving college students, Mark and Tom, who are heading to a local tavern for a beer. The two have only been at the tavern a short while when Miller arrives, forewarning of an impending zombie attack. The bar patrons are skeptical, but when the first of them dies at the hands of the living dead, a fight for survival quickly ensues. Miller, Mark, Tom, and a Goth named Bethany escape and make their way to a safe-house in the woods.

Unfortunately, the zombie menace is growing and spreading out in their direction. The group receives a distress call on a short-wave radio from a nearby location. Mark and Tom leave to answer the call. Upon their arrival, they discover the call was a fake, sent out by a militia group that is fighting the undead. The militia takes them prisoner.

Miller, meanwhile, senses something is wrong, so he and Bethany leave the safe-house and search for the two missing college students. They, too, encounter the militia group, but are able to persuade them to join forces in the fight against the zombies.

It’s a good thing, too, because a massive zombie force arrives and besieges the militia’s compound. Surprisingly, Net arrives as well (the result of a sub-plot I’m not going to mention) and he sparks an epic battle with Miller.
As stated, the plot is a little complex, but not so much that it’s hard to follow. Overall, this is one of the better low-budget films I’ve seen. The acting is good, the camerawork is right on, and the general look of the movie is great.

I have only two complaints about the film. First, there was one shot during the great final battle scene between Miller and Net where the camera focuses on a bird on a pipe above them for a few seconds. To me, that’s a needless shot and one that temporarily distracted me. But the movie quickly resumes pace and all is well.

Secondly, the cinematography was excellent…that is, except for the steadi-cam shots. The camera was way too shaky and jumped out of focus a couple of times. This is not necessarily a movie-killer, but it sure took me out of my fiction-immersion.

Fans of zombie flicks (like moi’) should definitely give Zombie Apocalypse a look, though. This film is a great example of what can happen when true fans of a genre set out make their mark inside of it. The DVD also contains a prequel comic book, which adds to the storyline.

CLICK HERE to visit the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE website and watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to buy a copy of ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE on dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Eagle One Media

DVD Review: DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS (1977)

I want to start this review by personally thanking Cult Epics for releasing this lost Horror classic from the 1970's. The film is DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS and it was written and directed by George Barry, who has no other film credits to his name. I have heard of this film for some time, but have never got the chance to experience it until now. Notice I said experience it instead of just watch it. This, my friends, is a true experience when it comes to viewing this film. Before I go any further, here is the basic plot from the Cult Epics website:

At the edge of a grand estate, near a crumbling old mansion lies a strange stone building with just a single room. In the room there lies a bed. Born of demonic power, the bed seeks the flesh, blood and life essence of unwary travellers… Three pretty girls arrive on vacation, searching for a place to spend the night. Instead, they tumble into nightmares - and the cruel, insatiable hunger of the Bed! Death Bed is a one-of-a kind experience: comic, horrific and dreamlike, that truly has to be seen to be believed. Discover this neglected marvel of American horror for yourself!

Watch the clip below and you will get a sampling of what you are in store for when you start this film. While gory and gross at times, the movie is also full of dark humor, as was evident from the first scene we see of the bed "eating". A couple stumbles upon the old, run-down, mansion and decides to rest on the bed. The man puts the food he brought for them (apples, a bucket of chicken, and a bottle of wine) on the bed beside them while they begin a heavy make-out session. While the couple is busy, we see the bed slowly begin to eat the food. It eats the apple at first, slowly the apple sinks into the bed amidst a yellow foam...in just a few seconds, we see the eaten apple come back up and back on top of the bed an apple core is returned! The bed also eats the chicken, returning a bucket of bones, and drinks all the wine, replacing the empty bottle up on the bed. When the couple is finally done with their activities, the man turns to get the food and can't believe it. He tells the girl he must have made a mistake and grabbed the wrong food! Great stuff. Unfortunately for the couple (but fortunate for us viewers!), it seems the bed craves more than just a light lunch. The bed craves a heartier meal, mainly the man and woman! We see them get pulled down into the bed amidst that yellow foam again, and are promptly eaten alive! And this is all just in the first few minutes of the film! Many more people come to the bed with similar results. One of the best scenes is when a man is being eaten hand and arms first. Someone comes to help him pull himself out of the bed before he is completely eaten. The man escapes the apatite of the bed, but not without having all the muscle and flesh eaten clean off his hands, leaving him to look down at his skeleton hands in disbelief, yet peculiarly not in any real pain! HA!

