I normally don't like to talk about my personal life at all, but due to some personal setbacks and relocating back to my hometown of San Jose, one of the things that was put aside was my coverage of the SINISTER CREATURE CON that I attended back in June of this year. I had every intention on finishing this, but as I stated earlier, life has a way of throwing obstacles in your path. However, I am now able to share with you my amazing experience of this extraordinary event that hit the central valley. To all those I met at the con, sorry for the tardiness and hope to see you all again soon. Thanks for understanding and enjoy my post!
Now one of the advantages of being a popular film blogger is that I get to cover many film events throughout California: film festivals, conventions, special events, etc. It's been a long time since I've attended anything like this but this past June 10th and 11th, I had the honor and opportunity to cover the SINISTER CREATURE CON(Northern California's SFX, Mask, Makeup, & Horror Culture convention) at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. The convention is put on by the Sacramento Horror Film Festival and the also do The Rocky Horror Picture Show events at the Colonial Theatre with the Amber Sweets shadowcast. This was a big weekend for horror fans in the valley and yours truly was there to see it all!
There was a lot of celebrities in attendance that weekend, including the AMERICAN MARY Reunion panel featuring Katharine Isabelle, Tristan Risk and the Twisted Twins themselves, filmmakers Jen and Sylvia Soska. Another reunion taking place that weekend was the A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS with Heather Langencamp, Ken Sagoes, Jennifer Rubin, Ira Heiden and Rodney Eastman. The convention also had ROCKY HORROR guests Barry Bostwick & Nell Campbell were there as well as filmmaker and creator of the PHANTASM franchise Don Coscarelli, actors Tom Atkins (Creepshow, Night of the Creeps, Halloween III), Daeg Faerch (Rob Zombie's Halloween), actresses Diane Franklin (Better Off Dead, Amityville II, TerrorVision), Brooke Theiss (Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Just the 10 of Us) and Amanda Wyss (Nightmare on Elm Street, Better Off Dead) just to name a few. Also Ve Neill, Walter Welsh, Alan Carnes, from Face/Off and Dutch Bihary Alison Kenyon from Skin Wars were there plus all the cool exhibitors, dealers, cosplayers and more!
The Sinister Creature Con Crew setting up their main booth.
Hello and welcome the Sinister Creature Con Stockton 2017!
The awesome layout of sellers at the Sinister Creature Con.
Scary Clown Girl, Freddy Kruger and Wednesday Adams welcomes you all to the con.
One of the awesome folks I meet at the convention was cartoonist Paul Allen. He is the man behind the Hypno-Skull Comics. One terrific guy that you should buy comics from! Check out his website at a hypnoskullcomics.wordpress.com and buy his comics and art!
These fine folks represent the incredible MONSTERS IN MODESTO! They are part of the CEMETARIUM HAUNTED HOUSE group that includes PSYCHO CIRCUS, ZOMBIE HEIGHTS and a few others. They're a haunted house attraction that you should definately check out! To learn more about them and their October schedule, check out their website at www.monstersinmodesto.com/home.html.
Also in attendance were my good friends from BARELY LEGAL PRODUCTIONS! They are a ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Shadowcast that I've been friends with for years! They have shows in San Jose and Albany. To learn more about them and their schedule appearances, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.
These cute couple work for the horror news website iHorror. It's a great website with a plethora of horror news for you to sink your fangs into. Visit them at ihorror.com. You can also download the app onto your smartphone from either the Apple App Store or from Google Play.
Now here's a couple you need to know! This lovely lady is the one and only Krystal Shay aka Kushbunnyy, the hottest bunnyy in the world! Words fail me to describe her, but she is one of the sweetest, kindest and sexiest woman I know! Make sure you check out the website at kushbunnyy.com and check out all her social media outlets while your there! Now the handsome stud next to her is Drew Marvick, filmmaker extraordinaire! This Las Vegas based auteur is the write/director of the ultra-cool slasher film POOL PARTY MASSACRE, which yours truly will be doing a review of it soon! One talented filmmaker and an awesome guy to hang out and talk movies with. To purchase a copy of the movie as well as sweet memorabilia, visit his website at poolpartymassacrestore.com.
This is one of my friends Carlyfornia Love. I've seen her at numerous conventions up and down the West Coast! From MONSTERPALOOZA to the SINISTER CREATURE CON, it's always a pleasure seeing a familiar face. Her booth has some fantastic and hard-to-find movies so if you see her, definitely check out her booth!
This is one bad ass muther fucker right here! The name's Stephen Biro and he is the CEO/Owner of UNEARTHED FILMS! His label is notorious in the horror genre, releasing some of the most gut-wrenching, vile and controversial films of all time. His infamous film franchise is the AMERICAN GUINEA PIG series, which has garnered acclaim and disgust from critics and fans alike. To learn more about label and their film catalog, visit their website at www.unearthedfilms.com.
