Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II.

Hellraiser and it's first sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II are incredible films that hold a very special place in many horror fans hearts. They bought possibly the last horror villain to reach the dizzying heights of infamy previously reached by Freddy, Jason and Michael. And that particular character, even though his screen time was rather short, became an icon of horror.

I will never forget accompanying my uncle to the video store to rent the original Hellraiser, him telling me how the man had nails in his head. My mind conjured up all sorts of images, and when I saw the film, although I didn't understand what was going on, I loved the bloodshed and the Engineer monster, and all of the Cenobites. This is where my love for all things Clive Barker began. 

Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II is an upcoming documentary that will feature twenty-five interviews and behind the scenes footage from each film. The makers now need to support to complete production and post-production. It will uncover the history, making of and unknown details of the first two films in the Hellraiser series.

I am sure you will all be interested in seeing this happen, so if you are, go and pledge what you can, or if you can't pledge anything, spread the word, and lets help make this dream documentary a reality for all of us followers of The Order of the Gash!

Click HERE to be taken to the Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II kickstarter page, where you can learn a lot more about the project, and also find out what perks are available!!

Darkest regards......Dani.

Alexis Gonzalaz's Spookfield.

 



Spookfield is the first film written and directed by Alexis Gonzalez, and it looks like it is going to be a tour de force of horror and crime! Spookfield is an anthology movie with a difference. There are four stories, all interlinked in some way, with no wraparound, which means the viewing experience should be much more streamlined, which is certainly no bad thing.

The first story is about a man who decides to put an end to his next door neighbour, who happens to be a teen rapist and an abusive father.

In the second story, a former Archeologist uses Voodoo to bring his recently dead wife back to life, all the while a burglar plans to rob the house where the former Archeologist lives for the second time.

The third story tells the tale of a pimp and his drug lord friend, who murder four hookers in cold blood. But death alone does not stop the hookers, and they come back looking for revenge.

In the fourth story, a woman finds out about her sisters last days in when she reads her diary. She then finds herself kidnapped and in danger of being raped by a rogue cop. But a mysterious relic she has in her pocket might be the very thing that saves her from her night of terror.

I am really excited for this film, and think you should all check it out and spread the word! There will be a review coming soon!

Darkest regards......Dani.

Grimm reviews Godzilla (2014).

Grimm suggested to me that we both review a film and publish our reviews on each others blog, and seeing as we were both going to see Gareth Edwards' reboot of 'Godzilla, I suggested we both take a shot at reviewing it for all of you to read. So without further rambling from me, here is Grimm's review of 'Godzilla'.

 

I've not seen this movie once or twice, but THREE times already in theaters. While I know that's only around $40 spent, I can't help but feel that I did my part in helping with last weekends box-office earnings of over $100 million worldwide. My money may seem minuscule compared to that total, but I contributed more than my fair share nonetheless. Due to the overwhelmingly good opening weekend, both monetarily and critic's reviews, not one but two sequels have been announced, making the new "Godzilla" only the first in a trilogy.

First of all, I was very surprised by how small of a role Bryan Cranston has. By viewing the trailers, everyone assumed he was the big player in this reinvention of "Godzilla", but that's not the case. It became apparent to me that he wasn't going to be in the movie long when all of the lines he speaks in the trailer are acted out within the first 20-30 minutes. So I could see that he was name dropped simply to sell people on seeing the movie. But what I'm impressed with is how well the film carries on without him, and that was the burning question. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the real star, and he carries the movie just fine once Cranston leaves us.

The villain, MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism), is something that the government has found and has kept hidden. While seemingly harmless, things change once the MUTO awakes and starts wrecking havoc. It turns out that two of these gigantic creatures have killed one of Godzilla's kind before, many years ago, as we see the huge skeleton early in the movie. The MUTO has other intentions this time though, such as finding his female companion that's been lying dormant until he matured. And now that he's all grown up, and it's baby making time. Except for one tiny thing; Godzilla knows they're back, and he makes it his duty to bring hell on them and not fall victim like his ancestor did.

