Horror News And Reviews

New July 1, 2014
John Schneider’s Smothered, a new horror comedy, filmed recently in Baton Rouge and other Louisiana sites. Keep up with the flick on their Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

New May 9, 2014

Pre-production on Camp of the Damned announced

“Camp of the Damned,” called a throwback to the drive-in chillers of the 80’s, has begun pre-production. It’s from White Lion Studios (formerly Little Sicily Productions).

“We wanted to make something with monsters and practical effects, and keep it suspenseful. Don’t be fooled, it will be a lot of fun to watch, but this is a horror movie. It’s all about the scare!” says the film’s 24 year old writer and director, Ken Cosentino. This will be his fourth feature as director.

The film stars Bill Oberst, Jr., the “face of independent horror,” most commonly known for his portrayal as Abe Lincoln in The Asylum’s “Abraham Lincoln Vs. The Zombies.” Oberst’s character is the head counselor at Camp Good Son, a correctional camp for convicted teenage criminals. When unseen demonic forces from within the woods snatch up the campers and staff, only the most dangerous campers, the boys in Cabin 5, and their counselor (Oberst, Jr.) are around to witness the coming of the Apocalypse. Nobody is who they say, and paranoia runs rampant as everyone begins to suspect each other of being a monstrous doppelganger. Also joining the cast is character actor Babette Bombshell (Return to Class of Nuke ‘Em High: Volume 1 & 2) and Dawna Lee Heising.

Production is expected between August and September.

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New April 9, 2014

Check out the trailer for Pieces of Talent

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 Horror Realm Film festival announced

 

Pittsburgh, PA – March 27, 2014 – The Horror Realm Film Festival is a new extension of the long running Horror Realm Convention. Horror Realm has long supported independent filmmakers and has created the film festival to increase this support. The festival will take place in the historic Hollywood Theater Dormont in Pittsburgh, PA on May 22 to 25, 2014.

The mission of the festival is to provide an affordable opportunity for filmmakers in the horror genre to have their films evaluated by a qualified board of judges, have their work viewed by fans, compete for awards, increase their film’s visibility and possibly find distribution for their film. The festival’s panel of judges has been carefully selected from the horror community and is comprised of filmmakers and writers.

Entries are now being accepted for the short film (45 minutes or less) and feature film (46 minutes or longer) categories. There is a discounted entry fee for films submitted by April 18 with a final deadline of April 25. Interested filmmakers should contact Horror Realm at info@horrorrealmcon.com to receive a submission packet which contains an application, rules, fees and payment options.

Finalists will consist of the top three films in each award category. Unlike many film competitions, all entrants’ films will be shown the weekend of the festival. Finalist films will be given priority in screening slots.

Awards (non-monetary) will be given for the following categories:

 Feature film:
o Best film
o Best director
o Best screenplay
o Best cinematography
o Best actor & actress
o Best supporting actor & actress
o Best FX makeup

Short film:
o Best film
o Best director
o Best screenplay
o Best cinematography
o Best actor & actress

The opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 22 at 8 PM. Screenings of entries will be held Friday, May 23 from 10 AM to midnight and Saturday, May 24 from 10 AM to 10 PM. A party follows the screenings on Saturday. Screenings continue on Sunday, May 25 from 11 AM to 2 PM, followed by the closing awards ceremony at 2:30 PM.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at http://www.showclix.com/event/hrff14. Single day tickets for screenings/awards are available for $10 each, weekend screening/awards tickets are $25 each and VIP are $40, which includes admission to all screenings, awards program and both parties. Single day and weekend tickets may also be purchased at the door; VIP tickets are advanced purchase only.

Horror Realm is also a supporter of the independent Hollywood Theater, which reopened in 2011 thanks to the efforts of a group of community leaders, area residents, and local film lovers who formed the non-profit organization Friends of the Hollywood Theater. The theater’s mission is not only to show movies, but act as a community center where the public can enjoy film festivals, concerts, and special events such as big screen viewings of sporting events and the Academy Awards. The theater is located at 1449 Potomac Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.

For more information, visit www.horrorrealmcon.com.

