An experimental biological weapon is accidentally dropped into the water supply of a small city in Iowa. This deadly virus is code-named “Trixie,” and causes its’ victims to quickly become incurably insane and homicidal. The freshly infected townsfolk begin setting their homes and families on fire, interrupt softball games with rifles, and wander around randomly stabbing helpless people with pitchforks. The government quickly steps in to quarantine the town and cover up the mess that they created. The insanity of the situation is escalated when the soldiers begin shooting non-infected citizens who attempt to flee the town in cold blood.

Meanwhile, a small ragtag group of survivors including the town Sheriff (Timothy Olyphant) and his pregnant wife (Radha Mitchell) barely manage to escape into the now deserted outskirts of town. After killing a few soldiers and crazies along the way, the group makes their way out of town, but Trixie begins to infect them too. Why are all the good people dying?

Another year…another shitty remake. THE CRAZIES is the first in what I’m sure will be a long series of this year’s worthless horror remakes. And most disappointing of all is the fact that this remake had the most potential to be good. A remake of George A. Romero’s 1972 film The Crazies sounds like a good idea on paper. It’s a remake of a good film that was flawed. I am a big fan of Romero’s film, but I also think it clearly suffers from a low budget and bad acting. A big budget, modern remake of such a film could be a big winner, unlike a remake of a film that was already perfect (Psycho immediately comes to mind).

This remake of The Crazies from writers Scott Kosar & Ray Wright and director Breck Eisner takes the same basic story structure as Romero’s original story and adds a few new set pieces and a fiery ending. That’s about it for originality. Therefore, I had to keep comparing this one to the original while I was watching it. Romero’s film was fast paced and exciting from start to finish. This remake on the other hand has a slack pace, and a look and feel that reminded me of the Platinum Dunes remakes. This film also feels bogged down with numerous lengthy scenes of cat and mouse. I will give credit to the writers for not recycling any of the classic gags from Romero’s film, but in my opinion they didn’t add anything particularly new or exciting.

The biggest problem with this one is that it feels tame. It also comes off as a one-sided and uninteresting story. The original film had such delights as incest, delirious and murderous little old ladies, and incompetent soldiers and angry scientists feverishly trying to control the situation. This remake on the other hand leaves most of the real craziness out. There’s no sex in this one, and no real dementia either. The entire film is now told from the viewpoint of the hero. There’s no time spent with the Army at all. This is a crucial flaw that makes the villains less interesting. The removal of the scientists from the story in favor of hopelessly cheesy computer graphics is another head scratcher.

On the positive side of things, I thought the cast and the acting were all acceptable. No one really stands out in a good or a bad way. The film has a fair amount of bloody violence, and there were a few jump scares that had the small audience that I was in gasping. The classic arson deaths from the original film are recreated here and are done well. There were also some cool moments inside a funeral home. The highlight of the film for me was the brief appearance of LYNN LOWRY in a cameo role as a crazy chick on a bicycle. (check out my tribute to Lynn Lowry here) She looked great in the five seconds she’s on camera, and it’s too bad she didn’t get more screen time. Her appearance in the film should technically make it Brain Hammer approved, but the fact that it’s a lame fucking remake negates this.

I’ve seen a lot worse, but I’ve also seen a lot better. This is ultimately a very forgettable film. That said, it’s still reasonably well made for what it is, and people who just want to shut their brains off and enjoy watching some crazy people get shot might enjoy it. Any comparisons to the original film make this remake look pathetic though, which is sad because the original was not exactly a masterpiece. THE CRAZIES (2010) is NOT Brain Hammer approved and should be avoided by all except for the hardcore Lynn Lowry fanatics such as myself that will buy the dvd for freeze frame purposes!

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

HALLOWEEN II (2009; unrated director’s cut): Sony Pictures

Rob Zombie’s H2 picks up at the exact moment that 2007’s box-office smash, Halloween stopped and follows the aftermath of Michael Myers’s (Tyler Mane) murderous rampage through the eyes of heroine Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor Compton). Evil has a new destiny. Michael Myers is back in this terrifying sequel to Rob Zombie’s visionary re-imagining of Halloween. It is that time of year again, and Michael Myers has returned home to sleepy Haddonfield, Illinois to take care of some unfinished family business. Unleashing a trail of terror that only horror master Zombie can, Myers will stop at nothing to bring closure to the secrets of his twisted past. But the town’s got an unlikely new hero, if they can only stay alive long enough to stop the unstoppable.

Special Features:

• Commentary with Writer/Director Rob Zombie
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes
• Blooper Reel
• Audition Footage
• Make-Up Test Footage
• Uncle Seymour Coffins’ Stand-Up Routines
• Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures Music Videos

You can check out my review of HALLOWEEN II here.

HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW (1983; new special edition): Liberation Entertainment

A cult classic slasher film that delivers suspense, murder, mysteryand yes topless co-eds in this high quality transfer from a recently discovered pristine 35mm print. Flirtatious young sorority sisters who are days away from graduation set out to throw one last decadent celebration. Unbeknownst to them, the strict matron of their house hides a horrendous secret thought long buried. A gruesome accident is witnessed by a hideous fiend, hidden within the once nurturing dwelling, which triggers a rampage of death and destruction. Before the end, the peril faced by this sisterhood will push them to the brink of annihilation. And rivers of blood will drown all who enter The House on Sorority Row.

Bonus content for this brand new special edition release includes the trailer, photo gallery, commentary by writer/director Mark Rosman and stars Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeil, storyboard comparisons, and an alternate ending stills presentation.

Check out my review of HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW here.

THE RIVERMAN (2004): North American Motion Pictures

THE RIVERMAN is a film based on real life events that were recounted in the best selling book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer, co-written by Robert Keppel. Keppel is a former criminal investigator who worked both the Bundy and Green River Killer cases. The film takes place in 1982 and highlights a frustrated young detective named Dave Reichert who draws the unfortunate assignment of working Seattle’s Green River murder case. Reichert turns to retired Keppel for help, and Keppel hesitatingly agrees. Things get interesting when Keppel receives a letter from non other than Ted Bundy himself, offering to help out with the investigation. Keppel then begins a series of taped interviews with Bundy that eventually lead to Bundy’s breakdown and confession to eight previously unsolved murders.

You can check out my review of THE RIVERMAN here.

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

Gory greetings horroryearbook alumni! This latest edition of Brain Hammer’s PICKS FROM THE CRYPT is the second installment of my two-part tribute to the late, great Hollywood leading man Christopher George. Hardcore horror fans should immediately recognize Christopher George from the number of legendary horror and exploitation flicks that he appeared in from the late 70’s right up until his untimely death from a heart attack in 1983.

In honor of the one & only Christopher George…LET THE BLOODSHED BEGIN!!!

GRADUATION DAY (1981)

imdb.com/title/tt0082467

A gifted high school track star named Paula drops dead after an especially grueling 30 second 100 meter dash. Her overbearing coach George Michaels (Christopher George!) assumes most of the blame for pushing the girl too hard and is eventually fired. Paula’s tragic accidental death inspires a psychopath to go on a killing rampage. A lunatic in a fencing outfit hacks their way through the remaining Midvalle High track team members and makes them run for their lives. Armed with a stopwatch, the killer always times the brutal murders and tries to kill in 30 seconds or less.

The less than prime suspects include the crabby coach, the switchblade wielding high school principal, Blondie – the principal’s secretary who is up to her garter belt in work, Virgil Frye (Revenge Of The Ninja) as the dimwitted and disgruntled campus security officer, the disgusting yet inexplicably popular horny old music teacher who suffers a little blackmail from the eternally topless and destined to be slaughtered Linnea Quigley, and Paula’s butch older sister Laura (Patch Mackenzie) – who has just returned home from the Marines for Paula’s funeral. Laura will be receiving Paula’s diploma at the upcoming Graduation Day ceremonies, if the quickly diminishing study body lasts that long. Graduating from high school has never been so deadly!

The co-writer and director Herb Freed was convinced that the secret to a successful slasher flick somehow related to the timing of the murder sequences. He thought that it had something to do with how quickly the lethal events took place, or how much time elapsed between the murder scenes. Interesting theory. But I have to question the overwhelming amount of ANNOYING MUSIC that was contained in Herb’s equation for success. GRADUATION DAY opens with a lengthy opening montage of young athletes in action that reeks of stale disco cheese. Then there’s a down home good ol’ whiteboy soul jam called “Graduation Day Blues” highlighted by the harmonica playing skills of the boyfriend of the dead girl. It hurts, but not nearly as bad as the unholy seven and half minutes dedicated to the band “Felony” and their wretched turd of a song called “Gangster Rock!” Despite the fact that this flick came out in 1981, Felony is painted up like KISS and have a particularly horrid disco-rock hybrid sound. The singer of the band is fucking terrible, and listening to seven monotonous minutes of the same verse and chorus is sheer torture. The music is far more brutal than the gore in this one.

Not to say that the killings are weak in GRADUATION DAY. It delivers the goods when it comes to creative deaths. I love the football and pole vault impalements. There are also multiple beheadings, skewerings, and stabbings to enjoy. The shoddy gore effects are somewhat laughable, but there’s no shortage of blood. The acting is hit or miss but not nearly as bad as you might expect. Patch Mackenzie does a good job with a rather limited role and I love Christopher George as the asshole coach. Any flick with Christopher George is Brain Hammer approved. Christopher was even nice enough to get his sexy young niece Vanna White a small role in the film. The killer turns in a great performance too. I can’t say much more to avoid spoilers, but the final scene when the killer’s identity and motivations are revealed is excellent, as is the extended fight the killer has with the ass kicking heroine.

GRADUATION DAY came out during the peak of the slasher genre and managed to carve up some decent box office with nearly $24 million! It has gone on to become something of a cult classic, and a favorite of 80’s slasher enthusiasts. Troma released a very nice dvd of GRADUATION DAY that includes a short interview with Linnea Quigley and a slew of the usual nonsense you have come to love and expect from a Troma dvd release including multiple trailers for other Troma films and an annoying intro from Lloyd Kaufman.

Do you have the GUTS to watch some Graduation Day death scenes?!?

ENTER THE NINJA (1981)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0082332

ENTER THE NINJA features international superstar Franco Nero as “Cole,” an American soldier who trains in Japan to become a ninja after his tour of duty is finished. After successfully completing his ninja training Cole travels to the Phillippeans to visit an old army buddy of his – Frank Landers, and his lovely wife Mary Ann. After arriving at the Landers’ plantation Cole is shocked to find his once proud and vibrant friend to be a mere shell of his former self.

Frank is now losing a battle with the bottle and is also battling a ruthless land developer named Mr.Venarius (Christopher George!) who is determined to purchase the plantation. Frank is reduced to a drunken, frequently napping leader of a cockfighting ring (genuine cockfighting footage is used throughout, sure to delight animal lovers) and in desperation asked his old pal Cole to visit, hoping he could help even the odds against Venarius.

At first Cole and Frank have a few laughs fighting off the multitude of thugs hired by Venarius in an effort to strong arm into Frank into selling his land. But all is not well in the Landers household as Frank is still neglecting his hot piece of ass wife in favor of heavy boozing. In frustration she turns to Cole and he obligingly offers her a ninja mustache ride! Just as the tension in the house is about to reach its breaking point the shit really hits the fan when Venarius finally wises up and hires a ninja of his own to deal with the Landers and Cole.