This is a great film, one that should be in every Horror fans collection, especially those fans of the drive-in and grindhouse flicks of the 70's. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS today...you will not be disappointed!

The dvd contains the following special features:

• Video Introduction by the Director
• 4-Page Liner Notes
• New Transfer from the Original 16mm Print
• Unrated, Uncensored Version

CLICK HERE to purchase a dvd of DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS
CLICK HERE to watch a clip from DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Cult Epics

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! Well, not me actually, but my blog!

That's right, 1 year ago today, Hayes Hudson's House of Horror was born!! This blog has grown a lot in since my first post a year ago! I can't wait to see what another year will bring! Thanks to all my Followers and friends for your support!

This week's Horror related DVD releases: 4/19/10

Here are the Horror related dvd's coming out tomorrow, Tuesday April 20th:
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

* BRAINCELL

* THE FAMILY THAT EATS SOIL

* FRATERNITY MASSACRE AT HELL ISLAND

* HIKING TRIP

* HOMECOMING
* HOUSE OF THE LONG SHADOWS
* KNIFE EDGE
* THE LOVELY BONES
* MAMMOTH
* NECROSIS
* NEOWOLF
* SPRING BREAK MASSACRE
* THE TELLING
* VAMPIRE OF QUEZON CITY

Check out the trailer for the upcoming film: SPLICE

I ran across this trailer a while back while browsing the site FirstShowing.net. The movie is called SPLICE and was written and directed by filmmaker Vincenzo Natali. It is the story of a pair of scientist that splice together human and animal DNA to create a dangerous new organism! The film stars Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley and is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 4th of this year.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for SPLICE

I have a new favorite Roller Derby team! THE HUDSON VALLEY HORRORS!

A few days ago, while browsing the Freddy In Space blog (one of the best Horror blogs on the net, by the way), I ran across a post about a Roller Derby team from New York called the HUDSON VALLEY HORRORS! I used to love Roller Derby as a kid, and have always loved Horror, so the mixture of these two is pure genius! Check out their site and you will see they are definitely influenced by the Horror genre. And check this pic of the Hudson Valley Horrors newest t-shirt design, which is very cool...esp. since my last name is on the shirt! Ha!I especially love the dripping blood background! More sports teams should get in the trend of using the Horror genre as an influence on their team names and uniform designs!

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of the Hudson Valley Horrors Roller Derby team
CLICK HERE to visit the Hudson Valley Horrors Blog

To learn about becoming a sponsor of the Hudson Valley Horror Roller Derby Team, you can email sponsorship@horrorsrollerderby.com for details. They have packages available that are suitable for any size company.

DVD Review: NECROSIS (2009)

I just watched the film NECROSIS from Brinkdvd and I would definitely recommend it to fans of supernatural Horror and psychological Horror films. NECROSIS was directed by Jason Robert Stephens, and was written by Stephens and Robert Michael Ryan. Here is the brief plot summary from the Brinkdvd website:

Six friends arrive at a secluded cabin to enjoy a long weekend in the snow. Little do they know that their vacation spot is located on the site of the infamous Donner Party Massacre - a tragic event in 1846 when a group of snow-bound settlers devolved into madness and turned on each other in a cannibalistic frenzy.When an unexpected snowstorm hits, the cursed ghosts of slain Donner Party members are resurrected, determined to exact their revenge. Are these true demonic entities or is 'cabin fever' bringing out fears and paranoia, causing friends to turn against each other as reality deteriorates around them?

Overall, this was a very good film with some great effects and a few really good scares. The acting is mixed, but is good overall. The camera work is done very well, with some neat effects and camera angles. The film contains some very creepy scenes, mainly those involving the 'ghosts' of the Donner party victims that Jerry (played by James Kyson-Lee of the hit show HEREOS) sees. There are also some flashback scenes when the story of the Donner party is being told that are very disturbing and gory. One of the best effects is when the guys are coming back to the cabin after having been out in the woods and come across a dead body near the house, laying partially buried in the snow, with just its head and hands sticking out of the snow. This was a very effective prop and looked eerily realistic. I also have to point out that horror icon Michael Berryman shows up in a small role, which is always a good thing in my opinion! Overall, this was a fun, entertaining film that I would definitely recommend.