The special effects and cgi look great. I saw this in Imax 3D and on the regular screen, and regardless of how you view it, it's still stunning. The design of the MUTOS are really unique, but they don't look as badass as Godzilla. The King of the Monsters looks the best he's ever looked, despite complaints of him looking fat. If you wanna go on the guy for his weight, go ahead, but he's fierce and has a purpose unlike any interpretation we've seen before. This Godzilla is the equivalent of Christian Bale as Batman, all cheesiness is left behind in the past, and takes a more realistic and aggressive (not to mention appropriate) approach.

My favorite scenes are, of course, the fights between Godzilla and the two MUTOS. Such dirty brawls happening on such a big scale is nothing less than epic. And while the biggest complaint I hear is that it 'doesn't show enough Godzilla', I think that's a bunch of crap. We see him as much as we need to, and it fits perfectly with the story. Remember, we aren't watching guys in rubber suits duke it out anymore. This is a far more sophisticated take on the legend that is Godzilla. And through the films duration, one of the most enamoring things is the score, done by French composer Alexandre Desplat which compliments the movie well, and keeps it thrilling.

Another complaint that I heard was that there isn't enough character development. I disagree with that too. Godzilla is reduced to a supporting role due to how character driven the story is. It's 70% human interactions, so that's a bogus remark. You get some saying not enough Godzilla, and then you've got some saying not enough character growth. Well, you can't please everyone, but screw 'em. I am happy with the outcome, and so is my inner child.

I kept hearing everyone say in their reviews that the final fight scene had people standing up and cheering. While I never experienced that, I did partake in the entire theater audience clapping and shouting in victory. You know you're watching a good movie when the entire crowd gets behind it and cheers. It shows that it hits home to a lot of people, and that they've invested feelings into the film and Godzilla. That's never a bad thing. The ending gives us not just victory, but hope.

I can't wait until the sequels. I already own an action figure of the new version of Godzilla, and I can see myself spending more money on more merchandise. I think to those of us who are in touch with our childish side, the movie overall goes over well. And that's what's important. This motion picture was made for fans of the original, so if it goes over your head, tough luck. You're missing out. Gareth Edwards rocked this remake, and I'm exceptionally happy that he'll be behind the camera for the next two.

Liking films others think unacceptable, and the fallout that comes with it.

I had no idea that being a fan of underground extreme cinema had such a stigma attached to it. I had even less of an idea that being a fan of 'The Exorcist' could have other apparent 'Horror fans' call you a Pedophile. Over the last eight or so years, people have been blasted on the internet for saying they like films such as 'A Serbian Film', 'August Underground' and 'A Human Centipede II' to name but a few. Many insults are hurled around to fans of these movies, and I myself have been a target of people who attempt to take the 'Moral High ground' in regards to these films.

It all began around four years ago, for me at least. I was expressing my love for 'The Exorcist', and how it is one of the most ageless horror films in existence that still hold the power to shock and scare to this day, when suddenly someone makes a comment on my thoughts calling me a Pedophile for watching the movie. When I asked why, it all stemmed down to the scene where Regan McNeil masturbates with a crucifix while shouting "Let Jesus fuck you" over and over again.

I was taken aback by such a random outburst. This part of the film, while explicit, was never titillating in the slightest. It is horrific, blasphemous and incredibly shocking. What amazed me more was that this scene was picked out in particular, instead of the more suggestive scenes, such as where Regan/Pazzuzu is attempting to seduce the priests.

'The Exorcist' distances itself from any type of eroticism so greatly, that I really didn't understand where this person was coming from (or the people who joined in with his attack). I understand that these people are perhaps 'Trolls', but I am beginning to doubt that, as this sort of closed-mindedness and unacceptability is becoming all the more prevalent amongst horror fans.The fact that they could not intelligently explain their decision to bestow on me such a label left me with all the information I needed about these so called horror fans.

Another example is 'A Serbian Film'. Yes, it is extreme, but the film has a political message (buried underneath all of the sex and violence at least) that tells how the Serbian government fuck you as soon as you are born (The baby rape scene), while you are alive (the blonde woman) and even after you die (the wife and son of the main protagonist). Admittedly it pushes boundaries, but shouldn't all great art do that? It certainly opened my eyes to some of the things that happen in Serbia, as well as to how closed minded some horror fans can be.