Sho Kusugi makes his memorable debut as the black ninja, this time going by the character name Hasegawa. The evil Hasegawa has a blast setting the plantation on fire and randomly kicking workers in the face as the run around screaming. (GREAT SCENE!) He then snuffs Frank and takes Mary Ann hostage. This sets up the final showdown between the white and black ninjas. Hasegawa and Cole are enemies with a rivalry that goes back to their ninja training in Japan. With the blood of his best friend on his hands, Cole agrees to a final battle to the death with Hasegawa.

This flick marked Sho Kusugi’s debut in a big budget, internationally released action film. Sho also choreographed the numerous ninja fight scenes which are quite impressive. This typically cheesy Golan Globus production was written by Sharon Stone’s brother – martial arts expert Mike Stone, and was directed by none other than the infamous Menahem Golan himself. More than a few people have poked fun at Franco Nero for his performance in this flick but I think he plays the part very convincingly. His charisma is undeniable and he looks great in his fight scenes. Franco had no martial arts training, so the part of the white ninja was actually played by writer Mike Stone, who did a phenomenal job.

My favorite part of this flick is the appearance of legendary actor Will Hare as Franco’s wisecracking comic relief sidekick “Dollars.” Horror fans should remember Will for his incredible performance as the deranged Grandpa in Silent Night Deadly Night who warns little Billy about the dangers of Santy Claus. Will is excellent here too, stealing every scene he is in with his non stop chatter and constant attempts to sell everyone around him porn. Only the coolest ninjas have porno peddling street hustlers as sidekicks!

Fans of the late great Christopher George will love his over the top performance as the scenery chewing Mr.Venarius. Old Chris was on a fucking tear in the early Eighties appearing in one classic genre flick after another. Chris had just finished Graduation Day before working on this film and went on to star in Pieces the following year! His incredible death scene in ENTER THE NINJA is the stuff of legend and frequently turns up in highlight reels of “the worst scenes ever.” Judge for yourself:

Despite being a fairly inept production ENTER THE NINJA became an instant success and helped kick start the “ninja craze” of the early Eighties. Numerous imitations rushed into production as well, and Golan Globus would release a far superior follow up film – Revenge Of The Ninja, just a few years later. ENTER THE NINJA is one of the most unintentionally hilarious flicks I’ve ever seen. It’s full of hideous dubbing, jaw droppingly bad performances, and lots of failed attempts at cornball humor. This one is impossible to take seriously, but it never fails to entertain. From start to finish this flick is action packed and a lot of fun. I don’t want to ruin the end moment, but it’s a real pisser. WINK!

Sadly there’s been no proper dvd release as of yet. The UK dvd releases are all cut by about 4-5 minutes and this flick has never been released on dvd in the States. I cherish my dvd-r copy of the old school MGM/UA vhs which is 100% uncut with all the glorious neck snapping and cockfighting intact. I demand a special edition two-disc dvd of ENTER THE NINJA with a Franco Nero commentary track and an extensive behind the scenes documentary!

PIECES (1982)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0082748

Boston 1942. A blossoming young pervert named Timmy Reston sits alone in his bedroom putting together a jigsaw puzzle featuring a nude pin up girl. His emotionally unstable mother walks in and catches him red handed. Infuriated, she asks him where the filth came from and slaps around the little brat while demanding answers. She warns the boy that he will end up like his father and proceeds to slam a picture of the man into a mirror. This violent act appears to have a profound effect on the boy. Mrs. Reston sends her son off in search of a plastic bag so she can junk all of his toys. Timmy returns with an axe instead and repeatedly slams it into mommy’s skull! Then the pint sized psychopath removes mommy’s head with a saw! After shutting his mother up for good Timmy goes back to work on his blood splattered puzzle.

A friend of the family becomes concerned when she can’t reach Mrs. Reston and shows up with police. When the cops break in they discover a gruesome sight in the bedroom – enough blood on the floor to ensure that something had been butchered. Then they find Mrs. Reston’s severed head in a closet. Little Timmy is found cowering in another closet, covered in blood and whimpering about a big man that hurt his mommy. We are told that Mr. Reston is overseas in the Air Force and that the murderous little bastard Timmy will be sent to live with an Aunt who lives nearby.

After the opening credits we flash forward forty years to find an unseen killer (who is obviously Timmy Reston all grown up) on the prowl at a large New England university. A bizarre skateboarding accident involving a large pane of glass reminds the madman of his mother smashing the mirror with his father’s picture forty years before and inspires him to go on a brutal killing spree. The unseen slasher stalks after the sexy young students so he can remove their limbs with a chainsaw and use the pieces to create a human version of his prized pin up puzzle! His first victim is a tasty young co-ed that he decapitates with a chainsaw in broad daylight.

Hard boiled police detectives Lt. Bracken (Christopher George of GRIZZLY & ENTER THE NINJA fame!) and Sgt. Holden (Leslie Nielson lookalike Frank Bana, who also appeared in RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD) are sent in to investigate the murder. They start with the Dean, who seems more concerned about bad publicity than the murder itself. The Dean (Edmund DON’T OPEN TIL CHRISTMAS Purdom) turns the detectives on to the head of the anatomy department and closet campus queen – Professor Brown. (Jack Taylor, who appeared in numerous Spanish horror epics including GHOST GALLEON & NIGHT OF THE SORCERORS) Professor Brown seems to think it might be one of the boys, but Sgt. Holden assures him that at this point the investigation consists of buying clothes without labels and trying them on for size.

Shortly afterwards we are introduced to the campus stud Kendall James. (Ian Sera, who also appeared in POD PEOPLE) A blonde hardbody sends Kendall an invitation to fuck in the campus swimming pool later. Kendall accepts the invitation of course, but the killer beats him to the pool room and proceeds to net the girl like a large fish and then shear away her limbs with his trusty saw. This time the madman takes the girls’ torso as a souvenir. The temperamental and sneering campus gardener WillArd (unforgettably portrayed by Paul BLUTO Smith!) stumbles upon the bloody crime scene and has a wild run in with the cops that ends with Sgt. Holden threatening to BLOW his brains out!

The detectives question Kendall and his nerdy best friend Goggles and wind up believing that Kendall had nothing to do with the murder. Lt. Brown even decides to turn to Kendall for help with the investigation. He also arranges for an undercover police officer named Mary Riggs (played by Christopher George’s wife – Lynda Day George, who also starred in MORTUARY and DAY OF THE ANIMALS) to join the campus faculty as the new female tennis coach.

Meanwhile, the killer decides he needs a pair of arms and decides to relieve a pretty young dance major of hers inside an elevator. Kendall hears her screams of torment and barks out orders to the police officers on the scene. The sight of the limbless girl in the elevator is enough to make a seasoned police officer puke his guts up, but Kendall immediately seizes control of the situation and tells the guy to go call an ambulance! The girl initially survives the attack but dies in the hospital from the massive shock and loss of blood before she can identify the killer. Mary searches for clues and stumbles upon the fucking Kung Fu Professor (Bruce Li!) who attacks her because of something he ate. Bad chop suey maybe.

The mad butcher then sets his sights on the legs of Susie Billings, a sexy young tennis player. The ever resourceful killer sabotages the campus P.A. System so it continuously plays canned intermission music. This makes a perfect cover up for the sound of his chainsaw. While Mary, Kendall, and WillArd are fumbling around with the music the lousy bastard kills her. It’s all enough to make Mary unleash a devastating display of sheer frustration! BASTARD!

Lt. Brown turns to Kendall yet again for help and sends him to the record vault with Sgt. Holden to pour over files looking for any reference to the campus staff. Mary goes to a suspects house for an evening for a cup of coffee and a few questions and winds up getting a lot closer to the killer than she bargained for. Just as Mary is drugged and her lovely feet are about to become the final addition to the murderer’s supreme creation, Kendall unearths a clue that reveals the killer’s true identity. Kendall and the cops have to race to stop the killer before he can finish his human jigsaw puzzle. This all culminates with an unbelievable mind blowing genital crushing grand finale that must be seen to be believed!

I have seen this flick more times over the years than I could possibly count. I make everyone I know watch this movie. Whenever I talk to people about horror flicks I always have to mention PIECES. This flick is absolutely hilarious, and manages to get a little funnier every time I watch it. It plays out like a really gory and outrageous version of an Italian Giallo. The unseen, black gloved killer is pure Dario Argento. The soundtrack from Carlo Maria Cordio (aka CAM) is atmospheric and excellent, even if it borrows heavily from Goblin’s score for ZOMBI. PIECES was written by the terrible trio of director Juan Piquer Simon, producer Dick Randall (SLAUGHTER HIGH), and the infamous Joe D’Amato. (ANTROPOPHAGUS) No wonder this slasher flick is so full of brutal violence and perverse sexual overtones. There’s some tasty nudity to enjoy and even a little something for the ladies when Simon slips in a full frontal shot of Ian Sera. IT STINKS!

There’s more sidesplitting dialog in this howler than any other I can think of. From the cross eyed girl with the HUGE tits that dreamily coos how the most beautiful thing in the world is smoking pot and fucking on a waterbed at the same time, to WillArd saying he ain’t getting’ paid by the hour to Christopher George telling his partner to take some uppers, anything, just get me a lead! The dubbing and dialog definitely make this work an unintentional comedy.

PIECES also works as a slasher flick. Big time. The graphic violence is very nasty and convincing. In the gruesome scene where the killer chainsaws into the abdomen of a girl in the shower a real pig carcass was used which makes the scene very effectively disgusting. From start to finish this flick takes no prisoners. This gory little gem definitely lives up to its’ immortal tag line: You don’t have to go to Texas to have a chainsaw massacre!

Several “budget” dvd companies have released PIECES. The fine folks at Grindhouse Releasing released an amazing 2-disc special edition dvd release, which is a must-have for hardcore fans of the film. Either way, PIECES can easily be found for cheap – so there is no excuse for not owning this 80’s splatterpiece. This is a fucking must see!

MORTUARY (1983)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087746

Good looking Mary Beth McDonough (best known to old farts as Erin from The Waltons) stars as a dimwitted teenage girl named Christie who mourns the mysterious death of her father by wondering around at night in her skimpy nightgown. It appears that ever since her Daddy got a bonk on the noggin from an unseen assailant and drowned in the backyard pool that Christie has become a chronic sleepwalker. Christie on the other hand is convinced that her mother (Lynda Day George) is trying to drive her insane. Things get even more complicated for the already terminally confused Christie when a lunatic in a black death shroud begins stalking after her with a knife.

In desperation, Christie turns to her doofus boyfriend Greg (who also starred in Humongous) for help. The wacky kids laugh in the face of death and crank up some disco, which causes Christie to exclaim “Hey Boogyman – Let’s Boogie!” Greg keeps himself busy after school stealing tires from a warehouse, stumbling upon a séance being led by non other than Christopher George, and looking for his missing (dead) best friend. The search ends at the roller disco. Need I say more? Needless to say, hilarity and roller-padding ensue. Watch out for the token comic relief fat guy.

Christopher George plays an angry asshole mortician and funeral home owner named Hank Andrews. Hank also owns the warehouse that Greg and his buddy like to steal tires from, and heads up a coven of witches that apparently includes Christie’s mom. Hank’s son Paul (a fresh faced and already completely insane Bill Paxton!) is a fruity little weirdo who also happens to have a big crush on Christie. Greg thinks Paul is a creep, but Christie has a soft spot for the harmless loser who prances and skips with delight after talking to her. Christie and Greg try to find out what her mother and Hank are really up to, and as the title might have already clued you in – it all ends with a deadly confrontation inside a mortuary…where NO ONE rests in peace!