Canadian filmmakers and identical twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska aka The Soska Sisters aka The Twisted Twins burst onto the scene with their 2009 indie film DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. The latter received critical acclaim for their 2012 film AMERICAN MARY. Soon the twins added SEE NO EVIL 2 and VENDETTA to their list of films. They are currently working on the David Cronenberg remake of RABID. To learn more about the Soska Siters and their projects, visit their website at twistedtwinsproductions.net.
One of the highlights from that weekend was meeting the legendary filmmaker Don Coscarelli. He is the creator of the PHANTASM franchise as well as other cult classics like THE BEASTMASTER, BUBBA HO-TEP and JOHN DIES AT THE END. We had a great conversation and is just a really wonderful, down-to-earth kinda guy! Really had a pleasure meeting this horror icon. You can follow Don Coscarelli on both Facebook and Twitter.
This is a Weeping Angel from the BBC show DOCTOR WHO. They scare the hell outta me! 'Nuff said!!
Another friend I saw that weekend was the incredible Melissa Laroue, who was there signing autographs. She is a local celebrity, having been on the much beloved KOFY TV20 local show CREEPY KOFY MOVIE TIME as one of the Cave Girls. A former US Marine Corps, she's gone on to become a model, an actress and is a Bay Area treasure! I am very lucky to call her my friend! You can follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
This was the first horror convention in the Stockton area in a long time and I must say that this was an unprecedented success! There were so many celebrities, so many vendors, so many booths and so much fun was had by all! The next Sinister Creature Con will take place on October 14th and 15th, 2017 at the Scottish Rite Center in Sacramento, CA. Some of the celebrities attending the con will be Ted Raimi, Danielle Harris, Kevin Tenney, Uwe Boll, Lita from the WWE, Marky Ramone from the legendary punk band The Ramones, and so much more! To learn more about the convention and to purchase tickets, visit their website at www.sinistercreaturecon.com. To learn more about the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, visit their website at www.sachorrorfilmfest.com.
DEATH RACE 2050
Starring Malcolm McDowell, Manu Bennett, Marci Miller, Burt Grinstead, Anessa Ramsey, Yancy Butler, Charlie Farrell, Folake Olowofoyeku, Shanna Olson
Written by G.J. Echternkamp & Matt Yamashita
Cinematography by Juan Durán
Edited by G.J. Echternkamp & Steve Ansell
Produced by Roger Corman, Julie Corman & Lisa Gooding
Directed by G.J. Echternkamp
Production Companies New Horizons Picture & Universal 1440 Entertainment
Released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment
In 1975, producer Roger Corman and director Paul Bartell released a film called DEATH RACE 2000 on an unsuspecting drive-in and grindhouse audience. It went on to became a true cult classic.In 2008, Corman made a deal with Universal Pictures to remake the film, simply entitled DEATH RACE, which eventually led to two direct-to-video sequels. Those films had no resemblance to the original, nor did it have the same premise. It seemed like Hollywood had miss the point yet again and it looked like we would never get a proper sequel. Then the King of the B's himself came up with the brilliant idea of making a true sequel to the original, which excited many fans. The end result was released earlier this year in the form of DEATH RACE 2050. So ladies and gentlemen, start your engines and get ready for one helluva ride!
The film's official synopsis: Legendary filmmaking icon, Roger Corman, is back with his most
outrageous film yet in this sensational, action-packed and darkly
humorous reboot of the original Death Race 2000! It’s the year 2050 and
America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government ruled by
The Chairman (Malcolm McDowell). The masses have been brainwashed with
violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the
Death Race, in which a motley crew of violent drivers compete in a
cross-country road race, scoring points for shamelessly running people
over and driving each other off the road. The reigning champion and fan
favorite, Frankenstein (Manu Bennett), who’s half-man half-machine,
wants to take the crown, but his rebel spy co-pilot threatens his legacy
The original was a perfect blend of dark humor, social and political commentary and pure exploitation madness. The sequel is the same but more in your face, with the dark humor and madness cranked up to ten. The world of tomorrow is nothing more than a corporate owned entity, now known as The United Corporations of America.The biting commentary is painfully relevant, considering our so-called president and his swamp drenched corporate cabinet. So throughout the movie, I found myself laughing and cringing because it's so spot on as to the world we inhabit in.
Original Promotional Poster (2017)
Filmmaker G.J. Echternkamp is relatively new to directing, having made only two other features, a couple of documentaries and a handful of shorts. However, he manages to make a film that just screams, "Look at this crazy shit!" Despite his lack of experience, he makes up with enthusiasm, determination and sheer lunacy. He keeps the camera on the action, which there is plenty of and it's completely off the hook! Kudos to Echternkamp on a job well done! Also, he along with Matt Yamashita wrote the script, so lookout for this guy to become the next big Hollywood action director!
