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

Rue Morgue Magazine issue #99 is on stands now!

The April issue of Rue Morgue Magazine in on newsstands now, and check out this amazing cover art. Half old Freddy, half new Freddy, the newest issue of Rue Morgue is a must have for you Horror collectors!! The issue has a great interview with both Robert Englund and Jackie Earle Haley, who plays the newest version of Freddy Krueger in the this months A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET remake.
Also in this issue is a great story on the crazy film, THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, which I mentioned a few posts back.
If you haven't already, get your copy today!!

DVD Review: MASKHEAD (2009)

I just recently finished watching Toe Tag Pictures' release of MASKHEAD, and I think I am still traumatized from it! This movie is messed up. It is sick, twisted, demented, and just plain dirty...so naturally, I loved it! I did feel the need to take a shower after watching it though, so be prepared to feel dirty after watching this film. The film was written by Scott Swan, and was directed by both Swan and Fred Vogel.

Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Toe Tag Pictures website:

Maskhead tells the depraved tale of Syl and Maddie, a lesbian couple who produce extreme fetish and dark specialty movies. With the help of their sociopathic associate, The Cowboy, the ladies audition numerous up-and-coming talent to act in their top selling, stomach-turning fetish series: "MASKHEAD", which features a large man in a bizarre mask who tortures and kills his "co-stars" on camera. Everyone has a fetish. What's yours? What turns you on?

That is really more of a plot than I could have ever come up with after watching the film. It is basically just Syl and Maddie, auditioning guys and girls for their films, (which we see through the eyes of their video camera), and then a cut scene to them "performing" in the film which finally leads to their murder. Each killing is different and more gruesome than the last. The acting is pretty good for a film of this caliber, and the gore effects are outstanding! I really think we might need to look into the making of this film, because some of these effects look so real, I wonder if they are actually fake or not! Not really, but I just want to make a point on how good the effects are. The main one is a man who is strapped in a chair and the main killer, known as Maskhead, breaks the man's arm with a hammer. His arm is bent and the skin is broken as blood pours out of the wound. This effect was very well done and the make up/effects crew on this film should be congratulated on the job they did.

The film also has some dark humor thrown in for good measure, mainly from the tales and the actions from the character of "The Cowboy".....I bet you can't guess where he looses his ring? ICK!! I quiver just thinking about it. Mainstream Horror fans probably won't like MASKHEAD, but if you like underground, grittier Horror films, then you will like this for sure. Also, fans of the "torture-porn" genre as it has been called (eg. the SAW and HOSTEL films) will like this film as well.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for MASKHEAD

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of MASKHEAD on dvd from Toe Tag Pictures

CONGRATULATIONS to our latest giveaway winners!!!

Congratulations to our winners of giveaway #6! Our winners are Rhonny Reaper , who runs the awesome DOLLAR BIN HORROR blog, and James Cortez who runs the equally awesome, PLANET OF TERROR blog! Each of these fellow horror bloggers will receive a copy of Stockholm Syndrome Film's MADNESS on dvd.

If you didn't win this time, don't worry, you can CLICK HERE to buy your own DVD copy of MADNESS from amazon.com!

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Stockholm Syndrome Film

Thanks to everyone that entered....there will usually be a giveaway going on at all times, so enter the next one if you didn't win this one. Giveaway #7 is already up and running! CLICK HERE to go to the original giveaway #7 post to enter for your chance to win a copy of TONY on dvd!!

DVD Review: COLOUR FROM THE DARK (2008)

I finally got a chance to watch Vanguard Cinema's release, COLOUR FROM THE DARK. Don’t let the confusing title fool you; this is one solid horror film, and it is one of the best I have seen so far this year.
In a genre filled with remakes, reboots, and rehashes of previously-done-plots, this film stands out as a unique vision in the world of horror. The premise is based loosely on a story by H.P. Lovecraft titled ‘The Colour Out of Space’, which was published back in 1927. Here is the basic plot synopsis from imdb.com:

Pietro and Lucia live on an isolated farm with Alice, Lucia's younger sister. They are poor farmers and live by tilling the soil. Pietro is a good worker and a strong man who, unlike his three brothers, is not at war (World War II) because of a deformed knee. Lucia is a beautiful and reserved woman, who is dedicated to her family. Their life is peaceful and good, in spite of the hard work. One day, while drawing water from the well, Pietro and Alice accidentally free ‘something’ from Earth's womb. A strange color flashes underwater, and then disappears. From that moment on, inexplicable events start happening all around the farm, and by night the surrounding vegetation glitters with a sinister glow. The color soon takes hold of the whole farm, and seeps inside Pietro and his family's minds, drawing them into its sick world of pain, blood and death.