Christopher George AND Bill Paxton in the same movie?!? Playing a psycho father and son duo no less? This is Brain Hammer approved in a BIG way! Christopher turns in another great, angry and irritable performance. One of the many highlights of the film is Christopher snarling “Get out of here before I embalm you!” at his blonde pretty boy co-star. Speaking of co-stars, Bill Paxton completely steals the show here. His performance is…unique, to say the least. This film is perhaps best known for the short yet sweet moment where Bill shows off his new classical music record and then SKIPS through a graveyard on a quest to put some flowers on his mommy’s grave. It’s such a bizarre little moment in slasher history.

That’s about the only slasher history MORTUARY makes. The rest of the film is somewhat predictable and is hampered by a thin body count. There’s also a bit too much disco in this one for my tastes. Flicks like MORTUARY and PROM NIGHT were probably cutting edge at the time for featuring hot and happening sounds, but now they come off as painfully dated. The “who done it” aspect of the film isn’t exactly riveting either. The cast consists of about six people, and one of them is clearly insane. But somehow I doubt anyone would watch this one for the mystery. Perverts will be happy to know that Mary Beth McDonough gets naked in this movie and has a fuck scene on a bear skin rug. This is a must see flick if you ever had fantasies about plowing Erin Walton’s bean field.

Oddly enough, the trailer and cover art for MORTUARY are a bit more interesting than the film itself. The trailer for the film included no footage at all from the movie, and instead featured Michael Berryman of The Hills Have Eyes legend as a creepy looking gravedigger who gets pulled into a fresh grave by undead hands. The madness was accompanied by one of the all time great ominous voice over narrations:

“Before your funeral…Before you are buried…before you are covered with the last shovelful of dirt…Be sure you are REALLY dead!”

Sadly, MORTUARY has never had a dvd release in the states. The title is now permanently confused with the unrelated Tobe Hooper film of the same name which sucked. A while ago there was a dvd release of MUTANT that included the trailer for MORTUARY. This gave me hope that the film would finally get a dvd release, but it never happened. Someone should really put a out a special edition dvd of this one. It would make a fitting tribute to the last film that Christopher George completed before his untimely death. Get Bill Paxton to do the commentary track and you’ve got a winner!

Check out the classic trailer for MORTUARY!

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

This time around I was contacted directly by my old chum Sonny Fernandez. Sonny is the hardworking mastermind behind Down Twisted Studios. He currently holds the record for being the director whose films I have reviewed the most. I’ve already reviewed five of his past efforts in previous ICFTMB columns. You can check out those reviews here: Bleed, Aborted/Cold Blooded, The Last Battleground.

Sonny’s latest effort is a vampire chick flick titled THE NEW GIRLS. The vampire chicks are a tasty yet terrifying trio of gothic eye candy with appropriately exotic names – Svetlana, Lenore, and Renai. The film opens with a late night bloodbath that quickly establishes the girls as a deadly force to be reckoned with. The seemingly beautiful young girls are in reality centuries old bloodthirsty vampires that are on the run from their homelands in Europe. The vamps vacation in a hick town in the middle of Nowheresville USA and quickly begin draining the life away from the local yokels. The leader of the pack, Svetlana has visions of gutters being cleaned with blood and vows raining death upon the humans.

The new girls immediately catch the eye of a pack of body count fodder that are planning a weekend beer bash blowout. A dude makes the mistake of inviting the new girls to the party and a deadly chain of events is set into motion. The sexy girls immediately make a big splash at the party. A drunken idiot goes up to Svetlana and offers to suck a fart out of her ass like a bong hit. Svetlana responds by inviting him into the bathroom and then ripping his jugular out with her teeth. Meanwhile, love is in the air. The sensitive vampire chick Renai discovers feelings she never knew before when she meets a tubby emo boy at the party and walks home with him. These two losers immediately fall in love, which does not make Svetlana happy.

I have to admit, I’m not much of a vampire fan. Fuck, I could probably get kicked off of this website for saying this – but I don’t even like Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The current trend of vampire loving goth girls with copies of Twilight tucked under their flabby arms leaves me scratching my head. Vampires and vampire flicks are gay. The only exceptions are the original Salem’s Lot and anything with sexy vampire girls. Sonny was smart enough to make a vampire flick with some Salem’s Lot influence and he got three hot chicks to star in it. This was a good call. The girls helped me pay attention and the movie had enough action to keep me interested.

The only downside of the movie as far as I’m concerned is the love story. Now matter how much dramatic music Sonny blasts in the background, the scenes with the vampire girl and her wimpy love interest are time wasters. There is no real emotional connection between the two. It all happens way too fast, and the two actors have no chemistry together. The love story feels forced, and is the only part of the movie that I could do without. The rest of the film is great. It seems to occasionally poke fun of the current vampire genre. For real horror fans, there’s plenty of blood sucking, heart ripping, and gut grabbing.

On the technical side of things, I think Sonny is getting better with every film he makes. Considering how little money he has to work with the final results are pretty impressive. The special effects in this one are mostly blood gags and they look convincing. There’s some hilarious looking monster bats that make a brief appearance. Unlike some of Sonny’s other flicks, the monsters and mayhem are kept to a minimum. This is more of a “traditional” horror film than Sonny usually makes, but it also moves a lot faster than Sonny’s other flicks and is easier to follow. I think his earlier films have a bit more “soul” than this one, but THE NEW GIRLS is probably Sonny’s best overall effort. The improvement from film to film is amazing, I’m really looking forward to seeing more DOWN TWISTED epics!

Sonny was nice along to send along a two-disc (!) screener copy of THE NEW GIRLS. The bonus disc contained a lot of funny bloopers, behind the scenes special effects footage, and trailers. I think Sonny’s flicks keep getting better and better. All horroryearbook alumni are highly encouraged to support the man and check out his flicks! You can keep up with the latest Sonny Fernandez happenings at his official myspace page.

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

Howdy horroryearbook alumni! Welcome to another rootin’ tootin’ edition of IT CAME FROM THE MAILBOX, a column where your old pal Brain Hammer reviews whatever random cowpies the city folk at horroryearbook decide to throw my way.

Y’all best put on your shitkickers! It’s time to take a twisted trip back to old west with Lee Vervoort’s GUN TOWN. The town in question is a backwoods tourist attraction that promises travelers a taste of the wild west. Back in 1979, an unfortunate accident involving alcohol causes the proprietor and sheriff of Gun Town – Frank Bailey, to snap and kill one of the tourists. Frank is later declared insane and serves 30 years in a mental institution. Things go from bad to worse for Frank when a fire breaks out at the asylum and leaves his face and body horribly burned.

After being released, Frank returns to Gun Town sporting a Michael Meyers mask and is more than a little pissed off at the world. This is bad news for a pack of random idiots on vacation who stumble into Gun Town while looking for a missing friend. At first the kids think the town and the weird rednecks that inhabit it are harmless fun. They find out the hard way that sheriff Frank is not playing around, and that his pistol is loaded with live rounds – not blanks.

The sheriff blasts a few of the kids and then stalks after the rest. The ladies receive special treatment from the sheriff with his patent plastic wrap strangulation. One of Frank’s kinfolk kidnaps the token comic relief nerd and locks him up in a pen for moonlight sodomy. Those who attempt to run away are shot in the back by Frank or waylayed by the rest of the blood crazy Baileys. This leaves a young girl alone with two choices…DRAW OR DIE!

GUN TOWN is the directorial debut from Lee Vervoort, who also wrote the film and stars in it. For a first time director at the helm of a very low budget horror film, I think he did a very good job. The film has decent production value, tight editing, effective scoring, and a good looking cast. The best thing I can say about the cast really is that they are good looking. None of them are great actors, but that’s not something fans of homemade horror flicks will have a problem with. None of them were bad enough to completely ruin the movie, although the comic relief nerd tries his hardest.

Lee plays the role of the masked sheriff and does a fantastic job. The mask is creepy looking, and Lee’s body movements and contortions occasionally give the blank face of the mask some emotion. The character is really far out there. A silent killer who plays dress up as a sheriff, has a wife and various annoying children, and has a fetish for suffocating women with plastic wrap. I have to admit, I didn’t really get that part of the movie. The killer repeatedly kills women with plastic wrap. I thought a noose would have been more appropriate for the old west theme.

That leads me to my biggest complaint about GUN TOWN. There’s not enough fucking GUNS in it! With a title like GUN TOWN I was expecting to see a couple dozen kids get their heads blown off. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. The body count is fairly meager, and only a couple people get shot. The effects are hit & miss. There were a couple ridiculous looking fake limbs that should have been left on the shelf at Spencer’s Gifts, not brought to the set. My only other complaint about the film was that the young characters were all annoying imbeciles and that the opening stretch of the film was boring.

That said, the film is still worth a watch. The minute the kids get to Gun Town things get interesting. Right away the music changes and takes a sinister tone. Little details like that go a long way. The combination of a western themed tourist trap and a masked slasher is unique, and I have to give Lee credit for doing something original instead of rehashing the same old slasher storylines. The Bailey family is a cool creation. You can see the familiarity with the Sawyer and Firefly clans. Hell, someone should really give Lee some more money and let him do a couple sequels! I’d like to see the concept taken further with a bigger cast, and more importantly…a bigger body count!

GUN TOWN is currently available on dvd from L.A.V. Pictures. You can check out the official website – www.guntownthemovie.com for more info. Brain Hammer approved!

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

Gory greetings! Welcome to another exciting edition of IT CAME FROM THE MAILBOX, a column where your old pal Brain Hammer reviews whatever random crap the good folks at horroryearbook decide to throw my way.

THE RIVERMAN is a film based on real life events that were recounted in the best selling book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer, co-written by Robert Keppel. Keppel is a former criminal investigator who worked both the Bundy and Green River Killer cases. The film takes place in 1982 and highlights a frustrated young detective named Dave Reichert who draws the unfortunate assignment of working Seattle’s Green River murder case. Reichert turns to retired Keppel for help, and Keppel hesitatingly agrees. Things get interesting when Keppel receives a letter from non other than Ted Bundy himself, offering to help out with the investigation. Keppel then begins a series of taped interviews with Bundy that eventually lead to Bundy’s breakdown and confession to eight previously unsolved murders.

The premise might sound familiar, because this real life story was the inspiration for The Silence Of The Lambs. The idea of a cop going to a serial killer for help with an investigation is now shopworn, but The Riverman has the advantage of being based on a true story. Tom Towler’s script, which is based on Robert Keppel’s book, is also exceptionally well written. The epic monologues that Cary Elwes delivers about murder and the way the Riverman feels when stalking his prey are chilling. I have listened to this movie several times while it plays in the background as I write this review, and the exchanges between Bruce Greenwood & Cary Elwes at the end of the film are powerful and gripping without even looking at the screen.

Serial killer bio-pics are very hit & miss. For every good one (Ed Gein) you stumble upon there’s a dozen more that are completely worthless. (Too many to mention) The Riverman ranks as one of the very best that I’ve seen. Interestingly enough, this film was made for television back in 2004 and is only now seeing a dvd release. That had me thinking this would be a lame melodramatic “docudrama,” but I’m happy to report that The Riverman is actually a very good serial killer film.

This is hands down the best film about Ted Bundy ever made. The casting and costumes are perfect. Cary Elwes absolutely inhabits the role and makes it real. He plays Bundy to creepy perfection. I love the little details, such as Bundy’s dirty feet in his prison cell, and the fact you see him beating off while looking at a true Crime magazine. Elwes plays the part with the perfect amount of menace and mincing. He’s loathsome and pathetic, which is the way he should be portrayed. Elwes has a great chemistry with his co-star Bruce Greenwood. The climatic final scene where Keppel walks Bundy through the details of one of his murders is riveting.