Filing the shoes of Frankenstein this time is Manu Bennett, whom you've seen in THE MARINE, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and THE HOBBIT TRILOGY as Azog. He's also done a lot of television shows such as Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,Arrow (as Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke) and the hit MTV series The Shannara Chronicles. He brings his A-game to his character and raises Frankenstein to the level of one bad ass driver! Loved his performance! Actress Marci Miller from Days of our Lives is Frankenstein's navigator Annie Sullivan. Miller is a very beautiful and talented actress and she and Bennett have great on-screen chemistry. Malcolm McDowell does what Malcolm McDowell does best. 'Nuff said! Anessa Ramsey's character Tammy is one of the most vile, racist, batshit crazy chicks I have ever seen in a movie! And the shit she says is fucking hilarious!!
Now I'm sure all you die hard fans of the original want to know is how do the cars look in the movie? They look freaking sweet!! They're just as cool, if not cooler, than the cars from the first film. I don't know who made them, but I want to have one of them! More specifically, I want Frankenstein's car!! And if there's anyway it included Marci Miller and her piercing deep blue eyes, then take all my money now buddy!!
DEATH RACE 2050 is an over the top, tongue-in-check, politically and socially charged, action packed thrill ride that will make you think and cheer for bloodshed!! In this modern day world where movies take themselves way too seriously, it's good to see this kind of movie exist. And it's great to see Roger Corman doing what he does best!! This is exploitation cinema at its finest!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly Recommended!!
DEATH RACE 2050 is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. The film is also available on iTunes, Redbox, on demand and other streaming services.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR
Starring Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Sofia Rosinsky, Logan Creran, Suchitra Pillai, Javier Botet
Written by Johannes Robert, Ernest Riera
Cinematography by Maxime Alexandre
Edited by Baxter
Produced by Rory Aitken, Alexandre Aja, Ben Pugh
Directed by Johannes Roberts
Released by 20th Century Fox
My Halloween Horror Watch marathon continues with another fantastic film that was very entertaining and horrifyingly chilling. I've heard good things about this movie and it took me awhile to finally get around to watching it. Filmed in India, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR explores the different beliefs and evils that exist in other parts of the world.
The film's official synopsis: A family lives an idyllic existence abroad until a tragic accident takes
the life of their young son. The inconsolable mother learns of an
ancient ritual that will bring him back to say a final goodbye. She
travels to an ancient temple, where a door serves as a mysterious portal
between two worlds. But when she disobeys a sacred warning to never
open that door, she upsets the balance between life and death.
Sarah Wayne Callies is just an amazing and wonderful actress. Here, her character Maria is so lost without her son that she will do anything to get him back. Her depression and desperation gets the better of and now she must come to grips that her son is gone and she must move on or her family will die. To display all these different ranges of emotions requires talent and Callies nails her performance perfectly. I was such a huge fan of hers since The Walking Dead and now she can be seen on the new USA sci-fi show Colony so this makes me very happy.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2016)
Also turning in a great performance is Suchitra Pillai, who portrays Maria's nanny Piki. Wise, caring and devoted to Maria's family, she tells her of the ancient ritual but warns her of the consequences if she breaks the rules. Pillai is quite famous in her native home of India. She is an actress, singer, model, anchor and VJ. She started acting back in 1993 and has appeared in several Bollywood movies like DIL CHAHTA HAI (2001), FASHION (2008) and FITOOR (2016). Actor Jeremy Sisto (who plays Maria's husband Michael in the film)has had a long career in Hollywood, appearing in CLUELESS, SUICIDE KINGS, THIS SPACE BETWEEN US, ANGEL EYES, MAY, WRONG TURN, THIRTEEN, WAITRESS and ROBOT & FRANK.
The film was directed by English filmmaker Johannes Roberts. He made his feature film debut with the 2001 SANITARIUM. He made several movies in England such as ALICE (2002), HELLBREEDER and DARK HUNTERS (both in 2004). His first film made here in the states was the 2011 feature ROADKILL for the Maneater Series and was shown on the SyFy Channel. Here, Roberts exhibits his growth as a competent director, creating fear, scares and dread as well drama and character development. He captures all the beauty and horror of India and showcases their beliefs, their folklore and their rituals.
The movie was released on March 4, 2016 in limited release in select theaters. It grossed $2.8 million domestically and $4.5 million internationally. However, critical response has been less than warm. Despite these negative reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and was captivated by its story, characters and directing.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR is a brilliant, entertaining and horrifying movie that will haunt your Halloween season! If you want to see something different in your horror film, then make sure you add this title to your library! 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! Recommended viewing!!
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The movie is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, digital download and Netflix.
Starring Brandy Schaefer, Zack Andrews, Bobby Roe, Mikey Roe, Jeff Larson
Written by Zack Andrews, Jeff Larson, Bobby Roe, Jason Zada
Cinematography by Andrew Strahorn
Edited by Jeff Hall with Cesar Martinez
Produced by Zack Andrews, Todd King, Steven Schneider, Matthew Stein, Steven Steiner
Directed by Bobby Roe
Released by Image Entertainment
Welcome back everyone to my Halloween Horror Watch! Today's film is an unique one, having been a documentary first before morphing into a found footage horror film. Now I know the idea of a found footage film has literally been done to death, but taking an existing documentary movie and transforming it onto a feature length is rather clever. So for today I'll be talking about THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT from Image Entertainment.