From the moment the opening credits started to roll, this movie enthralled me. It is visually beautiful and shot with the grace and precision of a master-cinematographer. The plot is interesting and develops quickly, giving you just enough information to build upon as the story progresses. The pacing is perfect, building up to a climax that will leave you wanting the movie to continue, even as the ending credits roll. And the actors are superb, with screen veteran Debbie Rochon leading a stellar cast.
The cinematography, the settings, the acting, the suspense…everything is right in place with COLOUR FROM THE DARK. The film even contains one of the creepiest children’s dolls I have ever seen! It will make you squirm, for sure. Even the gore is right in line. One of the greatest scenes in the film is when Rochon’s character starts cutting her own face off with a straight-razor! Talk about intense!
This movie is very engaging and kept me riveted for the full 93 minutes of its run-time. I cannot say enough about the cinematography…you will simply have to see it to believe it. Probably the most amazing aspect of this is the fact that it looks like it was filmed on a standard video-camera; the shots are so well done, however, that you can’t tell!
I can’t say anymore about the plot because I might give too much away. But definitely check this one out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Hopefully we will see more from director Ivan Zuccon soon!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for COLOUR FROM THE DARK
CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of COLOUR FROM THE DARK on dvd

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Vanguard Cinema

DVD Review: DEADLANDS 2: TRAPPED

The zombie genre never gets old for me.

As such, I am more than thankful there are tons of titles out there in the ‘land of the dead’ for me to choose from. But this blessing can be a curse. Directors cannot redo what has already been done otherwise the fad will start to fade. The trick to keeping the genre alive is to keep the ideas fresh and the plots original. Anyone can put a few walking corpses on film…but it’s what you do with them that makes the movie.

DEADLANDS 2: TRAPPED makes good use of a unique premise and location to help keep the zombie genre ‘alive and well’, if you’ll pardon the pun. Set primarily in a movie theater, the film follows six people who have taken refuge inside the building to escape a zombie infestation that has overtaken their town. The zombies are a result of a government biological-weapon test. When a new nerve gas is released into the town’s population, it kills the townsfolk but then reanimates them and sparks a zombie apocalypse.

For being a low-budget venture, this film is remarkably well done. The pacing is perfect and the plot moves quickly along. The camera angles work very well, however I have to point out that many of the scenes are so dark that it is sometimes difficult to tell what is happening. The special effects team is to be commended for their zombie effects. And although the gore scenes are few, they are definitely done with gusto and flair; my favorite one involves two zombies tearing a man’s face off. The acting talent in the film is spot-on also, for the most part. I have to admit that I was not too impressed with them in the pre-zombie- apocalypse scenes, though. The cast is phenomenal during the dramatic parts, capturing the intensity of each moment perfectly, but the small-talk and no-drama scenes lack a bit of plausibility to me for some reason.

The only part of this movie that completely threw me off was the very beginning. When the movie started playing, I thought for a second that I had put the wrong DVD in the player. The grainy image of an Elvira-like vixen in a graveyard made me wonder what it was that I was watching. But when this character turned out to be a sort of narrator, I began to understand what the filmmaker was trying to accomplish. As it turns out, Helena, the ‘Hussy of Horror’ as she dubs herself, gives us a very brief glimpse into the upcoming movie. I was disappointed to discover she did not show up at the end of the film however.

I have to give credit to the production team for the attention to detail they gave the film. They did an excellent job with the details for each scene, right down to every minor prop and effect. I especially liked the military uniforms and weapons. I found a short feauturette in the Special Features about the costumes and weapons used for the film. It was very interesting, as it was hosted by the military advisor to the film. As it turns out, the military uniforms and equipment used in this film were exact replicas of those being used in Afghanistan right now. The production team definitely did their homework. I also liked how the filmmaker gave a nod to his previous DEADLANDS production: in the background of one scene, the movie marquee lists DEADLANDS: THE RISING as one of the movies playing.