The only minor complaint I have about the film are the scenes spent with Robert Keppel’s family. For some reason the families of cops in these movies are always wretchedly annoying, and this film is no exception. The scenes with Keppel and his overly-dramatic wife who says her job is “to protect this family” and complains of her husband “coming to bed with his hands full of DEATH” are real eye-rollers. The actress who plays the wife has the rancid stank of soap operas all over her. The rest of the supporting cast isn’t that hot either, but the movie really revolves around the solid performances of Elwes and Greenwood so it doesn’t matter.

The other star of the show is Dave Brown in the pivotal role of the Green River Killer himself, Gary Ridgeway. Ridgeway is only briefly featured in the film, but the scenes where he appears are some of the very best. Brown does a fantastic job portraying Ridgeway and perfectly mimmicks his odd voice and speaking patterns. It’s actually a bit of a waste that Dave Brown doesn’t get more screen time. I would love to see him play the role of Ridgeway in a full length film. The film ends with a disturbing little diatribe from Brown as Gary Ridgeway, which is appropriate because like Ted Bundy says earlier in the film “These are complex people. People who have things to teach us about life, about ourselves.”

The Riverman will be released on dvd January 12, 2010. Brain Hammer approved and highly recommended for the serial killer/true crime enthusiasts.

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

When most people think about Christmas and Christmas movies, great films like Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Story probably come to mind, but for most horror fans films like Silent Night, Deadly Night, the original Black Christmas and of course Christmas Evil are required Holiday viewing material.

It has been 30 years since Lewis Jackson wrote and directed Christmas Evil, and our own Brain Hammer chatted with him through E-mail, to find out what it was like creating the Christmas cult phenomenon.

Horror Yearbook: What was your inspiration for writing and creating Christmas Evil?

Lewis Jackson: It was Christmas Eve 1970 and I smoked a joint. I saw an image of a Santa Claus with a knife in his hands. Ten years later, I figured out how to make the script work.

HYB: How did the chance to direct your debut film come about?

LJ: Because I came up with a great idea of how to make a soft-core comedy.

HYB: Christmas Evil is widely regarded as one of the very best “Christmas Horror Films.” Was that your intent when making the film – a pure horror film, or were you going for something more psychological and character driven?

LJ: I was trying to make a black comedy and truthfully, if you are not trying to make the best movie you possibly can make, then you are a hack – which is basically 95% of the people in Hollywood.

HYB: Were/Are you a fan of the horror genre? Where do think Christmas Evil belongs in horror history, especially when compared to other X-mas horrors.

LJ: There are no other great horror Xmas movies and I believe I am in a genre with Fritz Lang and Alfred Hitchcock.

HYB: The film is also known as You Better Watch Out & Terror In Toyland. Do you have a preferred title?

LJ: I originally called the film You Better Watch Out, some asshole who bootlegged the film changed the title card over and over and over again – and only because I had an original print, did Synapse allow me to use the original title because I had the original print.

HYB: It’s impossible for me to imagine anyone other than Brandon Maggart in the lead role of Harry Stadling. Was the part written for him specifically or did you discover him through casting?

LJ: I discovered him thru casting. Originally I cast George Dzundza who played the bartender in Deerslayer. We started working and he said to me that we needed to rewrite the script and I realized he wanted me to write him “Marty”. It was a disaster. Somebody found me a great NY casting director who sent me a whole new group of actors. They all came in, they all did videotape auditions. Brandon’s audition turned out to be Brandon’s performance and that was quite a revelation.

HYB: The film has a number of violent scenes. Did you find the filming of the sequences to be difficult or more time consuming?

LJ: The answer is both. Filming violence is not pleasant, but it has to be precise.

HYB: One of the film’s most outspoken fans is John Waters. He mentioned the film at length in one of his books and even participated in a commentary track for the Synapse dvd release. When did you first become aware that you had such a famous fan? What are your thoughts on John and his love of your film?

LJ: 1983 someone told me that John had written about it in Rolling Stone, but I had never seen the article. After the book came out, someone called me and said “have you seen the book?” I hadn’t. When I did, I was overwhelmed basically because I had been treated like a crazy person for making this movie. I didn’t meet John for 20 more years, but then he started to do art shows and invited me to be a part of the film showings accompanying the art shows. I finally met him at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg.

HYB: When the film was originally released did you receive any sort of criticism or protests from moral crusaders?

LJ: I was treated like a leper and I thought I was making a comedy and only John understood it was a comedy.

HYB: Christmas Evil has been released on vhs and dvd several times. I’ve even seen dvds selling for as little as $1. Did the film ever slip into the public domain?

LJ: No, it was stolen and it has taken me 5 years to regain the rights.

HYB: In an age when seemingly EVERY horror film ever made gets a remake, it seems like only a matter of time before someone attempts a Christmas Evil remake. Have you been approached about this?

LJ: Yes. Twice, but this one seems to be one that no one wants to touch. It still seems too transgressive. It may be the most impressive thing I have done in my life.

HYB: The remake of Bob Clark’s Black Christmas was met with a fair amount of controversy because of the title. Do you think a remake of Christmas Evil would have the same sort of reception?

LJ: Worse.

Gory greetings horroryearbook alumni! This latest edition of Brain Hammer’s PICKS FROM THE CRYPT is the first installment of my two-part tribute to the late, great Hollywood leading man Christoper George. His incredibly prolific acting career started with playing a Warlock on an episode of Bewitched! From there, Christoper would go on to appear in numerous feature films including classics such as El Dorado, Chisum, and Midway, and several popular television shows including Wonder Woman, Fantasy Island, and The Love Boat!

Hardcore horror fans should immediately recognize Christoper George from the number of legendary horror and exploitation flicks that he appeared in from the late 70’s right up until his untimely death from a heart attack in 1983. After yet another late-night viewing of Day Of The Animals, I decided the time was right to throw the spotlight on several of those awesome Christopher George flicks. Looking back over the PICKS FROM THE CRYPT archives, I discovered that I had already reviewed quite a few of them. So many in fact, I decided to split up all of the reviews into two separate PFTC installments. There will be a follow up with even MORE reviews (including a brand new review of MORTUARY) coming soon…so stay tuned!

In honor of the one & only Christopher George…LET THE BLOODSHED BEGIN!!!

GRIZZLY (1976)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0074593

A giant grizzly bear chomps on campers at Yellowstone National Park. Men, women, and children alike lose life and limb as the grizzly’s mighty paws rip them to shreds. Christoper George stars as the head ranger who investigates the vicious maulings and constantly butts heads with the park’s money grubbing director along the way. Chris teams up with redneck helicopter pilot Andrew Prine (Barn Of The Naked Dead) and a whacked out bear loving, fur sporting naturalist played by the late Richard Jaekel (Born Innocent). It takes all three of these genre legends AND a bazooka to finally bring the beast down in an explosive final confrontation!

This one is often described as “Jaws with claws!” There’s no denying the obvious influence that Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller Jaws had on this picture. The monster on the loose, the trio of male leads pursuing the beast, the greedy and unscrupulous authority figure that refuses to close the park – all of these are direct lifts. But what people who regard Grizzly as a cheap knock off always fail to acknowledge is the film’s incredible wilderness cinematography, which is easily more beautiful and colorful than anything on display in Jaws. Grizzly is simply an amazing picture to look at. It’s also incredibly tense and gory for a film with a PG rating! The bloody scenes of the grizzly paws in action are over the top and sometimes hilarious. On the other hand, whenever the footage of the real bear is used the film becomes ultra tense and menacing.

The posters promised “18 feet of towering fury!” and few people left the theaters disappointed. Grizzly was a smash hit, with box office profits of over 39 million. It was the single most most profitable independent release of 1976. In typical Hollywood scumbag fashion the distributors attempted to keep the massive profits to themselves and leave director William Girdler (RIP) and producers/co-writers David Sheldon and Harvey Flaxman out in the cold. It took lawsuits and miles of red tape before Girdler & co. could finally reap the rewards.

Shriek Show rewarded fans of Grizzly with a fantastic two disc special edition release! The film has been beautifully restored and includes a commentary track with David Sheldon and actress Joan McCall, who played Christoper George’s love interest in the film. The second disc features a slew of bonus features including an extended behind the scenes featurette, trailers, radio spots and more. It’s exactly the type of amazing dvd release an all time great genre flick deserves.

Check out the trailer!

DAY OF THE ANIMALS (1977)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0075913

Director William Girdler goes back to the woods for a follow up to his monster hit Grizzly. This time Christoper George not only has his hands full with bears, he also has to tangle with homicidal birds, snakes, and mountain lions! The depletion of the ozone layer causes all animals above the altitude of 5000 feet to go berserk and attack humans. Unfortunately, this phenomena coincides with the arrival of a large group of city slicker campers going for a guided weekend hike in the mountains!

Chris plays the rugged survivalist and tour guide. His latest group of paying campers include a reporter played by his wife Lynda Day George (Pieces, Mortuary), Michael Ansara as a sensitive Native American, a shy scientist played by fellow Grizzly alumni Richard Jaekel, Ruth Romain (The Baby) as a shrill Jewish divorcée who brings along her estranged son, and Leslie Nielson (Prom Night) as a wisecracking advertising executive with a pronounced mean streak and a penchant for annoying nicknames.

As the haggard collection of crabby campers argue and bicker their way through the mountains they are picked off one by one by prowling predators. For centuries the animals were hunted for bounty, food, and fun. Now it is their turn. Constant attacks from wolves, snakes, dogs, hawks, owls, and bears whittle down the group’s numbers. In the midst of the chaos the survivors turn on each other, and men turn into savages with ferocity that rivals that of the animals! Anyone who survives the day of the animals will never be the same.

Leslie Nielson steals the fucking show as the loud mouthed bigot who goes crazy, kills pretty boy Andrew Stevens (Massacre At Central High) with a stick, tries to rape Andrew’s chick, and then unsuccessfully attempts to wrestle a grizzly bear to the death! Truly a performance to be proud of! It was actually the same bear that was used in Grizzly. Once Leslie leaves the picture it never really recovers, although the climax still packs quite a wallop. Another William Girdler trademark was his knack for putting children in incredibly violent scenes. Day Of The Animals is no exception, as children are repeatedly exposed to the brutality of death in nature. I admire William for his willingness to potentially offend an audience for the sake of creating nail biting tension.

Much like Grizzly, Day Of The Animals is a beautiful looking picture. This is my personal favorite of Girdler’s films. The cast is top notch, a real ensemble that works together perfectly. There’s a fair amount of characterization which adds considerably to the impact of the film. Best of all this flick is chock full of scene after scene of animal attack insanity! The plot device of EVERY animal above 5000 feet going mad allows for a wide assortment of shocking scenes. Once the action begins, it never lets up. This one is a blast from start to finish, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of repeat viewings over the years.

Shriek Show released a dvd of Day Of The Animals that includes two different transfers of the film. Sadly, both of them look like poop. On the plus side, there’s a wealth of bonus features including a commentary track with Lynda Day George, a behind the scenes featurette, trailers and more.

Enjoy the incredible “Leslie Nielson bear wrestling” scene from Day Of The Animals!

CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0081318

A gifted psychic named Mary Woodhouse (Catriona MacColl) dies from sheer fright during a séance after receiving a morbid vision of a priest named Father Thomas hanging himself in the cemetery of a cursed town called Dunwhich. Dunwhich is built upon “the ruins of the original Salem” which also hide one of the seven gates of Hell. As foretold in the book of Enoch, the suicidal preacher hanging himself causes the unfaithful servant to go straight to Hell and for the next three days the moon will turn red and the cities’ dead will walk the earth. Horrendous, awful things begin happening in Dunwhich that will shatter your imagination.