The film's official synopsis: Five friends are stalked by a group of mysterious and disturbed individuals while on a road trip looking for the ultimate haunted house attraction.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2014)
As I mentioned earlier, the movie was at first a 2011 documentary of the same name. In it, five friends traveled across the country checking out many haunted houses while interviewing those who do the and those you attended. The documentary won the grand prize at the 2011 Schockfest Film Festival. Since then, director Bobby Roe very cleverly used footage from this and reused it for the feature length, which is a very Roger Corman way of filmmaking!
The cast of the movie are real life friends so the chemistry between them all is authentic and I really enjoyed seeing them play off one another. Also you can tell that there were having fun while making the movie. However, it drags a lot when they're visiting these local haunted houses. These scenes could have been edited down more. Plus some of the dialogue (or should I say conversations since a lot of it was lifted from the documentary) went nowhere and I started to lose interest real fast. Now when it started getting scary, it was good and creepy. But then it fell flat for me towards the end. It didn't have that much suspense for me to fell that I should fully invest myself into the characters and their dire situation.
Image Entertainment released the film on home video in October of 2014. As an added bonus, they included the original documentary the movie was based on so the fans received two films for the price of one.
THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT is a decent little horror film but it brings nothing new to the genre. However, the documentary I found interesting and fun to watch! So maybe you should pick up the movie so you can watch the documentary and then maybe see the movie so you can decide for yourself. 3 out of 5 stars! Maybe a rental!
THE HOUSES THAT OCTOBER BUILT is currently available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on iTunes, Video on Demand and Netflix.
SOME KIND OF HATE
Starring: Ronen Rubinstein, Grace Phipps, Sierra McCormick, Lexi Atkins, Spencer Breslin, Brando Eaton, Maestro Harrell
Written by Brian DeLeeuw & Adam Egypt Mortimer
Cinematography by Benji Bakshi
Edited by Josh Ethier
Produced by
Directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer
Distributed by RLJ Entertainment
Once again the independent horror film world has provided us horror fans another cinematic nightmare with social commentary that today's youths can all too easily relate to. Today's film addresses an issue that has been plaguing our public school system for decades: bullying. This crisis has gotten so out of hand that teens have been committing suicide as a way to escape their hellish torment. Unfortunately, some of these teens have been lashing out against their peers as school shootings have now become the norm. It is in this unstable and uncertain climate that makes the film SOME KIND OF HATE that much more relevant to today's youth.
The film's official synopsis: Relentless bullying has turned Lincoln's life into a nightmare. But he
soon learns the true meaning of terror when he is sent to a remote
school for troubled teens and the harassments start all over again. Only
this time, someone is watching - a teenage girl named Moira who was
driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago. When Lincoln
accidentally summons Moira from the grave, he unleashes a vengeful and
unstoppable force on a mission of blood-soaked revenge.
Festival Movie Poster (2015)
The movie is also another fine example of transcending the horror genre to new heights. In this case, the slasher genre. Not since Freddy Kruger has there been a more terrifying supernatural entity that has caused more teen deaths than our main antagonist Moria, played by Sierra McCormick. While we are supposed to dispose the villain, Moria is more of a sympathetic character. She was bullied to the point of committing suicide and how do we not feel sorry for her. But her thirst for revenge only fuels her hatred and she comes to the aide via a cry for help from Lincoln, played by Ronen Rubinstein. Both McCormick and Rubinstein have great on-screen chemistry as they are the young and yang to each other. Add the beautiful and talented Grace Phipps as Lincoln's love interest Kaitlin (whose performance in the film was absolutely incredible!) and the film rises to the next level of believability and terror.
Writer/director Adam Egypt Mortimer (along with co-writer Brian DeLeeuw) combines the look and feel of a classic slasher film while simultaneously addressing the issue of bullying, something that has been talked about a lot in the news as of late. The issue of bullying has gotten completely out of hand to where children today can no longer handle it and their only escape is to either lash out with violence or commit suicide. Mortimer does a tremendous job of combining this terrible issue with supernatural horror, much like his predecessor Wes Craven did with 1984's horror classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. His directing is a blend of hand held documentary and down and dirty grindhouse horror; meaning the camera doesn't flinch away from the gruesome gore and violence. Plus it didn't hurt that the film was shot with an authentic 1970's widescreen anamorphic lenses to give it that look and feel of a grindhouse flick.
Overall SOME KIND OF HATE is one of the best indie horror films of 2016!! If you are being bullied or you are bully, then you both should see this movie immediately! It will make you think twice about what you are doing! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
SOME KIND OF HATE is currently available on DVD at your local retailer or online at the Amazon website. It is also available on Video On Demand, digital download and Amazon Prime. To learn more about RLJ Entertainment, visit their website at www.rljentertainment.com.