NECROSIS will be available to purchase on DVD this Tuesday, April 20th and can be pre-ordered by CLICKING HERE

The dvd includes the following special features:

* Director's commentary
* Cast interviews

* Behind the scenes documentary

* Trailer

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for NECROSIS

CLICK HERE to visit the NECROSIS official website

CLICK HERE to pre-order/purchase NECROSIS on dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of BRINKDVD

Get the new iHorror app for your iPhone and Droid!

Check out the new iPhone app that every fan of horror should have! It's the iHorror app! Here is the info from the official press release:

Officially launching Friday, April 16th, the iHorror app brings the world of horror, sci fi, and fantasy to your mobile device for only 99 cents. Available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Google Android, this app is brought to you from one of the most prolific and original horror producers in Hollywood. For over 30 years, Charles Band and Full Moon Features have created classics such as The Puppet Master series, Trancers, Ghoulies, Re-Animator, Evil Bong with Tommy Chong, and many more. Now in 2010, Charles Band brings you iHorror: The destination for all things related to the horror industry!

The app features convention information, access to hundreds of video clips, wallpapers, music, themes, and more. Just one click brings you to the iTunes store to get essential full length films from Nosferatu to The Shining. iHorror aggregates news, updates, and twitter feeds from the most reliable industry sources such as Fangoria, Bloody Disgusting, Aint It Cool, Rue Morgue, and FEARnet

Beyond the official offerings, iHorror is an interactive, dynamic experience for fans and independent artists. Tweets from fans are separated from official tweets, showing you the rumor mill and the press releases. Users can connect and interact on the Fan Wall. Filmmakers will get the opportunity to have their YouTube and iTunes links featured. Bands can submit their music, links, and clips. Check for updates often as even more features will be added in the coming months. iHorror is an ever growing One Stop Shop of Horrors!

CLICK HERE to watch Charles Band from Full Moon Features talk about the iHorror app

CLICK HERE to purchase the iHorror app for your iPhone

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Full Moon Direct

DVD Review: SURVIVE! (2009)

Digital Grindhouse Entertainment presents, SURVIVE! A criminally unknown shocker from writer and director Jeff Chitty. The film was made by an obvious lover of the dirty, grindhouse films of the 1970's. I am also a fan of that genre, so this film was one of the most enjoyable films I have watched in a while. Before I tell you any more, here is the basic plot from the DGE website:

Jen and Bill are on the way home from their honeymoon road trip when their car begins acting up. In the middle of nowhere with no other options, they stop at a backwoods car repair shop unaware of what sadistic brothers Clayton and Jimmy have in mind for them. This 70’s grindhouse style feature pushes the envelope of on screen violence and sadism and guarantees to shock even the most hardened viewer. NOT FOR CHILDREN OR THE EASILY OFFENDED!

Now I know what you are thinking....every independent movie maker says something along the lines of that their film "guarantees to shock the most hardened viewer". Very few of those movies ever actually live up to that "guarantee". This is NOT one of those films. This is one guarantee you can take to heart. I have seen my fair share of Horror films, and I thought I had been desensitized to most scenes of violence in Horror films, knowing they are fake and just camera tricks, but this movie actually made me squirm and wonder if the pain the female victim was relaying in some scenes was actually all acting or not. The filmmakers also compare the film to I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, and THEY CALL HER ONE EYE. I have seen movies compare themselves to these classics in the past, but this is the first of the newer movies that makes that comparison that rightfully deserves to do so. While not on the same level as those movies overall, the feel and subject of the movies are very similar. The film is made to look old...with scratches, blips, and even missing frames. There is also a faint projector sound running the entire film, which was nice little gimmick and serves the purpose of making you feel like you were watching this in a seedy theater down on 42nd street in New York. The film really embraces the look and feel of the old grindhouse and exploitation films with the music and title fonts.
This film is definitely worth picking up and adding to your collection. Fans of Horror that think they have "seen it all" will be shocked and surprised by this disturbing film.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for SURVIVE!
CLICK HERE to purchase a download or dvd of SURVIVE!
CLICK HERE to visit Digital Grindhouse Entertainment on Facebook
CLICK HERE to visit Digital Grindhouse Entertainment on MySpace
CLICK HERE to visit Digital Grindhouse Entertainment's Twitter page
CLICK HERE to visit Digital Grindhouse Entertainment's Linkedin page

DVD Review: ROT: REUNION OF TERROR (2008)

Fans of the Shock-O-Rama label will not be dissappointed with their newest release: ROT: REUNION OF TERROR. The film was written and directed by Michael Hoffman Jr., based on a story by Bill Cassinelli. Here is the plot synopsis from imdb.com:

10 years after high school, an invitation to a reunion at a secluded hunting cabin draws six friends into a viscous game of life-and-death. Unbeknownst to the partiers, the mutilated bodies of two young campers lie hidden in the nearby woods. As the night progresses and one-by-one friends disappear, tensions escalate...is there a demented serial killer on the loose, or could one of them be behind this Reunion of Terror?Suspenseful, moody and shocking, ROT: Reunion of Terror is a serial killer film that will leave you guessing until its dramatic conclusion!