For starters, Mary isn’t really dead and was buried alive. Luckily for Mary, the pathologist played by none other than Lucio Fulci himself didn’t bother giving her an autopsy! Mary is saved from an agonizing death inside her partially buried coffin after a hard boiled reporter named Peter Bell (Christopher George) slowly realizes that Mary is screaming at the top of her lungs inside the casket and does the only logical thing – he grabs a fucking pick axe and slams it right into the part of the coffin where Mary’s face would be! After saving Mary’s life Peter hesitatingly agrees to join her on the quest to find the mysterious town of Dunwhich. According to the prophecies of Enoch, if the portals of Hell aren’t closed by All Saints Day no dead body will ever be able to rest in peace again and the dead will rise up all over the earth and take over the world. Peter and Mary have to destroy Father Thomas’ body to close the gates of hell and save humanity.

Meanwhile, the horror in Dunwhich reaches a fevered pitch as the dead priest wanders the town looking for victims. Staring into the eyes of the evil priest is enough to cause one unfortunate girl (Daniela Dora) to cry tears of blood and then puke up her internal organs, much to shock and disgust of her soon to be brain dead boyfriend (future director Michelle Soavi!). The plague of the dead also manifests itself in the form of sudden earthquakes that cause massive property damage to the local watering hole, angry cat scratching that rips the flesh of a neurotic woman named Sandra (Janet Agren) with incest issues, and undead grandmothers that chomp off a mortician’s fingers.

The town’s madness begins to infect its dimwitted citizens as well. A jealous father takes out his rage and confusion on the town pervert – Bob (Giovanni Lombardo Radice!) and puts a power drill through his brain. Once Peter and Mary finally make their way to the cursed city they are welcomed by maggots that fall like rain. Peter and Mary brush off the maggots and then team up with Sandra and her shrink Gerry (Carlo De Mejo) before heading into the decrepit catacombs underneath the priest’s grave site for a fiery final showdown with the possessed priest.

This is my favorite Lucio Fulci (RIP) film, and one of my all time favorite films too. I’ve been a big fan since witnessing the film’s ability to shock and horrify firsthand. I was introduced to this one via a 1990 rental of the Paragon “Gates Of Hell” vhs that caused several of my friends (and their little sisters) to leave the room disgusted. Since then, I’ve watched this one more times than I can count. I think City Of The Living Dead is a perfect film, and Fulci’s true masterpiece. This is also my favorite of the many genius works that Lucio Fulci and writer Dardano Sacchetti worked on together. A lot of people prefer The Beyond, but I think City Of The Living Dead has a much more blasphemous and hallucinogenic vibe. It’s also a considerably more stylish film than The Beyond and possesses a truly morbid atmosphere that few other horror flicks can come close to matching.

The late great Christopher George turns in another one of his trademark winning performances. Chris was on a fucking tear in the early 80’s, appearing in one classic genre flick after another before his death in 1983. Who knows how many more amazing films Christopher would have starred in if only given the chance? The mind boggles. It’s great that Christopher George and Lucio Fulci were able to work together.

Fulci’s favorite leading lady, Catriona MacColl (The Beyond, House By The Cemetery) and his favorite female victim – Daniela Dora (The New York Ripper, House By The Cemetery) both star here and both contribute greatly to the film’s success. Catriona does a remarkable job in the role of Mary. Her scene inside the coffin when she wakes up buried alive is fantastic. Daniela steals the entire movie and instantly ensured a place in the annals of horror history for participating in what has to be one of the most insanely sickening death scenes ever captured on film. Daniela proved her “guts” by having the nerve to swallow actual sheep entrails and regurgitate them on camera at Fulci’s command! This is only one of the memorable moments of City Of The Living Dead, but the iconic image of Daniela crying tears of blood and then slowly puking up her innards is what immediately comes to a horror fan’s mind when you hear the title.

The living dead mostly take a back seat to the buckets of blood and maggots, but there should be more than enough gut barfing and brain ripping to keep gorehounds happy. The splatter effects from Gino De Rossi (Zombi II, Cannibal Ferox) are about as top notch as they come. But for some random and completely hysterical reason, whenever the frequently repeated closeup shot of the brain ripping is shown the hand doing the ripping clearly belongs to a black man with hairy knuckles! This makes the climax to the aforementioned gut barfing scene unintentionally hilarious as clearly it’s not Daniela’s hand ripping out Michelle Soavi’s brain. The zombies we do get to see look fantastic, as they were created by the legendary Rosario Prestopino (Zombi II, Burial Ground). City Of The Living Dead is a film with guts, and a lot of them.

This should be considered mandatory viewing for all horror fans. Sharp eyed Italian horror buffs will get a kick out of seeing so many familiar faces. (Watch out for Perry Pirkanen of Cannibal Ferox/Holocaust legend in a small yet pivotal role as a perverted gravedigger!) I really can’t say enough good things about this one. City Of The Living Dead is a horror classic. Anchor Bay and Blue Underground have both released City Of The Living Dead on dvd. The dvd features the theatrical trailer and radio spots. BUY IT!

Do you have the GUTS to watch the Italian trailer for CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD?!?

THE EXTERMINATOR (1980)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0080707

This flick opens with a bang right in the middle of a burning jungle in Vietnam. A trio of GI’s including our hero John Eastland (the late Robert Ginty) and his best pal Michael Jefferson are taken prisoner by the Vietcong, who proceed to tie them up and interrogate them. One of the unlucky soldiers is decapitated before Jefferson can get free and proceed to blow the shit out of everybody in a merciless slow motion bloodbath. John and Mike fight their way to a helicopter which carries them both to safety.

We then flash forward about a dozen years or so and find the two vets working together in the same NYC warehouse. John discovers a pack of street thugs stealing beer one afternoon and a violent confrontation ensues. Mike shows up and the two pals manage to run the punks off. This leads to a retaliatory beat down and flesh ripping attack that leaves Mike in a hospital bed, paralyzed for life. John uses his trusty flamethrower to get information and quickly tracks down the punks that crippled his friend. After a dramatic confrontation that includes the classic line “That nigger was my best friend, you motherfucker!” John fills the scumbags full of lead and leaves one of them still alive to have his face eaten off by rats!

Not content to stop there, John soon unleashes an onslaught of violent fury against the entire NYC underworld. No pimp, pervert, or pusher is safe. “The Exterminator” is best known for his trademark flamethrower, but he also takes the time to make his own homemade mercury filled bullets, and really knows his way around an industrial meat grinder too! I always get a chuckle out of seeing a fully clothed mafioso going into the meat grinder and nothing but fresh ground hamburger coming out of it! No pesky clothing or shoe pieces to worry about!

Christopher George plays the hard boiled cop trying to track down the exterminator down. Chris takes up a lot of the running time slowly investigating the case, cooking hot dogs, and romancing his doctor-girlfriend, played by Samantha Eggar (The Brood). Sadly, the scenes with these two are pretty much worthless. The vigilante quickly becomes a hero to the public but is considered a dangerous menace by the mayor, who fears more for his re-election attempt than he does the publics safety. As the body count rises John also becomes a target for the C.I.A., who consider him to be a threat to national security.

The notorious James Glickenhaus wrote and directed this classic exploitation flick which is chock full of nasty violence and SLEAZE including child prostitution, sex slaves, torture, mutilation, and disfigurement! The perverted sequences featuring the “chicken shack” are unreal. It makes you wonder where in the hell this stuff was filmed! There’s an especially gory decapitation during the violent opening sequence that ranks as one of the best I’ve ever seen. Not realistic by any means, but exceptionally cool looking! This flick is a little uneven in terms of pacing, but more than makes up for it with grit and grue.

Like any exploitation flick, this has to be seen in all of its full uncut glory to be appreciated. When the more extreme moments of splatter are scissored there’s not a lot left here to be enjoyed. This film was heavily edited to earn an R rating. Tango Entertainment recently released the digitally remastered unrated director’s cut on dvd. That’s the only version worth seeing. Fans of violent genre flicks influenced by Death Wish and Taxi Driver will eat this up.

Check out the trailer!

That’s all for now. I’ll be back with even more Christopher George action in my next edition of PFTC, so stay tuned and as always…

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

[Editor's Note: In the ultimate act of laziness and in an effort to quickly update the site, I did not edit Insan0's typed answers. They appear exactly as he sent them to us, and perhaps that is the way he wanted them to appear in the first place.]

It’s should be no secret to horroryearbook alumni that your old pal Brain Hammer loves Satan. I say it all the time. Any of friend of the Devil is a friend of mine…and one of my more interesting myspace friends is an INSANELY talented and demented motherfucker named insan0. insan0 is blowing the fuck up out of the underground with his unique brand of “Ultra Psychopathic Snuff Serial Killer Horrorcore Brutal Evil Extreme Satanic Death Murder Music.”

On Halloween Night 2009, insan0 dropped a brand new ep titled SAY YOU LOVE SATAN. This 3 track ep was created specifically for the true crime/murder music enthusiasts. SAY YOU LOVE SATAN is inspired by true events – a violent murder that occurred in Northport, New York back in 1984. Ricky Kasso (RIP) was THE ACID KING. He supplied the town of Northport with all the doses, dope, and dust they needed, and then some. Gary Lauwers was a scumbag who made the fatal mistake of ripping off the Acid King and he paid with his young life. Ricky, along with his evil disciples Jimmy and Albert invited Gary out for a night of fun in Azteka Woods, and then butchered him as a sacrifice to SATAN.

insan0’s SAY YOU LOVE SATAN ep takes you right back to that dark night in 1984 and puts you right inside the twisted mind of the Acid King. The three new original songs are titled “The Acid King,” “Knights Of The Black Circle,” and “Say You Love Satan.” There are also several samples and intermission skits that stretch out the running time to over 15 minutes. The whole ep is meant to be listened to from start to finish, and it not only neatly tells the story of Ricky Kasso, it also captures his spirit. This is pure aggression, unbridled rage, and drug fueled paranoia. It’s also a crushing hybrid of hardcore hip hop and heavy metal. Fans of demented shit like Necro, Twiztid, or even Macabre will eat this up.

I was so fucking impressed with insan0’s music and the new SAY YOU LOVE SATAN ep that I decided to drop him a line and ask him a few questions…

Horror Yearbook: Give me the story of insan0. How did you get started? How long have you been making music?

insan0: I have been dropping underground albums since 2002.. & Been making alternative hardcore music for over 17 years..& producing recording my own music (and music for others) for nearly 6 years…

i always knew i wanted to be a muso of some sort as a kid..& just kept with it..i started playing guitars and drums in school bands in my early teens,…I’m self trained…& had a few lessons in school on drums…along time ago my best friend pedj showed me all the power chords on guitars…i basically took it from there and rolled with it.

The first punk hardcore metal grunge band i joined in the 1990’s at the time ‘clinic’ had 2 guitarists…so because i could play drums,i took the job of beat smith & one of the song main writers..i still played guitars but not as much,So we got good,we did shows in our home town,wrote over 100 songs…picked the best songs & we recorded a album on 2 inch tape in a proper studio in 2002..the album is a classic..we weren’t online…we were 100% crazy at this stage…,people that had computers were nerds & geeks to us,in the end the album was never released & soon after we broke up.

i got really into the drums & a lot of crazy music in this period,and had a natural ability to write songs on keyboards,guitars or drums…and i was ok with lyrics..besides skateboarding or motorbike riding or watching movies,making crazy music was something i liked to do and was good at. .i been recording decent alternative underground music since the year 2000, played shows in clubs & pubs in my home town to decent sized crowds.,we did it old school no Internet promo…word of mouth & by putting out flyers and networking.we did sick shows,pulled big crowds and got paid fuck all because we didn’t know anything about business or how to handle our shit.we got ripped off for a long time….no manger..or brains,you know the deal,,i paid my dues old school style.