Hello again everybody and welcome to a very special edition of Phil's Film Adventures! While I was going through my Facebook feed I saw a very interesting post from the Sacramento Horror Film Festival. They were giving away free passes to an advanced screening of director Nicolas Winding Refn'snew film THE NEON DEMON, which wont be in theaters until Friday, June 24th. Now I was very excited because I haven't done one of these types of screenings in over two years. So right after work, I headed down to the United Artists Arden Fair 6 Mall to check out this cinematic special occasion!
Theatrical Movie Poster
The film's official synopsis: When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality
are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will use any means
necessary to get what she has in The Neon Demon, the new horror thriller
from Nicolas Winding Refn. The Neon Demon stars Elle Fanning
(Maleficent, Super 8), Jena Malone (Inherent Vice, The Hunger Games
series), Bella Heathcote (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Dark
Shadows), Abbey Lee (Gods of Egypt, Max Max: Fury Road), Karl Glusman
(Love, Stonewall), Keanu Reeves (John Wick, The Matrix series),
Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men,” Drive), Desmond Harrington (“Dexter,”
The Dark Knight Rises), Alessandro Nivola (A Most Violent Year, American
Hustle), and Charles Baker (“Breaking Bad,” Wild).
Actress Elle Fanning gives one of her best performances ever! She commands your attention when she's on the screen. Her portrayal as Jesse is nothing short of riveting. We witness her character turn from a kind, sweet and naive young girl to a self-absorbed, arrogant and prissy supermodel. It's a slow turn that is utterly amazing to witness. It is an extraordinary performance! Jena Malone is also captivating, if not shocking, as Jesse's good friend and make-up artists Ruby. She goes the extra mile in the film and let me just say there's this amazing "Holy Shit!" moment that was freaking crazy! Then there's Bella Heathcote and Abbey Lee, who portray Gigi and Sarah respectively. These superficial, super shallow and superplastic supermodels are the antagonists to our fair Jesse, who will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn't steal their spotlight and fame. Also, look for Keanu Reeves appearing in a very minor role as the jackass motel manager Hank, who spreads his time smoking cigarettes and breaking into the rooms.
Nicolas Winding Refn's directing is perfection at its finest! His compositions and camera panning are simple buy yet very effective. His eye captures the beautiful and the ugliness of not only our characters but also of the Los Angeles fashion world as well. Refn's framing is superb, documenting the rise and fall of Jesse with such captivating fluently. But what I really loved was the gorgeous neon lighting throughout the film. The last time I watched a film with this much colorful lighting was Dario Argento's 1977 horror classic SUSPIRIA. Now I would also like to address his partner-in-crime, which would be cinematographer Natasha Braier, without whom Refn's wouldn't have been able to bring his film to the screen. Exquisitely photographed by this very talented individual! Also, Refn co-wrote the film with two other talented writers: Mary Laws and Polly Stenham. The sparse dialogue enhances his unique vision but the story is so fascinating that we can't help but get swept into the lovely chaos of our characters.
Another aspect I loved about the film was the incredibly radical soundtrack! Music composer Cliff Martinez created a soundtrack that is an amalgam of 80's new wave synthesizer and traditional slasher music from like FRIDAY THE 13th. It's catchy, hypnotic and retro all at the same time. It's reminds of music that I would hear on the New Retro Wave website. It's new yet familiar at the same time, which is very difficult to pull off. I can't wait to buy the soundtrack and I hope it comes out on a totally awesome looking colored vinyl!
There are some who will say that this is not a horror film while some say it is an art house movie. Then there are those who will call it a thriller. Some might dare say it sucked and would want their money back. This is an experimental film; one that lies somewhere between an exquisite dreamlike state and a nightmarish plane of reality.
THE NEON DEMON is my favorite film of the year thus far!! Words cannot describe how much I loved this movie!! It truly is a work of art and it must be seen on the big screen! So if you are bored of the typical Hollywood schlockbuster and the tired remakes/reboots/rehashes, then you must see this movie! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!
THE NEON DEMONis currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the United Artists Arden Fair 6 Mall. Check your local listings and theater to see if it's playing near you!
Starring: Carmen Electra, Shauna Sand, Debra Xavier, Dave Oliver, Tim Bagley, Conrad Bachmann, Leslie Hunt, Billy A. Fox, Lawrence Lanoff, Priscilla Taylor, Charles Santore
Written by Sam Rappaport & Khara Bromiley
Cinematography by Robert C. New
Edited by India Rose & Thomas Teltser
Produced by Lawrence Lanoff, Hoke M. Rose, India Rose, Corey Kiefer & James Velasquez
Directed by Lawrence Lanoff
Distributed by Troma Entertainment
Welcome back to another edition of Phil Gets Tromatized where I'll be reviewing the films from Troma Entertainment's vast library. Today's film review is one of several films that Troma has released to feature a future Hollywood star. In one of her earliest starring roles, singer/model/actress Carmen Electra would go on to star in television shows and major Hollywood movies as well as grace the pages of Playboy Magazine. But before all the fame, fortune and notoriety, she starred in the Redsploitation Troma film THE CHOSEN ONE: LEGEND OF THE RAVEN directed by Lawrence Lanoff.