Just because I have viewed the film, and enjoyed it in one way or another, does not mean in any way, shape or form that I support any type of child abuse. I have the intelligence to know the difference between reality and fantasy, and right and wrong. Not at any time in my life will I support anything that promotes or features real life footage of any type of abuse towards another living creature.

If you watch 'The Last House on the Left', do you get called an avid supporter of rape and murder? Do Freddy Fans get called supporters of child molesters and child killers? Do fans of 'Nekromantik' get labelled necrophiliacs? When will the madness end?

Horror has always been about pushing the envelope. It shouldn't be safe. It shouldn't pander to conventions, to political correctness or to what the general public deems offensive or inoffensive. It should shock, disgust and provoke thought. It should give the viewer nightmares, and show them things their wildest imaginations couldn't dream up.

The scariest monster in reality is what humanity will do to their own and to other living creatures. Horror visualizes these acts of depravity, terror and horror and shows them in a form of entertainment. People forget that horror isn't meant to be enjoyed. It is raw, shocking, horrible and should make the viewer sickened and uncomfortable. People are forgetting what real horror is all about. May the underground continue to mutate and bring forth more sickness and depravity, and may us horror fans continue to support the dark side of cinema.

If you find it disturbing, shocking or offensive, then think. The movie has done it''s job.

If you want films that are going to brighten your day, then horror is not the place you should be looking. But if you want to be disgusted, scared, shocked and sickened, you will feel right at home with the rest of us here who enjoy horror as a genre, no matter what the filmmakers throw at us.

I know the title of this article mentions something about fallout of being labelled such things by people, but the fact is there has been none so far. Others, while they may not share the same opinion as myself, are intelligent enough to know that these films are just that. Little slices of darkness and depravity to be consumed time and time again, no matter how abhorrent these films are.

Darkest regards......Dani.

Tourist Trap (1979) 88 Films Blu-Ray.

Tourist Trap is one of the more atmospheric and creepy slasher films out there, blending elements of the supernatural with some truly creepy masks and mannequins. The film layers on the atmosphere, almost suffocating the viewer with it's brilliant story and imaginative kills and scares.

A group of young people become stranded on the roadside, and one of them, Woody, ventures off alone to find a Gas Station. He is ultimately killed, as his friends go looking for him, coming across a 'Tourist Trap', the very same one where Woody lost his life at the hands of a killer with the power to move objects with his mind. What will become of the teens, and who is hunting them down one by one?

'Tourist Trap' oozes a dense atmosphere of dread from every frame of film. Set mostly in the darkness, this helps the film maintain it's suffocating aura of fear and tension as the group of friends look for their missing pal, only to come across strange and frightening mannequins and their own deaths. This feeling of dread really does permeate every scene of the movie, and 'Tourist Trap' still is a very scary movie to this day.

The acting isn't very good, and while one or two of the female actresses do exhibit sex appeal, it doesn't help with the audience getting behind the characters and caring for them, although in the long run, this does not take much away from the movie, as it is a slasher film after all.The film certainly has enough suspense and originality to keep even the most easily bored horror fan involved in it's compelling story.

The films strongest aspect after it's story, are it's special fx. The masks and mannequins are emotionless, allowing the viewer to project their own fears upon the faces of these creations, and the mannequins unsettling laughter and unnatural movement goes a long way to accentuate the fear we already feel towards them.

While it  uses some horror staples such as the differences between country folk and city folk, 'Tourist Trap' still manages to be a frightening and intense ride, and also mixes the supernatural and slasher sub genres to great effect.

The Blu-Ray release of 'Tourist Trap' has exceptional sound and picture quality, and features a very informative and entertaining commentary from Director David Schmoeller amongst other things.

Possibly one of the creepiest films I have ever had the pleasure of viewing, 'Tourist Trap' still holds the title of being one of the scariest films  I have ever seen.

Darkest regards......Dani.

Re-Animator (1985) Second Sight 2 disc Blu-Ray.

Re-Animator is the latest film to be given the HD treatment by Second Sight Films. Not only that, but the release comes with two (yes, TWO) versions of the classic splatter comedy, a documentary, two audio commentaries and a chat between Director Stuart Gordon and Producer Brian Yuzna, which is very entertaining.

For any of you that haven't seen the movie, I will give a small synopsis, but I advise that you get out and see it as soon as possible, because it really is a classic piece of 80's horror cinema.