So i came into a nice bundle of cash in 2002 wheeling & dealing and spent $4,000 on a sick new drum kit (i got a big discount…it was like a $7,000 kit..but i knew the shop owner and paid in cash..i was lucky to get it) & in 2003 i jammed with lots of other bands in my home town..

i knew nothing about the Internet or computers & began to see the power of the net….i began to teach myself and got some tips,hooked up a net rig ‘n’ i finally Went Online in 2004…..Quit the bands in 2004,got back into song writing,guitar playing,writing lyrics & studied audio engineering at S.A.E college,i began to slowly set up my recording studio which cost me a lot of money,finally i went solo & dropped my first solo album called ‘Psychotic Behaviour’ ( since then re released as D.E.A.D) in 2004.it went number 1 here on out fm metal radio station..and got played a lot..i know it did well because at the time it sounded so different & raw….my music was in the charts and was charting above Marilyn manson and Anthrax…i got told Many Fans rang the station asking for my album…but i didn’t have money to release it..it was a wasted opportunity,but gave me the confidence boost i needed,i reassured me i was on the right path..it was a blip on the radar,& it was a album made from hate and anger..and was very experimental,thrashy death metal cyber grind…very unorthodox …i learned heaps of stuff in this period.& how to channel my anger into music..its not my best shit at all…but served as an exorcism because i was really depressed at the time…everything started to fall into place after this…and i found my own fucked up style…and my shit was getting out there to & heard by fans for the first time…it felt good.

After years of commitment,practice & lots of money,my skills,experience,training,my talent for writing sick deranged songs began to seriously escalate…my vision for insan0 had been born & i focused,nurtured,developed & morphed it into what it is today…

HYB: When did the concept of insan0 come together?

insan0: Early 2005…. All my past band experiences prior to 2005 left me quite bitter about ever being in another band situation,i was sick of relying on others for one thing, failing because of others & compromising because of other peoples lack of talent,skill,motivation,peoples different work schedules,personal drive & musical differences & really just sick of the band vibe etc…..so i went solo and have never looked back.I checked out tons of bands all over the world & still do & i realized there are only a hand full of artist making true evil shit….But there is so many fake evil music making poser sheep bands out there it makes me sick..they are all clones of each other & sound the same….look the same… & have enjoyed huge mainstream success…its all weak & all cashing in..but its not real evil…its commerical manufactured big budget evil poser evil….& i knew there was not 1 single person in my town that was doing what i wanted to,would want to do what im doing,or could do it that way i can…

i knew when i was creating the image of insan0 & sound/vibe,i wanted more of an overall b grade quality feel to my stuff,nothing glitzy or super slick n shiney..the polar opposite,like the feeling of finding a fucking brutal old school grimey cult horror grindhouse snuff slasher style vhs video you have never seen,& after you watch it you think fuck! thats was fucking insane shit…that director or writers that came up with that shit must have been crazy psychopaths for real!!

on a side note…for the main part,Most of the feed back i get is awesome from dark music fans….Lots of new insan0 fans always send me messages & leave comments online daily saying my shit is sicker then icp,necro,goretex,mr. hyde…..im just glad to be mentioned in this class of underground music artists,these guys have made some serious noise & cash in the underground…….so i guess im on the right road..”much love to all the insan0 fans out there.”

The difference between me & them is,I’m living in a long way from the action in Australia,Theres no scene here for fans of what i do in my country,i’m really underground…,& im un signed with no budget + i really dont care to much about being a scene queen or need my ego fed as much as them..+ i dont fit in anywhere musically in my country.

if i wanted to be rich popular & famous,i would not be making the type of music that i do…that’s for dam sure.

my only goals for insan0 are to create the sickest songs i can,what ever happens because of it is a bonus,ill cross the bridge when i get to it..i got lots of drive & ambition,but i dont have dreams of grandure..& at the end of the day music fans have ears & can tell the difference between real hardcore evil scary shit or show pony fake poor quality shit…no matter if im un signed or havent sold 50,000 cds…as my exposure & fans base grows,my day in the sun will come & fans let me know all the time,

for now im still in the shadows.Since 2005,every song i have made i actually purposely set out record pure evil & capture it in my songs.The musical reality to me,is that proper sinister devious evil music is rare to find in todays times,vary rare,,its more of a popularity contest for these poser fuckhead horror music wanabees…when i was creating the insan0 concept,i didnt want to be a part of that contest.

I think bands dont need to rap or play tunes 1 million miles a hour to get your point across..or need to have the deepest craziest cookie monster death metal vocals that most people cant understand a word of..or bands dont need to be be preaching anti religous black metal themes just so fans think your evil..or being lyrically gross just for shock value….or because your wear black clothes or paint your face….most bands dont really have a grasp or understanding of what is really scary or truely evil….& come off more comical..fake,…watered down..or more to the point,their version what they think is evil music is played out & weak and sheepish…too many bands sound the same & ripp each other off..specially all the swededcore & emo shit everyone tries to copy thesedays..fuck it makes me puke.

originality, balls & inovation to do something different is gone in todays times…

its as if all these dark vocalists & lyric writers of today are way to pollitically correct..or a vague with lyrics..scared to say what they really want,,.they make dark commerical music to pick up Fluff (aka Poon Tang aka Pussy) & get laid,emo fags…

violent guys or tuff guys or bad guys in music is fading ….it makes me sad.

Most musicians/vocalists are scared to make shit like what i do because they know most people,thier own families,friends,music fans,major record lables, a & r types,shrinks,cops, & law people will think they are crazy…

i dont care what most people would think of insan0, letting go is freeing & i know im failry crazy & offensive to most humans…

i really dig words & lyrics with impact,deeply psychological catchy violent shit that most people can remember & understand even if there is alot of lyrics & words in the song..to me,it doesnt have to rhyme at all,So i started to apply it in 2005…with no remorse…

HYB: Describe your music to someone who has never heard it.

ill try to break it down as best i can for people that have never heard of my music…or that dont understand it,.or for people that are new to this sort of stuff,or never knew it could exist.

Evil, Psychological, intense, scary, catchy, gritty, underground, lyrical, disturbing, raw yet slightly polished..

an unorthodox experimental fusion of hardcore hip hop/rap,grunge,metal & electro…i really love making brutal scary sick disturbing songs…each one is like a short psychological thriller/horror/snuff movie…Forget about any pre-conceived notion of what you may think is extreme evil music..such as your typical metal head shit like playing ultra ultra fast guitar riffs or double pedal kick drums or blast beats ..cookie monster vocals etc etc…or douche bag shit like limp biscuit metal rap shit…my shit makes Marilyn mansons horror music sound like a pg rated kids stuff…..my music scares most women….it doesn’t attract them…its like 80s proof alcohol….too much of it can fuck you up.

(its like the movie the exorcist,..that movie actually contains real evil…its a crazy fuckin’ old school film…movie fans that have seen it dont watch it everyday,day after day, after day…if you did, i think something very bad would happen to your mind.)

Musically speaking,its a mash up but a very stylized and solid sounding blend of looped soundtracks/scores, with a hip hop-rap based central foundation,with a very strong sprinkling of crust, punk, grindcore, death metal, black metal, hardcore, electro & goth….on paper, with all these genres its sounds crazy…but its not schizophrenic A.D.D music like mr bungle or is discordant or messy or has lots of changes..its a lot more straight up & simple,..the music is a back drop for the story telling.

Lyrically ….extreme psychological first person style lyrics mostly ‘in the mind of a serial killer or psychopath,mass murderer’…i don’t try to be a wigga like necro,im not a ‘g’ or a baller,i was a death metal grind punk head but i didn’t really fit in,im not a juggalo,i liked rap as a kid but im not a nigga or a crack dealer,& i liked psychological thriller/horror movies & true crime docos & books…..i don’t try to be funny in my music (but to some people its funny) or have comedy in it…i dont try to copy anyone.

Vocally,i do lots of different vocal styles….from singing,screaming,rapping,growling,death screams,hardcore vocals,whispers to multiple character style vocals….

i wouldn’t call it horrorcore or death rap or acid rap or horror rap…its not really metal rap as most people know it……but its related to these genres,..

i grew up listening to 70s & 80s rock,80s shit,…metal,thrash,punk,goth,new romantic shit,grunge,grindcore,death metal,cheesy 80s music,rap/hip hop…& im a big fan of movie soundtrack composers…they are all different genres,but some how i manage to fuse them all in my music and make it work.

HYB: What inspired you do do an ep about Ricky Kasso?

insan0: The age old argument that ‘music & drugs make people kill & make people turn evil’ was a driving force, ..and its still being fought today…Ricky was like a martyr for this cause.

People of this generation need to know his story.

i read all about Ricky kasso in one of my brothers books along time ago,and when i saw the movies ‘the black circle boys & my sweet satan’…it deeply affected me in a profound manner.

My brother & i would always talk about him & those movies when we get high on weed.,so i began to research a lot more about him online & in what ever books i could find,its as if the spirit of Ricky kasso possessed me to do it,he was very much alive in my soul & mind for a few months making me do this.

I like to think of it as a very relevant cautionary tale the shouldn’t be forgotten.

in my teens i was living the sort of life at 1 time that Ricky & his friends did…the music,the huge amounts of hard drugs,were living recklessly,had the evil influences….many others can relate to him,his friends,his story all around the world…..When i read his story,i freaked my out how many similarities there was,i felt as i personally knew him and his crew.

At one stage of my life…i was so crazy that a really good friend of mine that i knew for at least 6 or more years at the time,…owed me $20…..i literally wanted to kill him because he was giving me the run around…it was getting into some Gary and Ricky style shit…over something small.I can see how stupid & petty it is now years later that im a grown man,,,but the same principal applies.At the time,I was fucked up on drugs,depressed,living in the dark side,my home life was in shambles….& had poor self impulse control..bad things can happen when all these thing are combined & you have no parental supervision or guidance.

At any one time anywhere in the world, there is ‘rick kasso’ types out there about to loose their mask of sanity….Teenage killers are on the rise in todays times…people should be scared.

HYB: Are you down with the Acid King?

insan0: I’m down all right….i released this Satanic E.P on Halloween night oct-31 2009 as a tribute to the Acid King…(Ricky once did a seance at the infamous ‘defeo’ house in amityville on Halloween night) & it cost $6.66 to buy.

HYB: Do you condone murder?

insan0: In real life (or my personal life or person own views) i don’t condone senseless murder of innocent people for no reason..,i don’t condone abuse or murder of children…but i specially condone murder for self defense purposes,& for revenge (an eye for a eye type shit)

i also condone murder against rapists & pedophile’s…any pedophile or rapist deserves to die in the most brutal fashion possible…i have no remorse for pedos or rapists…i could kill them day in,day out & i wouldn’t loose sleep over it at all…id sleep really good & would be a happy man. (unfortunately its against the law,& i value my freedom, so i fight back the urges of wasting this type of scum off the planet as im sure many other fathers out there do…)

In my songs/lyrics,not too much is held sacred, i have slaughtered, hacked, slashed, tortured, stabbed, shot, strangled, poisoned to death & done what ever else your mind can imgine to thousands of fictional/semi fictional souls…

i have to let go of most rational sane thoughts when i write my lyrics & record my vocals,So lots of different semi fictional & fictional characters get murdered in my songs & lyrics…..,young,old,male,female,gay,lesbians,trannies,straight,all races,family pets & animals,theres female & male rape..i don’t discriminate against anyone in my lyrics/songs..but i will say this, i usually dont do lyrics about killing kids or babies,thats a super rare thing for me,im not really into child killer lyrics at all..theres better killers or things out there to write about.