The film's official synopsis: Sexy superstar Carmen Electra (star of TV’s Baywatch and MTV’s Singled Out) explodes onto the screen in her feature film debut as McKenna Ray, THE CHOSEN ONE: the ultimate warrior in the battle between good and evil. When her sister Emma (Playboy Playmate Shauna Sand Lamas, star of TV’s hit series Renegade) is viciously murdered, McKenna, a cynical young lady, enters a world which she left long ago. Guided by her shaman father and Emma’s spirit, McKenna discovers that she holds the key within her to prevent the apocalypse. Carmen Electra is THE CHOSEN ONE, a powerful beautiful avenging force of purity who’s sole purpose is to defend the weak and destroy the wicked.
Original VHS Box Cover (1998)
I saw this movie when it was first released on VHS and I loved it right from the start for several reasons. First, Carmen Electra was in it and I had a mad crush on this woman. Second, she had a cool costume and looked hot in it. Third, it had an interesting plot that was equal parts of THE CROW and classic exploitation cinema, which I enjoyed. Fourth, it was just an awesome B-movie to sit back and watch. It's really that simple people.
With this being her film debut, Electra did a great job and showed the world that she wasn't just another pretty face (which she still has and looks absolutely stunning). Her Indian ceremonial dance she did in the that outfit was so damn sexy. But there was one thing that did bother and that was she had a body double for her sex scene. This still baffles me to this day. She posed nude for Playboy for crying out loud but she had a double for the sex scene. The only logical conclusion I came up with was maybe she was nervous to do the scene with her male co-star Dave Oliver, who played Henry her love interest in the film. Posing nude and doing a sex scene in a movie are two totally different things I suppose, but I thought her acting was great.
Another Playboy Playmate to appear in the film was the former Shauna Sand Lamas, who at the time was married to Lorenzo Lamas, star of the hit television show Renegade. Sultry, sexy and her running in the forest in the beginning of the film is the stuff every teenage boy's fantasy, Sand's acting is as legendary as her breasts. Not saying she can't act because she can a little bit. But to be honest, she is eye candy in the film, but her wardrobe in the movie more than makes up for her acting abilities.
The last actress I wanted to mention was Debra Xavier, who portrayed Nora/The Wolf in the movie. Better known from the steamy television series Red Shoe Diaries, her performance was really good and let me just say, she can play crazy like no other. Oh, and look for the director in here as well playing Serial Killer Bob. He's just as psychotic as she is! THE CHOSEN ONE: LEGEND OF THE RAVEN is another fine B-rated Troma classic that you have to see to believe! It's so bad it's good motto fits this movie like a glove, but it really is a decent little movie! And it's pretty hot and sexy as well! So go see this late 90's flick and have fun watching it! 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! Worth checking out!
THE CHOSEN ONE: LEGEND OF THE RAVEN is currently available on DVD at your local retailer. The film is also available at the Troma website. To purchase this film as well as books, posters and Blu-Rays and DVDs, visit www.troma.com.
Starring: Amanda Adrienne Smith, Rodney Rowland, Marc Anthony Samuel, Tom Ardavany, Brionne Davis, John Charles Meyer, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Kyle Morris Written by Michael S. Ojeda and Deon van Rooyen (additional diolague)
Cinematography by Michael S. Ojeda
Edited by Michael S. Ojeda
Directed by Michael S. Ojeda
Distributed by Uncork'd Entertainment
The landscape of the independent horror film world as seen some of the most interesting, unique, unconventional and original entries within the genre. Films like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, THE TOXIC AVENGER, RE-ANIMATOR, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT challenged society and the status quo with their frank depiction of violence, gore, sexuality and social commentary. These movies revolutionized the genre and in the process both shocked and terrified audiences. In this new century, we have seen a plethora of outstanding indie horror films that have both horrified and entertained fans and critics alike such as HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, FATHER'S DAY, STARRY EYES and WE ARE STILL HERE. Another fine example of this trend is the film AVENGED released by Uncork'd Entertainment.
The film's official synopsis: Traveling cross country, Zoe (Amanda Adrienne Smith), a deaf mute woman, is brutally savaged
and left for dead after trying to save a Native American youth from a
gang of rednecks. When a Native shaman finds her clinging to life in a
shallow grave he attempts to save her - but something goes horribly
wrong. The awoken spirit of a bloodthirsty Apache warrior takes
possession of Zoe's dead body. Now she walks amongst the living,
hell-bent on getting revenge. One by one she slaughters the men who
murdered her, while the clock ticks away on her quickly decomposing
body.
The movie perfectly blends the elements of several different genres to create a very entertaining and grotesque movie. Its ingredients come from horror and action films to the rape/revenge genre and exploitation, more specifically Redsploitation. Now if that last one doesn't sound familiar, let me explain what this term means. In the exploitation genre, there are several different subgenres. One of these is Redsploitation, where the main protagonist is a Native American who extracts revenge on those who wronged him or her, usually white oppressors. Films like BILLY JACK,SCALPS, and THE MANITOU are perfect examples of Redsploitation cinema.