Overall, this movie is well done, entertaining, and definitely one to add to your collection. It is uplifting to see low-budget movies with this kind of quality. I will be surprised if I do not see director Gary Ugarek behind the camera of a major Hollywood motion picture production within the next couple of years.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for DEADLANDS 2: TRAPPED

CLICK HERE to view the official website of the DEADLANDS TRILOGY

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of DEADLANDS 2: TRAPPED on dvd

CLICK HERE to view the official website of Anthem Pictures

This week's Horror related DVD releases: 4/6/10.....AND....you can win a FREE DVD of one of this weeks' releases!!

Here are the Horror related dvd's coming out Tuesday, April 6th 2010:

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

* AUTUMN

* BLOOD FOREST

* BLOOD RED MOON

* BLOOD TIES: THE COMPLETE SERIES
* THE DAMNED
* MALPRACTICE
* SENSORED
* TAXIDERMIA
* TONY

A couple great movies are coming out this Tuesday. Check out TAXIDERMIA if you haven't seen a trailer yet...it is a Hungarian film that is just twisted. Also, check out the trailer for the remarkable film, TONY. I did review of TONY just a couple of days ago which can be seen by CLICKING HERE.

And hey, guess what? The fine folks at REVOLVER ENTERTAINMENT have supplied me with a brand new copy of TONY to give away to one of my lucky readers!! To enter, become a Follower of this blog if you are not already, then leave a comment telling me what your favorite serial killer movie is.....or actually was, because after you watch TONY, I'm sure it will be your new favorite!!

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 telling me what your favorite serial killer movie is. Include in the post 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, April 14th, 2010. Comments must be left by NOON Central time on 4/14/10 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: PENANCE (2009)

Let me start of by saying this is an amazing film. One that probably not too many people have heard of, but definitely should have. With as many Horror films as I have seen, it is not often that a film has something in it that I have never seen before. This movie did. It is not often that a movie makes me uncomfortable while watching it. This movie did. This movie is twisted and demented and I loved every single minute of it. PENANCE was produced, written, and directed by Jake Kennedy.

Here is the plot synopsis from the MVD Entertainment website:

Based on a true character, and from the award winning horror writer/director of 'Days of Darkness', and the producer of the indie horror hit 'Automaton Transfusion', comes a cautionary tale that will make you squirm and twist in your seat. With unrelenting suspense and terror, Penance is the tale of a young, demure single mother, Amelia (Marieh Delfino), who hits upon hard times and decides to take her future into her own hands and becomes a stripper. Everything is going well until Suzy, her stripper friend, is beaten up on a job and recruits Amelia to take her place. Reluctantly, Amelia takes the job, only to find the job isn't everything it seems. Driven to a strange location by a dark and mysterious man (Tony Todd), and confronted by a grizzled hit man (Michael Rooker), Amelia's world is turned upside down, as her captor (the mind bending Graham McTavish), is intent on one thing and one thing only - to purify Amelia and the other women in his incarceration.

This is one of the better movies I have watched in a long time. The film starts off fun and uplifting, with Amelia talking about why she is having to turn to stripping to pay her debts. She has a best friend that is a stripper, Suzy, that teaches her the basics. They have fun at first, but then after Suzy is beat up, Amelia realizes that this is not the life for her and swears she will not strip again. That is until Suzy offers her one last job that pays big money. Amelia can't resist the thought of being able to get out of debt, and decides to take this one last job. It was a decision that will change Amelia's life forever. She is driven to a secret location by a chauffeur played by veteran Horror actor Tony Todd. The place looks to be some sort of hospital and she soon meets the "staff", which includes another veteran Horror actor, Michael Rooker, and Graham McTavish, who plays the leader of this demented hospital staff. Amelia soon realizes that these people are not going to let here go anytime soon. She also realizes that she is not the only girl here, as there are many others who are being held captive. She witnesses first hand brutal beatings, whippings, and electrocutions being performed on the girls. Amelia attempts an escape and films the whole thing, hoping to get video evidence that she can someday use to bring these vicious people to justice. The escape attempt is seen through her camera in a first person view, that is very terrifying. Even after all the beatings, Amelia swears not to give up and to get revenge on these people.