HYB: Do you love Satan? If so, how often do you say it?

insan0: hahahah…Cool question….

I dont mind him…to me,its not about how often you say it,its the way you show it…sometimes actions speaks louder then words do,if i loved him,he would have to be my leader…i don’t have leaders or follow anyone or worship anyone,specially false music idols..

i really admire and agree with lots of things that charlie manson has said or stood for….in the same token,i know its part is his skill as a charismatic leader to suck people in with his words & speeches,regardless if he truely belives in what he is saying.

i have the laVey satanic bible & satanic rituals & have read them,its very funny stuff…i have studied up on lost of different religions and beliefs by freaks..Crowley,the Scientologists,Hinduism,buddism,the freemasons,illuminati etc etc…..im not a person that can be brainwashed..im a non conformist..i dont follow anyone…or i dont have a leader….im my own man,anti religious,I’m not a official member or the satanic church,(a church started by a organ playing jew!) nor do i want to be,..but i practice and live my life fairly close to the ideals of left hand path..with some pagan , buddhist – hindu philosophy & street life twists…you know,like… mind body & soul as 1……or karma & pay back is a bitch….or clean your own back yard before you point the finger..fuck with the bull you get the horns etc..

i remember doing one album a long ago and it was quite evil and i was fucked up at the time… i remember in my head i was like (ill sell my soul to Satan to be rich & famous….)

I’m not rich….& the fame never came….it was all in my head,not to say, pure evil or evil as a force isnt real or does not exist is a lie…we all know it is,& it is alive and healthy…

you cant have the ying with out the yang,they both co exist together on the same plane & need each other to remind them selfs who they both are,for with out each other,they would not know which one is really the good or which one is the evil….& lets all remember there is a grey area……lots of people including me live in this grey area… not everything is black & white…sometimes there is a mix of both sides into 1….

its important to remember popular satanic violence inciting bands like slayer just use the imagery for shock value & to sell lots of albums…when in actual fact, the singer from slayer is a devout catholic & is religous,Sure they make fucking kick ass music no doubt & Sure they are metal legends….but you cant get more fake then that to me…yes,sure evil musos can have separate lifes from music & raise good normal kids & live normal,that’s not what im saying,…for the most part,a lot of music fans out there are dumb & are tricked way too easy with a few heavy riffs & a big advertising budget.

HYB: Tell me about the tracks on the album.

insan0: First of,i wanted to capture the essence of Ricky kasso in this e.p as best i could, my own way.

& wanted to do a beginning,middle and end story style..to make it informative for people that have never heard of ricky kasso,at the same time make it as legit & true to the real story as i could with out being to anal about it or contrived…and to make a music release that could really become ‘cult like’ one day for all the people that are ‘in the know’ about the ricky kasso story.

i knew i didn’t want to make a full rap or hip hop album,or something that was to cheesy electo or 80s hair metal sounding…

Because Ricky was a rocker & a metal head from the 80s,i wanted to do my own thing musically & still add the underground cult vibe to it….it definitely needed to have a metal vibe & hard core rap vibe…bringing it into todays times..i mean its his story retold in 2009….insan0 style.

i thought about doing a full album about it,but if you get a chance to check out my e.p,and have read ricks story….i did manage cover all the bases in the songs with out dragging it out…its like a condensed compressed version of factual events…with out the boring stuff…with the additional audio samples & intermissions,they fuse the gaps and also help top paint the picture & profile who ricky was.

the first intro is called ‘A child of the devil.’…That’s actually a title for a song ricky once played on guitar intimately to his girlfriend.

The front cover features a real picture of ricky as he was being led into the police station ,& you will notice in the background a gazebo,that’s a actual place where ricky used to spend alot of time hanging out and get wasted & talk shit with his friends.

The back cover features a authentic picture of a actual acid tab sheet from the circa 1984.

HYB: What is you favorite Ricky Kasso movie?

id have to say the short film by Jim Van Bebber ‘my sweet satan’ is the most authentic or appealing to me to date,or the black circle boys.. i really love those movies..i saw a bootleg of Ricky 6..but the dude looked like a little girly fag that played Ricky..other then that, it was fairly good.

HYB: What are some of your favorite horror flicks?

insan0: my collection is fairly extensive…and growing weekly..its a disease….i have was too many favs to list and could give you a really big list,ill give you the short list of some favs of the top of my head that’s stick out to me so you can get a idea…

lots of people have different interpretations of what horror is,….specially in the last 5 to 10 years the face of horror has changed..I’m really big into revenge films more these days….super natural movies or movie monsters don’t scare me to much anymore…i think its played out to the max…

in recent times

some of my fav new flicks & favs over the past few years are- Martyrs, High tension, Sheitan,Calvaire, Frontier(s), irreversible, Cigarette Burns,E den lake, Midnight Meat Train, Death Sentence, Hills have eyes, The August Underground movies,S crap Book, old boy, 13: Game of death, 13 tzameti, ichi the killer, Death Proof, Planet Terror, No country for old men…I’m sure theres more.

& oldies….note some of these are not horror…

id have to say – Cannibal Holocaust, Guinea Pig:Flower of Flesh and Blood , Cannibal Ferrox, Faces Of Death, The New York Ripper, The Thing, Fright Night 1 & 2, Night Breed, Re Animator, Henry: Portrait of a serial killer, Driller Killer, Pet semetery, Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste & Brain Dead, The Fly, Maniac (joe Spinell) Men behind the sun, Death wish 1 & 2, The Exorcist, Lost boys, Ghost busters 1 & 2, the omen,i spit on your grave, Henry:Confessions of s serial killer, white of the eye, Taxi driver, Gods lonely man, Bad Boy Bubby, No Apparent Motive, Bad Lands,the list could go on and on….

im also a big 80’s movie fan,martial arts,blaxsploitaion,& grind house style movie fan..

HYB: How can people get SAY YOU LOVE SATAN?

insan0: Go to my web sites insan0.com or myspace.com/insan0 & all the info is there for anyone that wants to buy it..you wont find this in any store..

its a digital download only.

HYB: What’s next for insan0????

insan0: my independent underground serial killer movie should be out in 2010 if all goes to plan..and 3 new albums are in the works,stay tuned sickos..

BLACK DEVIL DOLL (special edition): Lowest Common Denominator Entertainment

Five beautiful young women… one evil, murderous puppet. Heather thought that a Ouija board was nothing but an innocent child’s game. Little did she know, this child’s game would open a flaming door to hell and re-animate the soul of a recently executed black militant serial killer! With his spirit now trapped in the body of a trash-talking ventriloquist doll, Heather and her friends must fight off the unrelenting horrors and unspeakable deviant advances of a three foot killer with a taste for young flesh and warm blood. Can they stop the BLACK DEVIL DOLL? Check out the most talked-about independent cult film of the year of the year and find out for yourself… or ELSE!

SPECIAL FEATURES:
-5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound mix
-Five (!) Audio Commentaries, one by the Black Devil Doll Himself!
-Three Exclusive Black Devil Doll Trailers
-Film Festival Clips
-Rare Footage from the New Beverly Cinema Hollywood Premier!
-Three Black Devil Doll animated short films!
-Behind the scenes still gallery!
-Rare interviews with the Black Devil Doll!!!

GRAVEYARD DISTURBANCE (special edition): Mya Communication/Ryko

Five teen friends are on the run from the police after they rob a supermarket. After passing through a thick blanket of fog, they end up in very strange inn, populated by a group of spooky people. The deformed inn keeper challenges them to spend the whole night in the underground catacombs located beneath the nearby church. If they succeed they will win a fabulous treasure. The five friends accept the challenge, unaware of the mortal danger they will face. They are soon terrorized and chased by a host of zombies and other undead ceatures.

This is the UNCUT letterbox English language import print of “Denrto Il Cimitero,” the rarely seen 1987 film by director Lamberto Bava (DEMONS, MACABRE) and writer Dardano Sacchetti. GRAVEYARD DISTURBANCE contains some great atmosphere and cool zombie makeup. Italian horror enthusiasts should consider this dvd an essential purchase.

MESSIAH OF EVIL: THE SECOND COMING (special edition): Code Red

After receiving a series of chilling letters from her reclusive father, Arletty drives to the remote seaside town of Pointe Dune to discover the reason for her father’s developing madness. Upon her arrival, she encounters a mysterious trio of strangers investigating a local legend known as “The Blood Moon”… a curse that has transformed the inhabitants of the town into a terrifying horde of blood-thirsty maniacs! Beware when the moon drips blood! Carnivorous zombies will prowl the night! Worms will ooze from their mouths! And blood will drip from their eyes! Terror will reign when he returns. And now, after 100 restless years, the Messiah of Evil will wreck havoc in a small ghostly town!

Considered by many as one of the most horrifying and bizarre zombie films ever made, and as one of the least herald yet haunting of 1970’s horror film. Contains number of masterfully scary set pieces by Tim Lucas, written and directed by the acclaimed writing team of Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz (INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, HOWARD THE DUCK) and starring cult actors like Marianna Hill (HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER), Michael Greer (FORTUNE IN MEN’S EYES), Joy Bang (NIGHT OF THE COBRA WOMAN), Elisa Cook Jr (SALEM’S LOT) and starring Benny Robinson as Albert the crosseyed Albino, MESSIAH OF EVIL: THE SECOND COMING will scare your life away! NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM!!!

SPECIAL FEATURES:
-Brand new Hi Definition master in 16×9 (2.35:1) widescreen supervised by Director Willard Huyck and editor Billy Weber
-Audio commentary by Huyck and writer Gloria Katz, moderated by Lee Christian
-Featurette “Remembering Messiah of Evil” with Huyck, Katz, Weber, Director of Photography Stephen Katz, & editor Morgan Fisher
-Audio interview with star Joy Bang
-Short films by Huyck and Katz : “The Bride Stripped Bar” and “Down These Mean Streets.”

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (special edition): Sony Pictures

This campy cult classic chiller begins back in 1959. A college couple see an object plummet to Earth like a meteor. The boy then accidentally swallows a space-slug. In 1986, two geeky freshmen roam the campus in a scavenger hunt and stumble across the cryogenically frozen corpse of the boy who swallowed the space-slug. Once thawed out, the corpse comes to life and the space-slug escapes and infects a frathouse. The good news is your dates are here. The bad news is…they’re DEAD!

SPECIAL FEATURES:
-Commentary with Writer/ Director Fred Dekker
-Cast commentary
-Brand new NIGHT OF THE CREEPS behind the scenes featurettes (“Birth of the Creeps”, “Cast of the Creeps”, “Creating the Creeps”, “Escape of the Creeps”, “Legend of the Creeps”)
-A special tribute: “Tom Atkins: Man of Action”
-The original theatrical ending
-Deleted scenes
-Trivia track

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

RITUALS (1977)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076630

Five middle aged doctors in matching yellow hats plan a backwoods getaway for a little much needed r&r. This vacation will also test the limits of the crabby & flabby doctors’ endurance. They are dropped off by seaplane in the middle of nowhere and left to their own devices for seven days. The week will involve an eighty mile hike to the isolated spot where the plane will be waiting.