This movie is not without it's flaws, but is otherwise a very fun and entertaining slasher film. Let me get the few, minor negatives out of the way. First off, the acting is good overall, but is brought down by just a few certain actors. A small amount of humor is thrown in periodically throughout the film, with mixed results. Most of the time, the jokes fall flat. Lastly, there is one black actor in the film and he gets the stereotypical lines like "DAAAMN"! He actually reminded me of the "token Black guy" character from NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE, in which they parodied this character stereotype that shows up in this type of film on a regular basis.

Ok, all that aside, let me say that that does not distract from the overall enjoyment of this film. The opening scene is great when a lesbian couple are camping in the woods and end up being killed in a very gruesome way. That opening scene really sets the tone for the rest of the film. The kills in the movie are great, with lots of blood and gore. I would also like to point out the character of the game warden in the film, played by John Shumski. I really liked his character and would love to see more of his future work. I am not sure if his acting was that good, or if it was so bad it was good, but either way his performance was very enjoyable, and that is what counts! Another great thing I liked about this film was the way the killer picked out his victims. He obviously knew which of the people from his high school he wanted to get rid of, so he methodically went through his yearbook and cut each ones photo out and pinned their pictures up on a corkboard. As the fellow classmates would be killed off, he would mark an X through their picture. A few other great things about this film I want to point out, is the music, which at times is very creepy and the great camera work. It was very stylistic and shot very well.
Overall this is a great film that I would recommend to all my Horror fans!

The ROT: REUNION OF TERROR dvd is Unrated and contains the following special features:

*Commentary w/ director and crew
*The making of ROT documentary
*The music of ROT documentary
*ROT Post Production documentary
*Deleted scenes
*3 music videos
*Shock-O-Rama trailer vault

CLICK HERE to visit the official Shock-O-Rama/Alternative Cinema website
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for ROT
CLICK HERE to purchase the ROT dvd from Shock-O-Rama
CLICK HERE to visit the Shock-O-Rama MySpace page
CLICK HERE to visit the Shock-O-Rama YouTube channel

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of giveway #7!

Congratulations to Jonny Metro, the winner of the TONY dvd courtesy of Revolver Entertainment! Jonny is the author of the great Midnite Media blog, check it out if you haven't already. And don't worry if you didn't win, you can purchase a copy of TONY directly from Revolver Entertainment by clicking the link below. To see my earlier review of TONY....click here.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for TONY

CLICK HERE to visit the official website for the film TONY

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Revolver Entertainment and order your copy of TONY on dvd

DVD Review: GOTHKILL (2009)

Written and directed by J.J. Connelly, GOTHKILL is a fun movie, and while it contains it's share of minor flaws, is still a very entertaining and fun flick! Here is the basic plot synopsis from imdb.com:

When Catholic Priest and Inquisitor Nicholas Dread finds out that innocents are being burned as witches he decides to do something about it. Unfortunately for him, his superiors don't agree and he's burned at the stake alongside two women he forced confessions from. While dying, Nick curses god and makes a pact with Satan to reign over his own kingdom someday at any cost. Now, in 21st century New York City, Dread has returned to finish the deal. His end of the bargain with Satan must be fulfilled, and many will die so Dread can take the throne in his kingdom of over one hundred thousand corrupt souls. He just has to find the right bunch of victims...and it just so happens the best Goth Club in the city is ripe for this bloodthirsty butcher bent on revenge! Can a group of Goths and wanna-be vampires hold their own when the real thing arrives?

