Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
The Redwood Massacre - Review
Redwood Massacre is a new slasher film from director David Ryan Keith. The story concerns a group of 20 somethings who venture out into the woods in search of a house and instead run into a legendary murderous farmer out to kill anyone who enters his woods.
When I review slasher films I typically compare them to a checklist of items to determine how they fit into the genre as well as give it a fresh spin (for better or worse). The criteria I use for these reviews is pretty simple. Who are the characters and how much do I like them. Who is the killer and how effective is their look. How effective and original are the kills and effects and lastly how original is the story itself in comparison to everything that has come before.
First the characters. The story is centered primarily around a group of 4 friends on a camping excursion. There is the obvious final girl as well as two other females and one male character. Unfortunately the three outlying characters are defined almost singularly by the fact that they exist in a love triangle. The two girls hate each other and as a viewer we have to deal with this through the entire movie. All I wanted was for them to die. It’s in this that modern slasher movies regularly fail. Rather than create characters I can root for they give me people that I want to see murdered as early as possible so that I don’t have to be around them anymore. I should never be rooting for the killer in these movies.
Second is the killer. It’s in this area that I think the movie really shines. I love the look of the farmer. He’s decked out in a scarecrow mask and plaid and he looks legitimately menacing. Overall I really dug the design of this guy and it's definitely the strongest aspect of the film.
Third are the kills and effects. The film does feature some good practical effects and the kills themselves are pretty gruesome but personally like my slasher movies to feature more suspense. This one falls more into “Hostel” territory with the killer opting to tie down and torture many vicitm's only stalking them when absolutely necessary. Considering the location has quite a bit of potential its too bad they didn’t decide to use it a bit more to their advantage throughout. It's worth mentioning that the final girl chase is actually pretty well done.
Finally there’s the story. Redwood Massacre works fine as a standard slasher movie in that it follows the formula. It actually comes off as a pretty blatant rip off of Madman. The back story here is that the farmer goes crazy and murders his family and now spends his days stalking campers in the woods. If you haven’t seen Madman go check it out and you’ll see the similarities.
Overall Redwood Massacre is a middle of the road example of a modern slasher film that too often falls into the trappings of the current trends of the genre rather than relying on the tropes that made the genre great to to start. I don't think you'll be disappointed when you watch it but I don't foresee this as being overly re-watchable.
Score: 2/5
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Ace Jackson is a Dead Man - Review
Ace Jackson is a man with a plan and he's going to make it big. Unfortunately for Ace things don’t go as planned and he ends up on the hit list of a major drug dealer. Now Ace has a few days in which to find the money he owes the dealer before he ends up in an alley with a bullet in his head.
In terms of story I guess Ace Jackson isn’t much different on paper from a lot of movies I’ve seen before. A character gets into hot water with some dangerous people and is forced to spend most of the movie saving their own ass. The difference really comes from director Sean Weathers decision to use the film as a blunt statement on consumerism and capitalism while also focusing the film on a character who happens to be both a victim of the capitalist mindset and also kind of an asshole.
However odd that may seem I think it makes sense to portray Ace as kind of unlikable. Throughout the film Weathers fills the screen with scrolling blocks of text which discuss the American mentality toward capitalism, wealth, and fame and the rabid consumerism that occurs as a result. Jackson really just comes off as a representation of that poisoned mindset. He buys into the idea that he too can make it. All he needs is a good plan to get rich and everything will work out. He too can be rich and successful. As a result he is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost, to chase something he will never achieve. I guess in some ways most of us can relate to that feeling but have accepted the fact that it's easier to accept our place in the food chain rather than be devoured by an impossible dream.
As far as the film itself goes I actually quite enjoyed it. While tonally different from "Scumbag Hustler", the last film I'd seen from Weathers, I found this one did stick with me for a while after watching it. This is in large part due to the way the film is put together. The integration of text to push a message is an interesting decision since it puts everything out on the table. Weathers isn’t interested in subtlety with this one and I kind of like that. It's not often that filmmakers are willing to put their opinions out there so blatantly. Subtlety is usually the route many take so it's actually a bit refreshing to see a director willing to literally put his thoughts out on the screen. It's also worth mentioning that the film features a great soundtrack and moves at a brisk pace of just over an hour which I always appreciate.
Overall "Ace Jackson is a Dead Man" stands as another interesting film from an independent director that's worth paying attention to.
You can find the works of Sean Weathers at www.fullcirclefilmworks.com
Score: 3.5/5
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Rhiana Howell to star in ‘Diemosimine’
Deimosimine is the upcoming film produced by Legless Corpses films and is currently holding a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to help with production. I have already personally donated to the campaign and urge others to do the same. This looks like it's going to be pretty great and the more funds they raise the better it can be! Support Independent Horror!
From the Press Release, June 11th, 2015
DEIMOSIMINE, the new film from LeglessCorpse Films has cast newcomer Rhiana Howell.
Rhiana will portray Cindy Richards in the up-coming feature horror film ‘Deimosimine’. To be directed by Chad Armstrong with screenplay by Andrew Thompson.