The film is full of some great gore scenes, esp. one that the PENANCE official website says is "the most outrageously graphic scene in movie history". Now that is a huge statement, but one I cannot argue with. I can't think of any scene in any other film I have ever seen that has bothered me more. I won't go into any details, as you really must see it for yourself.
I must note here that the music is wonderful throughout the film and really sets the creepy tone for the film. The acting is wonderful as well, from all the veteran actors, to the lesser known actors such as Eve Mauro and especially Marieh Delfino, who plays Amelia. Her torture scenes are among the worst and are made to be very believable through her wonderful acting skills.

The dvd is an Unrated Director's Cut with a run time of 85 minutes, and includes the following special features:

-How to strip featurette with Eve Mauro and Marieh Delfino
-3 alternate endings

-Interviews of the cast in character

-Anatomy of a scene

-Interview with the director

-Behind the scenes Featurette

-Commentary with the director

-Commentary with the director and producer

-Deleted scenes

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for PENANCE

CLICK HERE to purchase PENANCE on dvd from Seeofsound.com

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of PENANCE

DVD Review: TONY (2009)

The UK serial killer film TONY was written and directed by Gerard Johnson and is being distributed here in the U.S. by Revolver Entertainment. The film follows around the socially inept Tony, and shows how this simple man deals with his problems the only way he knows how..by killing. Here is the full plot synopsis from the Revolver Entertainment website:

A week in the life of Tony, an alienated psychopath with severe social problems, an obsession for action films and a horrible moustache. Unemployed and unemployable, Tony prowls the streets, his nervous attempts to make human connections rebuffed by laughter or contempt. Occasionally he snaps, and violence is the result…

This is a very dark film, and very disturbing on many levels. The camera follows around Tony as he walks the streets of London and we see how socially awkward Tony really is, through his many attempts at making conversations with normal people. Tony lives alone and is at his best when he is alone, and prefers it that way. The few times he tries to bring someone over to his apartment ends up bad, as Tony always manages to mess things up and has to deal with them the only way he knows how. The scenes of the killings are pretty disturbing and will definitely have an effect on the viewer. Also to note, is the scenes that take place after the killings, which show Tony disposing of the bodies. He has everything worked out perfectly and you can tell he has done this many times before. Tony has killing down to an art, and he is a masterpiece of his medium.
The acting in this film is remarkably well done, especially on the part of lead actor Peter Ferdinando who plays Tony. He is extremely believable as the troubled introvert Tony. The supporting cast does an excellent job as well. The music in the film is very well done also, including an exceptional score by British musician Matt Johnson of the 80's band The The.
The film has received some comparisons to the 1986 classic HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER and I feel that is very warranted. This film is gritty and disturbing. It is a classic in the making that I'm sure will be talked about for years to come.

TONY will be released on dvd this Tuesday, April 6th and is available for preorder now from Revolver Entertainment.

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 pre-order your copy of TONY on dvd

Check out the trailer for THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE

My buddy Scott over at the Shattered Ravings blog, told me about this film he read about on the Quiet Earth website. He thought it might be something I would want to put on my blog, and boy was he right! This looks like one crazy F'ed up movie....just like I like them! It is called THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE: FIRST SEQUENCE and it is just what it sounds like.
Here is the plot summary from imdb.com:

Outside the more outré work of Takashi Miike and David Cronenberg, you wont have seen anything quite like Dutch avant-garde artist Tom Six totally bizarre off-the-wall oddity. Internationally respected Siamese twin surgeon Dr. Josef Heiter has a demented vision for mankinds future existence. He wants to remove human beings kneecaps so they have to exist on all fours and then surgically graft them mouth-to-anus to form a centipede chain. When two stranded female Americans arrive at his luxury home-cum-hospital looking for help, his long-gestating plan swiftly moves into chilling action with a shocking force. Kidnapping a third Japanese male tourist he begins the tissue matches, teeth removal and buttock moulding to create his triplet creature The First Sequence in Sixs intended trilogy features truly unforgettable imagery, clinically dazzling direction and a so-far-round-the-bend mad doctor performance from German superstar Dieter Laser you'll scream. Behold the grotesque New Flesh. If you dare!