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Patrick  – a ’70s thriller gets a Gothic makeover

(Review)

Back in the days of perusing the VHS shelves, I was never enthusiastic about Patrick (1978). The cover art depicted a guy in a hospital bed with glowing eyes. A male variation on Carrie, I thought. Never grabbed me. When I learned of a re-make, I thought: Why?

Now I see it’s because a nicely moody and atmospheric horror thriller was waiting to be born. The film grew out of director Mark Hartley’s Not Quite Hollywood, a documentary about Australian exploitation films. Asked which ozploitation film he’d like to remake, Patrick came to mind.

 

After the carefully executed shock of the film’s opening moments, the new version, Patrick Evil Awakens, establishes a wonderfully grim, near Gothic style. Events are  set in a creepy seaside facility for coma patients that offers plenty of dark corners. Even the gray and almost anachronistic uniforms for the nurses help established the feel and the chills.

 

Once that mood is established, Hartley exploits the central idea deftly. Patrick (Jackson Gallagher) is a non-responsive patient possessing fierce psychic abilities. He’s unresponsive but not unaware, and he falls deeply and possessively in love with his  new nurse, Kathy (Sharni Vinson). Kathy’s compassion for the patient invites his influence into her life outside the institute. A suitor begins to exhibit strange behavior, and an ex-lover who’s still in pursuit becomes a target.

 

Danger and darkness escalate as Kathy clashes with the institute’s director, Doctor Roget, who’s played with devilish verve by Charles Dance. Conscious of his own aging, Roget’s driven to complete research he sees as his life’s work.

 

He’s not above unethical measures to hurry things along, even when they are physically harmful to patients. He’s backed in his endeavors by the institute’s matron nurse, a grim and sterile Rachel Griffiths of Six Feet Under.

 

A few incidents strain character credibility, but those are forgotten, especially as Patrick’s power is unleashed in a fast paced and violent third act. Patrick’s opening in some markets March 14 and due on Blu-Ray shortly. It’s worth a look for horror and thriller fans.

— Sidney Williams

Originally appeared at the Sid is Alive blog

 

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Recent things we’ve heard about… Posted Jan. 15, 2012  Zombie Poetry Takes on a Life of  Its Own The New York Times takes a look at what rhymes with undead.

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Recent things we’ve heard about at Fear on Demand… Posted Sept. 9, 2010 A teaser for the short monster film Dennis is now posted on the film’s official site.

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Posted Sept.1, 2010

Hatchet II Site and Trailer

The site for Hatchet II is now live with a trailer. Cast includes a returning Tony Todd and Kane Hodder plus Danielle Harris. It’s written and directed by Adam Green again.

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Posted Aug. 31, 2010

New horror and SF e-zine

Spectra Magazine, a digital-only science fiction, fantasy and horror short fiction publication, specifically for eReaders, has announced it will be available Sept. 1from the Apple App Store, WH Smiths, Amazon, Kobo, OmniLit and the Android Marketplace. It will be a subscription-based service, with each issue is published in two parts, once every two weeks. Four new short stories will be offered per month, along with news, reviews and more.

Posted Aug. 30, 2010

New short horror film

iPsycho is a new short film from Chris R. Notarile that’s no available via Blinky Productions on You Tube. It’s the story of a shock podcast DJ who hangs up on the wrong caller one time too many. Co-writer Kim Santiago has the central role. It’s a great quick chill. Check it out.

Upcoming horror novel excerpt

The Ghost Toucher by Gerald Rice is coming in a few days from Severed Press. It’s set in Detroit and involves the search for a reality star who’s a cross between the Ghost Whisperer and Jackass. Read an excerpt here.

Posted Aug. 29, 2010

New werewolf novel in a deluxe editions

Wolfhunt by Jeff Strand is now available in a deluxe edtion from Dark Regions Press. It’s the story of a pair of thugs hired to transport a man in a cage to a crime lord in Florida. Oh, the man may be a werewolf, a werewolf who doesn’t play by the usual werewolf rules. Sounds Interesting. Dark Regions is providing the title in a couple of signed editions including a leather-bound version and there are other bonuses.

Writing Contest

Horror Bound Online Magazine’s offering a “Carnival of Fear” writing contest. Full details and entry information can be found here. Top prize is $100.

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