"A heroin addict undergoes a radical new kind of treatment for her condition; but the drug 'Deimosimine' instead creates for her a world of horror and bloodshed."
Project currently has a campaign on indiegogo to raise additional funds for the creature FX.
http://igg.me/at/deimosimine/x/8730882
WTF! Begins Production June 15th
From the Press Release, June 10th, 2015
Cthulhu Crush Productions is excited to announce principal photography is set to begin on Peter Herro's WTF! June 15th around Los Angeles. The horror film sees a survivor of a mass killing on a trip with six close friends, when her nightmare threatens to begin again.
Herro is directing from a script he co-wrote with Christopher Centanni and Adam Buchalter. Callie Ott (The Horror), Sarah Agor (Hatchet II, VH1's "Scream Queens"), Andrea Hunt, Ben Norris, Johnny James Fiore, Nick Reilly and Adam Foster will star.
Three years ago, twenty-two year old girl-next-door Rachel (Ott) barely survived a brutal massacre that left her friends in pieces. Time has passed, and Rachel has moved on, but unfortunately history has a way of repeating itself. Her close friends are spending spring break in a secluded house in the woods, and they have cordially invited her to join. Little does she realize that another bloodbath will be showing up as plus one. Once Rachel and her friends arrive at the cabin, the partying, sex, and terror begins.
From girls' only pillow fights to debauchery in the bedroom, it's going to be a blast...until the stabbing, flesh melting, and castration starts. Seven friends will go into a secluded house for the best spring break of their lives, but only one will be alive to post about it on Instagram the next week, as Rachel's biggest fears become a reality once again. Will Rachel survive another bloody massacre?
New Trailer and Release Details for Blood Story
From the Press Release, June 9th, 2015
Director Joe Hollow who brought you “The Family” and “Disciples” will be unleashing his latest twisted opus: “A Blood Story” the boundary pushing mix of erotica and horror that is set for worldwide release this June 9th on DVD everywhere.
“A Blood Story centers on the discovery of the legendary Fountain of Youth and the awaking of a centuries old demon that unleashes upon the guests of a nearby villa, subjecting them to unspeakable acts of depravity, perversion and murder.”
Hollow says, “This is the lowest budget film I have done to date but it’s special for a great many reasons. Robert’s passing was very difficult for us but the time we shared with him will forever live in our hearts. We were one big family on that set. And as a family I really feel we were able to tell an interesting story without all the extra characters, complex storyline and content that my earlier films are known for. With A Blood Story we had a very limited budget and a 10 day shooting schedule. So, THUMBS UP to an incredibly ambitious and inspiring cast and to Debra Lamb who muscled it through a fast moving difficult schedule as both an actor and producer. We wanted to do something different and we pulled it off . We are all very proud of this film”.
Produced by Hollow Films in conjunction with Lamblight Productions and distributed by Maxim Media Entertainment/Brain Damage Films. A Blood Story stars Mindy Robinson, Camden Toy, Mark Hanson, Debra Lamb, Melanie Robel, Linnea Quigley and the legendary Robert D’Zar in one of his final roles.
Below is the trailer for the film
TRAILER :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C1U8pMVw9E
Thursday, June 4, 2015
The Redwood Massacre Release Announcement
The Redwood Massacre is coming to DVD and VOD on July 7th. Check out the trailer and release details below!
From the Press Release, May 31st, 2015
One of the most anticipated fright flicks of 2015 comes to DVD and VOD July 7 from Uncork’d Entertainment. David Ryan Keith’s REDWOOD MASSACRE “epitomizes the 80’s slasher and just adds a dollop more of the red stuff into the mix making it better than the 80’s!*".
Starring Mark Wood (TVs Trinity), Lisa Cameron (My Brother’s Keeper), Lisa Livingstone (TVs Holby City), Rebecca Wilkie (Legion of Evil), and Alec Westwood (TVs Roughnecks), the “chilling” film chronicles the horrific outcome of a group of friends who visit a legendary murder site, Redwood House. What happens next will chill you to the bone.
Official Synopsis : For five adventurous friends, visiting the legendary murder site of the Redwood House has all the hallmarks of being an exciting and thrilling camping weekend away.
A popular site for revellers and party goers, each year on the exact date of the famous local family massacre, people from around the country head out to the site to have fun and scare each other.
Events take a bloody turn for the worse when the innocent campers discover the Redwood legend is in fact a horrible bloody reality, which turns the unsuspecting victims into prey for a mysterious axe wielding maniac that has remained dormant for 20 years.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Podcast Episode 43
Download this episode (right click and save)
In episode 43 things get heated as we open the show with a game of Super Fight. A card game that pits us against each other in a fight to the death. Who will come out victorious? You must listen to find out! We also discuss the top 3 character fights we'd like to see and review three martial arts action films. First up is Lost Faith. A shot on video masterpiece, at least that's what two of us think. Up next is Death Force, Cirio Santiago's tale of vengeance and samurais. Finally we discuss Raw Force. The only movie to ever combine ninjas, zombies and cannibalistic monks into one single action packed feature. Enjoy!
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