WOW! You had me at mouth-to-anus grafting! HA. What a crazy concept. I can't imagine how anyone could come up with this idea, but I sure am glad they did! The film was written and directed by Tom Six, so I guess we have him to thank for this crazy flick. Apparently the film is part of a planed trilogy, with THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE II: FULL SEQUENCE due next. The film is slated for an April 30th limited theatrical release from IFC Films. Hopefully it wont take too long to get to DVD, as I am really wanting to check this one out! Click on the link below to watch the trailer and let me know what you think!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE: FIRST SEQUENCE

DVD Review: BULLETFACE (2010)

If you have not heard of the film, BULLETFACE, then you are missing out on an extremely enjoyable film. The film was written by Randall Fontana and directed by Albert Pyun, and can be summed up with one word...style. This is a very stylistic film that keeps you entertained the entire running time. The acting and direction is excellent and this is my favorite film of Mr. Pyun's so far! Here is the basic plot from imdb.com:

The story is set along the Mexico/California Border, principally in Imperial Beach, CA. It concerns a female DEA agent, Dara Maren, who, in protecting her petty criminal younger brother, gets herself arrested and imprisoned in a nightmarish penal colony outside Tijuana. You can guess how bad it gets in there -- prison officials even harvest organs from the inmates. While she's in prison, Dara's brother is murdered by a drug lord who's creating a new DNA-altering drug made from human spinal fluid tapped from the living. Hundreds of dead bodies are turning up along the Border, and the drug addicts become something less than human. The drug is so addictive that even law enforcement and government officials are on the stuff. A rogue FBI agent bribes the prison officials to let Dara out to avenge her brother's murder as well as bring down the drug lord in ways the Feds cannot. When Dara comes out of prison, she is not the same person who went in. The catch? She only gets a 60-hour get-out-of-jail card and must return to the prison to serve out her 20-year sentence, or the FBI agent, who got her out, must take her place.

While not necessarily a Horror film, it has some horror elements, and is just a freaking cool movie so I feel it definitely deserves some recognition on this site! The style of the film is excellent. I loved the way the characters are introduced, with the frame being paused as they come onscreen and their character name being printed on screen. There is also the used of some split screen shots that is very interesting. The music is also very good in the film and the look and sharpness of the film is very impressive. There is a lot of gun play and some pretty violent scenes of Dara getting raped and beaten in the Tijuana prison. The theme of revenge is strong and is reminiscent of the 70's grindhouse style of revenge flicks and reminds one of the lead character from I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. The character of Dara is out to seek revenge for her brothers death and she is not going to let anybody stand in her way. Dara is an beautiful but strong character who doesn't back down from anyone. As I said, the gun play is plentiful, so expect lots of great action from this film. As a Horror fan, I especially liked the plot line about the new drug the drug lord is making out of human spinal fluid. The method by which they extract it is very brutal and is the basis for some of my favorite scenes.

The BULLETFACE dvd is presented in a beautiful 5-Disc set and is available exclusively through AlbertPyunMovies.com! The 5-Disc set is comprised of the following:

-Bulletface: Feature Film in widescreen and 5.1 soundtrack DVD

-Bulletface: Special Director's Commentary Feature Film

-Bulletface Original Music Soundtrack + Songs by Elyzium CD

-Left for Dead: Inferno Version Feature Film DVD

-Left for Dead Original Music Soundtrack CD.

So, not only do you get the remarkable BULLETFACE movie, you also get an earlier work of director Albert Pyun's, LEFT FOR DEAD! This set is a steal at the regular price of $29.99, but for a limited time you can order the 5-Disc set for only $17.99 + s&h. That is 40% off the regular price! Do not miss out on this great deal!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for BULLETFACE

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of director Albert Pyun

CLICK HERE to purchase your 5-Disc set of BULLETFACE

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Also, to read another opinion on the film, read my buddy Scott's review over at the Shattered Ravings blog by clicking here.

KILLER CUP 3-D coming soon!!