Promotional Poster w/ Original Title (2013)
Writer/director Michael S. Ojeda pulls no punches and hides nothing from us. The movie is the work of a genius and, dare I say, the voice of an authentic auteur. The movie is absolutely his vision, crafted and carried out with such conviction and focus. With a bare minimum budget, Ojeda accomplishes more than his Hollywood counterparts with bigger budgets. The story is one we've seen before from films like I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE to THE CROW but he spins it around to the point of being refreshingly different and clever. His framing of compositions is wholly his own, borrowing from all those great directors who came before him but making his style and vision all his own. Without question a brand new voice to the horror film world has arrived.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't say somethings about the film's lead actress Amanda Adrienne Smith. The role requires a strong actress who can portray a deaf and mute woman who comes back from the dead to take her vengeance on those who violated her in such gruesome displays of retaliaton, let alone make it look so damn convincingly real. Not since Camille Keaton have I seen an actress go above and beyond in a role that commands respect, conviction and guts. Major applause goes to this extraordinarily talented young woman.
The film premiered at the Busan Film Festival in South Korea back in October 2013 under its original title SAVAGED. It went on to play at several other festivals such as the Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the Glasgow Fright Fest and the Fantasporto Film Festival before it was picked up for distribution by Uncork'd Entertainment. The film was then retitled when it was released on DVD in April of 2015.
AVENGED is a fantastically wicked, mind blowingly graphic, socially charged, down and dirty slice of exploitation horror cinema!! For all those who think they've seen it all, you haven't seen this one yet! This is movie will stay with you long after the credits have rolled! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
AVENGED is currently available on DVD at your local retailer or online at the Amazon website. It is also available on Video On Demand, digital download and Amazon Prime. To learn more about Uncork'd Entertainment, their films and upcoming releases, visit their website at www.uncorkedentertainment.com.
Writer/Director Kansas Bowling (Picture from IMDb)
For the past several months, I have had the pleasure of interviewing several of the actresses from the from the upcoming Troma Entertainment film B.C. BUTCHER. Today my series concludes with my interview with the co-writer and director of the film herself: Kansas Bowling. From living in Topanga Canyon to walking the red carpet at the Egyptian Theater, read all about this amazing young filmmaker's journey who became the first inductee into the Tromaville Institute for Gifted Youth and was recently listed as one of W magazine's 42 up-and-comers.
Phil Castor: Let me start off by saying congratulations with all the success your film B.C. BUTCHER has received. When you first made the picture, did you ever thought it would become this popular and garner all these rave reviews and fans?
Kansas Bowling: Thank you so much! I had no idea what would happen with this movie. It started off just something a friend and I wrote in high school and then I started making it with no plans for distribution or anything... I was just going to see what would happen. But I didn't think it would be as big as it has become. And if you would have told me back then that Lloyd Kaufman would attach himself as an executive producer I would have fainted!
PC: Back in March your film had it's big Hollywood premiere at the world famous Egyptian Theater. Describe seeing the movie on the big screen being played to a sold out crowd?
KB: It was so much fun. Well... watching it with that big crowd was kind of scary. Just because you want to make sure everyone is laughing at the funny parts and not falling asleep or anything. But I had the best time that night. I couldn't believe how many people came - it really blew me away.
PC: I understand that there was a Red Carpet Gala before the screening of the film. Tell me what was that experience like?
KB: So, so fun! This really wonderful organization Women Underground who promotes women in horror helped put the event on. And they made sure everything was professional and made it a legitimate thing. So many interesting people were there for the red carpet... Kathleen Hughes, who was the star of It Came From Outer Space; so many cool bands like Them Guns, The Fontaines, Kill My Coquette, and the Death Valley Girls; Priscilla Presley; and then after the film Count Smokula played accordion and Ron Jeremy played harmonica. We had girls dressed as cavewomen too. It was just so fun!
PC: So take us back to the beginning. What was your upbringing like? Where were you born and raised?
KB: I moved around a lot when I was a kid. I lived in the city at first and then Topanga Canyon. Topanga Canyon is in the Santa Monica mountains and it pretends to be this hippie community, but in reality it's so not. It's a strange world that I got out of, because I moved back into the city when I was 14. My childhood and especially my teen years (well, early teen years? I'm still a teen) focused solely on watching movies. I just watched so so so so many movies. And I knew that when I got out of school, things wouldn't be so dull. And I was right!
PC: What was school like for you? Did you excel in certain subjects that appealed to you?
KB: I hated school. The public schools in this country are such a joke. I had terrible teachers that were cruel and lazy and didn't give a damn about anything besides their paycheck. It was so miserable. I figured out some way to graduate early by taking extra classes on the side and somehow did my junior and senior year at the same time and graduated when I was 16.