Herbert West begins his time at Miskatonik University under the tutelage of the arrogant Dr. Hill. West moves in with fellow student Dan Cain, who is dating the daughter of the Dean of the University. He finds out that West has a secret that could change the world forever, and when Dr. Hill gets his hands on this secret, things get very crazy and incredibly gory!

Surely, there is nothing left to say about this film. Any number of positive adjectives would do well to describe just how much this film is treasured by horror fans. It's special effects are truly stomach turning, and the acting walks the line between understated and overblown perfectly. Working both as a farce and a splatter film, Re-Animator really does have something for every horror fan out there.

Second Sight Films' transfer is crystal clear, the sound perfect and audible, with even the slightest sound adding to the stomach churning effects this film has on it's viewers.

Every performance is a hit, from Barbara Crampton's woman with brains and looks Megan, to Jeffery Combs' brilliant yet equally weird Herbert West, to Bruce Abbot's incredibly heartfelt performance as Dan Cain, each character is beautifully realized and played to great effect. Most notable though, is the pictures bad guy, David Gale, as the manipulative and insane Dr. Carl Hill. The transformation he goes through in the film, from arrogant Doctor to crazed madman is something to behold, and one scene in particular will have women (and some men I am sure) hiding behind the nearest piece of furniture while disgust washes over them. He manages to display madness without ever being cramp, and his facial expressions bring so much to his character, that it is just mind blowing.

This was originally conceived as a television show, but due to budgetary constraints amongst other things, one of the most original and downright crazy horror movies was born. And let's not forget the fact that it is based on a tale by the master of the macabre, H.P Lovecraft.

It cannot be denied though, that the true star of the movie are the incredible special effects. From a dead cat being bought back to life, to a headless corpse performing oral sex on a tied up victim, the things conceived and shown in this movie make every argument for CGI in movies completely invalid. Yes, it is that damned good.

Second Sight Films have released the greatest edition of this classic horror film, with amazing, in depth and exhaustive special features that will keep fans new and old entertained. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy. You won't be disappointed!

Re-Animator is released on two disc Blu-Ray on June 2nd in the UK. 

Darkest regards......Dani.

Camp Dread (2014) Image Entertainment release.

What we have here is a homage to the 'Camp Site Slasher' popularised by such films as 'Sleepaway Camp', 'The Burning' and of course 'Friday the 13th'. While in my opinion the film doesn't improve on anything that went before it, it is a fun ride, and one that will be enjoyed by anyone with more than a passing interest in the Slasher sub-genre. It also features Felissa Rose and Danielle Harris, two people who have a history in the Slasher sub-genre.

A group of young offenders are sent to a camp where they are informed upon their arrival, that they will be taking part in a reality television show helmed by the creator of 80's slasher franchise called 'Summer Camp'. The creator of said Slasher franchise hopes that this reality show will see 'Summer Camp' get a reboot. Each person must spend the first day setting up camp while trying to avoid a killer who will (pretend to) pick them off one by one, with the lone survivor winning a prize of one million dollars. Unfortunately for the young offenders, the pretend kills soon become real, and the stakes they are playing for increase as they get picked off one by one.

The film tries very hard to show it's love for the campside slasher, and in some ways it succeeds. The atmosphere is just right, creating tension and then allowing you to relax through laughing before shoving a scare down the throat of the viewer and splashing the screen with blood. While the acting isn't really that good (minus Eric Roberts, Felissa Rose and Danielle Harris) it definitely gives it a feeling of the low budget slashers of the 80's, and really helps the film more than hinders it.

The cinematography is beautiful and captures the camp site wonderfully. The movie does start off incredibly slowly, but this is where the character development comes in, and does make you relate to the characters more, even if none of them are that likeable (I am sure that was how the audience is supposed to feel about them).

The film does feature a fair few kills, and one that had me laughing to myself involved a prosthetic leg and it's user in a particularly memorable kill. There are also some sly nods for slasher fans out there, who will either laugh with joy or cringe at things such as someone finding a fridge with a broken lock and saying "I hope no one loses their head".

While not being anywhere close to perfect,'Camp Dread' is a decent homage to a time gone by, and is a fun, if uneven venture in slasher territory.