A while back I posted a review of the great short films, KILLER CUP and KILLER CUP 2 (click here to see that original post). We now have news that KILLER CUP 3 is on it's way, and this time it is in 3-D! CLICK HERE to watch the first teaser trailer for KILLER CUP 3-D! As soon as the second teaser trailer is released, I will let you know! The films are produced by A.Normale Productions and are a lot of fun. If you haven't seen them, I highly suggest you get a copy of the first two KILLER CUP films. The Double Feature DVD and all the rest of the great films from A.Normale Productions can be bought from their web store by CLICKING HERE.

Guest DVD Review: PONTYPOOL (2008)

Welcome to another Guest Review on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror! Tonight's reviewer is a returning reviewer, Matthew Scott Baker. Scott is a Science Fiction author (check out and purchase his books HERE) and is the moderator of the Sci-Fi themed Shattered Ravings blog. Scott recently watched the movie PONTYPOOL and was kind enough to share his thoughts about the movie with us:

PONTYPOOL
Directed by Bruce McDonald

It should be no surprise that my second movie review for Hayes Hudson’s House of Horror is yet another zombie film. Anyone that knows me knows how fanatical I am about the zombie genre. For some reason, and I’m not exactly sure why, I find the living dead to be better movie-companions than vampires and werewolves…well, for the most part, anyway.

Pontypool is a smart Canadian excursion into zombie madness. Set in a small town named Pontypool (somewhere in an unnamed Canadian province), the film begins as a snowstorm is blanketing the town with several feet of snow. An ex-shock-jock DJ named Grant Mazzy arrives at work for his new gig—as a small-town, low-key DJ. Something unspoken forced him out of his previous high-brow job and into this lowly position.

But low-key is just the opposite of what this day turns out to be as reports soon begin to filter in via phone and e-mail of horrific attacks happening within the town…something is causing the citizens to go crazy and attack each other, with some of the victims being torn apart and/or eaten! The eye-in-the-sky weatherman even calls in to give play-by-play commentary on the events as they unfold.

Mazzy and his two-person radio staff are forced to isolate themselves inside the radio station. They learn that a virus of some sort is overtaking the citizens of the town, and as a result is forcing them into these brutal acts. But the town doctor arrives, seeking sanctuary after escaping a hungry mob of townsfolk, and offers a horrifying glimpse into how the virus might be spreading. And while the world outside unravels, Mazzy and his crew contemplate their very existence, wondering if survival is even worthwhile.

First off, let me say that overall, this movie is very well done. It did tend to drag in certain parts, which is not good because the movie is only 93 minutes long. But once it regained momentum, the story was off once more with a vengeance.

The unique aspect of how the virus is transmitted has, to my knowledge, not been seen before in any zombie movie. I was very impressed with the idea, although I did not like the way the doctor came to the conclusion about it so quickly. It was basically one of those “Oh, by the way, I had this brainstorm…” type of situations that have no credibility with me (or most viewers, I would imagine) and tend to take me quickly out of my reality-detachment-immersion.
The other downside to this movie is the lack of watchable zombie attacks. Many are heard over speakers or even assumed, but there are very few that are actually seen on-screen. This goes along with a general lack of gore throughout the film as well. One of the simple joys I have with zombie movies is the splatter-fest that erupts from multiple headshots. I mean, who wouldn’t like that? In this film, there are no headshots that I can recall, but there is one choice piece of gore that had me rewinding the scene to watch it over and over again; it occurs when one of the infected townspeople projectile-vomits blood and internal organs all over a window as she’s dying. It is definitely something you have to see to appreciate.

Although this is more of a psychological zombie movie than a traditional living dead scenario, it still works and is still a true credit to the genre. It is nice to see directors who are not afraid to push the limits of the zombie mythos and even create new aspects to add to it. And with a tagline like “Shut Up or Die”, this movie is definitely a positive addition to the genre.

MSB

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for PONTYPOOL

Editors note: The reviews and opinions expressed by our guest reviewers are not associated with or necessarily shared with those of Hayes Hudson's House of Horror. If you would like to be a guest reviewer on the 4H blog, feel free to contact me at hch91@hotmail.com. Guest reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.