PC: I read that you were a big fan of low budget, exploitation films and its directors like Doris Wishman, Russ Meyers, Roger Corman and John Waters. How were you introduced to these films and what do you like about them?
Molly Elizabeth Ring & Kansas Bowling. (Photo from Facebook)
KB: I was never really introduced to these films. But I always watched films as a kid that my parents would show me, but they were never that obscure. But movies became so important to me and once you obsess over any film, you go back and find their influences. And when I did things like that, it would spiral into new obsessions. I discovered a lot of it just on my own, reading about actors and directors and being curious about their work.
PC: It was during your high school years that the idea for B.C. BUTCHER came about. What was your inspiration for the film?
KB: We came up with the idea in a matter of seconds. I just brought up how we should make a movie and we could have cavewomen in it. And Kenzie said, "How about a cavewomen slasher film?" And then we began writing it!
PC: Now you and your friend Kenzie Givens co-wrote the script together correct? How did you two meet?
KB: Yes! We met in high school when she opened up her locker and she had a photo of Jack Nance on the inside and I came up behind her to tell her I loved Jack Nance, but I accidentally frightened her and she screamed. And then we made plans a couple days later to see Andrzej Zulawski's "Possession" at Cinefamily.
PC: What filmmaking experience did you have up until the making of the movie?
KB: None. Well, sort of. I made little movies with my sister and stuff growing up, but nothing ever professional.
PC: Explain to me the pre-production process of making B.C. BUTCHER? What were some of the difficulties you had to overcome?
KB: Well, raising the money was the hardest part. I bussed and waited tables at a Vietnamese restaurant for 8 months to raise enough money to make B.C. BUTCHER.
PC: What was the shooting schedule for the film like? What was it like working with all these talented actresses, actors and crew members?
KB: We shot over a period of nine days and the days usually lasted from 8 am - 8 pm. It was so great to work with everyone. I'm so happy I found such great people to work with. It could have been a total nightmare, but I got really lucky.
PC: One of the biggest distinctions is that you shot the movie on 16mm film? Why did you decide to shoot on film rather than using digital cameras?
KB: I am very particular with a lot of things... especially how things look. I wanted the film to have saturated colors like THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. And I just wanted the project to have integrity as well. And I feel that's much harder to accomplish when you're shooting digital, or "faux-film".
PC: After production wrapped, how long did it take to edit the film?
KB: A lot longer than it took to film. I had a really great editor, Robby DeFrain, and he was working on a project for Comedy Central at the time, so editing was kind of like a weekend project. He's really talented and helped a lot with comedic timing and we worked together putting in the funny sound effects and everything that made the film cartoonish.
PC: Tell me how did you meet Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma Entertainment? Were you a fan of Troma prior to having them distributing your film?
KB: I was a Troma fan since I was 12. When I was in high school I even sent Troma a script to read. When I finished shooting the movie, I sent Lloyd Kaufman an email, not even expecting a response, and I got a response the next day saying he was interested in the film and wanted to have a meeting with me! So I had a meeting with Lloyd and the rest is history!
PC: What's it been like meeting all your fans at conventions and at screenings? Did you ever imagine having such a huge fan base for you and your movie?
Parker Love & Kansas Bowling. (Photo from Facebook)
KB: It's so surreal! I love how people like my movie and it's so cool to talk to people about it. I was just at the Days of the Dead convention in Burbank signing autographs and it was just so weird how I had actual fans. I used to go to these things as a fangirl. Two years ago, I went to Monsterpalooza and bought an autograph from Camille Keaton. This year at Days of the Dead she asked for mine!
PC: What's next for you now? Do you have any new projects that you're currently working on?
KB: Yes! I'm doing a lot of music videos coming up for some really amazing bands. And I also have a script which will hopefully soon be in production. It's in the hands of some producers right now and I'm just waiting to see what will happen! It's all so exciting.
PC: What advice would you give to all aspiring and upcoming female talents who want to break into the film industry, especially those who wish to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the overpopulated male dominated Hollywood?
KB: Here is my advice: I know there are societal disadvantages, but whatever it is you want to do, just do it! It's so much more effective to create change by just going out and making a film as a woman than it is to sit and complain about how things are unfair.
At that ladies and gentlemen, wraps up my interview series with the cast and director from the film B.C. BUTCHER. At this time, I would like to thank all these talented, gifted and amazing women for taking time our from their very busy schedul to participate in this series. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say a big "Thank You" to Leilani Fideler, Natasha Halevi, Molly Elizabeth Ring, Devyn Leah, Parker Love Bowling and Miranda Robin for allowing me the honor and privilege of interviewing you all. Special thanks to Kansas Bowling for helping me get that chance to interview her cast. I wish you all the best of luck with all your future endeavors and I cannot wait to see where life takes you. Thank you all again for your time, you generosity, your kindness and also, thank you for your friendship! I hope to meet you all someday soon!
To learn more about Kansas Bowling, visit her website at kansas-bowling.com and be sure to check out her Instagram account. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.