First, let me get the minor negatives out of the way. The acting in this movie is just not that great, although I did like the acting from Flambeaux, who played the main character of Nicholas Dread. I am not sure if his acting was really that great, or if it was so bad that it was good, but either way I enjoyed his character. The next thing is the plot, or lack thereof. I would have never come up with the plot synopsis above just by viewing this movie. That being said, sometimes you don't need deep character development and an intricate plot to enjoy a just-plain-fun movie. Lastly, the sound is bad in some scenes. The scene in the jail cell stands out particularly, as it sounds like it was filmed with no mics, but just the built in mic on the video camera. The sound is this scene is a bit muffled and has an echo to it.
hhNow, having said all that, the positive part of this movie is that it is just plain fun! The scenes of the underground goth culture looks to be extremely realistic, or what I would assume it would look like assuming I have never been anywhere near an underground goth club. The film is full of blood, gore, and torture, reminiscent of the old 42nd street exploitation films, of which I am a huge fan of. The scene where Dread possesses the body of Anne was very well done, and used a very creepy voice alteration to signify that Anne was possessed. The ending has a crazy scene, where Dread is in Hell and torturing all his victims...it is a big scene for such a low budget film and was done very well. It was a fun ending to the film. Also, check out that dvd cover art...that has to be the the coolest dvd cover I have seen in a long time!
The unrated dvd contains the following "Most Evil Extras":

*Video Commentary-featuring director J.J. Connelly, Falmbeaux, and Eve Blackwater
*Original Trailers
*Q&A with director from NYC screening
*Gothkill live performance chronicle
*Publicity & Production stills

This was director J.J. Connelly's feature film debut, and some freshman flaws do show, but if this is a sign of what is to come from Mr. Conelly's career, then I will be sure to keep up with his follow ups to this film!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for GOTHKILL
CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of GOTHKILL on dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Wild Eye Releasing

This week's Horror related DVD releases: Tuesday, April 13th

Here are the Horror related dvd's coming out Tuesday, 4/13:
(click on the titles to see a trailer for that film)

* A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (Blu-ray)

* A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET COLLECTION

* CREATURE OF DARKNESS

* DAISY CHAIN

* EL CUSTODIO DEL MAL (THE MEDALLION OF DOOM)

* THE GREATEST AMERICAN SNUFF FILM

* HAUNTED: THE COMPLETE SERIES (TV)

* INFECTION: THE INVASION BEGINS

* VINDICATION

* WHEN THEY CRY: COMPLETE BOX SET

* WICKED STEPMOTHER

Not much coming out that is a must have, unless you have somehow managed to never get the A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films on dvd yet. But I have a feeling most readers of this blog will already have that box set.

Check out the trailer for ALIEN VS. NINJA!!!

My buddy Scott over at the Shattered Ravings blog posted about this a few days ago, and I just had to pass this along to you! This is too good for you not to see!! It is a new film coming out called ALIEN VS. NINJA, and it is just what it sounds like. BUT...I guarantee you that what your are imagining in your head right now isn't half as crazy as what you will see in this film. Check out the trailer by CLICKING HERE and you will see what I mean. From the looks of the trailer, there is going to be crazy amounts of blood and gore! Check out the trailer now!!

DVD Review: DEAD IN THE WATER (2006)

DEAD IN THE WATER was written by Marc Buhmann and David Moore, and was directed by Marc Buhmann. It is a zombie movie that most Horror fans have probably never heard of, but should definitely check out. Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Indican Pictures website:

Hot sisters, Tiffany and Jennica, decide to introduce their meat-head boyfriends to their parents during a weekend retreat in the woods, but the girls don't realize that evil awaits. Upon arriving the foursome find the cabin empty, vandalized, parents MIA, no cell reception and their car just died. As darkness falls the twenty-somethings must fight for their lives as Zombies attack the cabin and death comes for them with a vengeance!

This film is a lot of fun overall and definitely worth checking out. The movie has one of the best opening scenes I have seen in a zombie film in a long time. The scene can be seen in the trailer, so I am not giving anything away here. A couple is fishing out on a lake when all of the sudden the guy is pulled into the water by something on the end of his fishing line. Then, as the woman is screaming and looking over the side of the boat, we see a zombie hand come up from the water, grabbing her and pulling her in as well. Then the water is back to still and peaceful. A very griping opening scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film. The zombie effects are good, although most of the zombies are seen in the dark, so you can't tell too much about them. The ones you do see are done well though, and they do not skimp on the blood and other nasty fluids flowing from the zombies. There is also a great zombie beheading that you must see! The movie looks to be done on a very low budget, with mostly first time actors. That being said, the acting is not great, and the main two guys in the film become very irritating as they bicker back and forth. But, that aside, the film is still a fun zombie flick and worthy of adding to your zombie collection!!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for DEAD IN THE WATER

CLICK HERE to purchase DEAD IN THE WATER on dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Indican Pictures