On the first evening in the woods the doctors (Harry, Mitzi, DJ, Abel, and Martin) stay up all night getting drunk and having arguments about their professional ethics. Harry (Hal Holbrook) and Mitzi (Lawrence Dane) bicker over how long Harry lets his patients suffer on the operating table before finally pulling the plug on them. Then they begin drunkenly bragging and chanting about being doctors and do their best Frankenstein impressions to mock dying patients. Unfortunately for everyone involved, someone is watching and listening in the woods and doesn’t find the doctor’s antics amusing.

The next morning the doctors wake up and discover their boots are missing. They immediately know something is very wrong and blame roaming thieves or boot freaks. DJ was the only one who brought an extra pair of boots, and he goes wandering off to find a hydroelectric dam they had spotted on the map earlier. The remaining doctors stay put and spend the night. The next morning they awaken to find a macabre work of art in front of their tents. The same creep who stole their boots returned in the night and left behind a dead deer covered with snakes. The men are horrified, even more so when they see that the work of art bears resemblance to the international cross and snake symbol for doctors.

Boots or no boots, the shaken doctors then decide to head towards the dam looking for DJ. Before they can make much progress someone throws an angry beehive at them and sends them running for their lives into the water. Fatty doctor Abel makes the fatal mistake of diving in headfirst and smashes his head on a rock. The gentle boob then drowns before the others can save him. Martin finds DJ’s rope stung up across the river and tries to make the trek across, but steps on a waiting bear trap for his efforts. Once again, the creeper is one step ahead of them.

Harry and Mitzi then have to carry Martin around on a homemade stretcher as they try to make their way to safety. The creeper starts leaving clues to his identity, including a brutal set of army x-rays dating back to 1945. The doctors now understand that whomever is after them obviously has a burning hatred for doctors and a thirst for revenge. They struggle to keep their heads together but the stress of carrying around their fallen comrade begins wearing them down. Mitzi is left in charge of keeping watch the following night but falls asleep. The next morning they discover the severed head of their gentle boob buddy Abel on a stick (Fuck Wolf Creek! This was the ORIGINAL “head on a stick” flick!). Harry at that point goes completely insane and chucks the head on a stick off a cliff like a lollipop javelin!

Mitzi is reduced to a blubbering imbecile who can’t stop crying and screaming. Harry on the other hand begins a transformation into a hardened warrior. He also carries most of the load while hauling around Martin. When they finally make it to the dam they discover that it had been abandoned years before. Their friend DJ is waiting for them, but he’s tied to a chair and almost dead from blood loss. This time around Harry is quick to pull the plug on a suffering friend and puts DJ out of his misery. Mitzi is completely disgusted by this and runs off screaming like a woman. Harry then makes another tough decision and decides to leave Martin behind to die instead trying to carry him by himself.

Harry takes shelter in the first cabin he can find. Unfortunately, that cabin belongs to the creeper and his older brother. Harry puts the blast on the old man and then has a wild run in with the creeper that leaves him with a gushing femoral artery. Harry is forced to cauterize the wound by pouring gunpowder into it and lighting it on fire. (Rambo III ripped that off big time!) The final excruciating scenes feature a fiery showdown between the Harry and the creeper highlighted with Mitzi being roasted alive! Can Harry finally pull the plug on the creeper? If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise!

RITUALS (aka The Creeper) was shot in 1976 but it didn’t see an American release until 1978. The film got mixed reviews (the acting was always praised) but was often dismissed as a Canadian knock-off of Deliverance. The film has gone on to earn a cult following over the years and uncut copies of the film are coveted by collectors. The reason this one is considered such a classic is because it combines some incredibly beautiful wilderness locations and genuinely gruesome and unsettling violence. The film ramps up the tension until the final scenes, which are especially brutal. The highlight of the film is undoubtedly the head on a stick shot, but the cauterization and burning scenes are also jaw droppers. For a 70’s horror flick this is some truly gruesome, realistic violence.

Other reasons why I consider this film to be a superior backwoods bloodbath are the acting and the story. As you would expect from a film with Hal Holbrook in the lead, the acting in this movie is excellent. Hilariously, there’s a shot of Hal in this flick that was actually used for the cover of his 1979 soft rock album “On The Road To Soft Gold.” You can’t make stuff like that up folks! The rest of the cast are also top notch. There is a lot of genuine tension between Hal & Lawrence Dane in this one. The way they bicker towards the end of the film feels very real. The story stands out for being exceptionally brutal, but also original. The killer’s hatred of doctors and macabre motivation for rural revenge is unique, and it also comes across as real. I also like the fact that a lot of the story isn’t spelled out for you right away, and that you get to experience the film on deeper levels when you watch it again knowing the killer’s motivations.

RITUALS is a great flick, and it really needs a special dvd release. You can currently find the edited tv version of the film (under the title The Creeper) in one of those cheap-o “horror collections” from Mill Creek. The uncut version of the film is making the rounds on the internet. You can usually find it for cheap on ebay or ioffer. It’s well worth seeking out a copy. This a fantastic flick that deserves a larger audience!

Check out the trailer!

JUST BEFORE DAWN (1981)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082592

Two drunks named Ty & Vechel take a break from deer hunting deep in the woods to check out an abandoned church. Ty (the same old dude who played Mel in Sleepaway Camp!) begins preaching the gospel of drunken excess before turning his eyes towards the heavens and catching a glimpse a of large man staring back down at him through a hole in the roof. Ty stumbles outside to see who this guy is and watches in horror as his pickup truck rolls downhill and crashes in flames. Vechel turns around and comes face to face with a grotesque looking mountain man who gives him an impromptu circumcision with a saw. Run for your life. The nightmare has begun.

It will find you in the hour when dream and reality merge. The last desperate moment of darkness. Just before dawn. That’s when a group of five young people traveling in a Winnebago make their way towards a mountain vacation. The isolated mountain location promises nothing but 4000 feet of granite, water, and wood, and the kids hope to become a part of the mountain and find its soul. A chubby forest ranger played by George Kennedy stops the group before they reach the mountain and gives them the standard “you kids have been warned” prophet of doom speech.

They were warned. But they did not understand the warning. Then the kids have a wild run in with Ty, who is still on the run from the beginning of the film. Ty tries in vain to convince the kids to turn around and leave while they still can but they dismiss him as a drunken retard. The drunken retard has the last laugh though when he sees his nephew’s killer jump on top of the Winnebago as it pulls away. They came to the mountain for adventure and escape. What they found was a trial which only the strongest could survive.

How could they know that beneath the awesome beauty of nature lay violence, danger, and death? How could they know the heat of their bodies was the magnet that would draw the terror to them? When darkness falls the girls let their hair down and boogie down in the moonlight. The fun is short lived when a local yokel named Pa Logan shows up and blasts the kids’ boom box with his shotgun. Pa brings along his haggard looking wife Ma and their batshit insane daughter Merry Cat. The family again tries to warn the kids that they are all doomed, and Pa tells them if they don’t leave they will “raise the devil.” For the THIRD time in as many days, they were warned… but again they did not understand the warning. They stubbornly decide to stay put and finish their vacation. The days of leisure turn into nights of terror when the killer returns. Just before dawn… they will cry out. Just before dawn… they will struggle to escape. Just before dawn… the demon lives! If only they could die in their sleep!

I am a huge fan of this flick. I think JUST BEFORE DAWN is one of the most underrated 80’s slasher flicks. It’s also one of the very best “hicks in the sticks flicks” ever made. The film was shot on location at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon and it features some of the most impressive outdoor scenery in horror history. It’s amazing how director Jeff Lieberman can create such a raw claustrophobic atmosphere inside such a lush and vast natural setting. What’s unique about this one is the way it combines the beauty of nature and the ugliness of violence. It’s also better acted than your average backwoods slasher flick. The two lead actresses are fantastic. Deborah Benson in particular really stands out with an amazing transformation into an ass kicking horror heroine.

I really dig the killer in this one. There’s a bit of a twist of course which I don’t want to spoil, but for the most part the killer is just a big fat ugly redneck. I like that there is no real explanation for who the killer is and why the murders are happening. If you choose to dig deeper into the film you might find some subtext about religion and find a connection between the abandoned church and the “demon” killer. The kids could also represent the “evil” of the big city which threatens to invade the god fearing mountain community. The real focus here is civilization versus barbarism. Our heroine has to become as savage as the killers in order to survive. It’s all a bit more interesting than a guy in a hockey mask randomly killing people, but for some reason flicks like JUST BEFORE DAWN are often dismissed as inferior imitations. The 80’s slasher market was overcrowded, and even in 1981 a superior flick like this could get overlooked.

Shriek Show released a two disc special edition dvd of JUST BEFORE DAWN that was hit & miss. There was only one real negative, but it was a big one! The opening death scene was trimmed and missing some gore footage. Other than that, the print was intact. It’s a little soft looking, but it was watchable. The positives outweigh the negatives of course. The two disc release includes a fantastic hour plus featurette titled “Just Before Dawn: Lions, Tigers, And Inbred Twins” that includes interviews with the cast and crew. Other bonus features include director’s commentary, photo gallery, and the kick ass theatrical trailers. (which I extensively ripped off for this review!) Fans of 80’s slasher flicks need to have this in their collections!

Will you survive those hours…JUST BEFORE DAWN?!?

HUMONGOUS (1982)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082537

It all began with a brutal rape after a drunken bash in Ontario; doesn’t it always? A young woman named Irma is raped by a sweaty fellow who promises to give the “old maid” what she has been missing. This evil act is promptly avenged with violent bestial death when a wild pack of security dogs rip the rapist to pieces, but the seeds of evil were planted deep and a hideous birth is the end result. Irma then hides her deformed monster son on a deserted island protected by the same wild dogs. The island stays deserted over the years because the little monster’s toys were once girls and boys.

Flash forward thirty years: Momma is long since dead, and baby Humongous is now all grown up and free to play. Also playing in the water nearby are a gaggle of teenage imbeciles, including good looking blonde leader Eric and his good natured love interest Sandy. Also along for the boat ride are a geeky chick with glasses named Carla, a hothead with a mullet named Nick, and a chick with huge tits named Donna. The party rages until Nick gets shitfaced and grabs a shotgun. Then a violent power struggle ensues, and a child’s toy boat is lit on fire… at least I think that’s what I just saw. That was a seriously cheap looking effect!

The kids and Bob the boat captain wind up washed up on the island of the Humongous. Nick goes looking for the old lady who supposedly lives on the island and gets chased around by the last remaining wild dog for his efforts. Things then go from bad to worse when Nick lands in a bear trap and then meets Junior. Eric and Sandy eventually wonder off looking for clues. Donna in the meantime makes great use of her massive tits by using them both as a blueberry basket and a blanket. Eric and Sandy discover the always conveniently located photo book full of back story, and then the monster’s basement shrine to momma filled with rotting corpses. When they try to warn the others it’s already too late. Massive malformed hands crush skulls like grapes. Necks are swiftly snapped and fresh bodies are stashed away for later consumption. A fiery deathtrap proves useless. It’s loose…it’s angry…and it’s getting hungry!

HUMONGOUS is one of those rare horror flicks that manages to kick ass despite the fact that the print is pitch black and most likely edited. Most of the death scenes occur in murky darkness and what little you can make out seems trimmed. Despite these fatal flaws, the film is still a kick ass slasher flick with unbeatable atmosphere and violence. Director Paul Lynch had previously struck slasher gold with PROM NIGHT, and once again he proves himself very capable of helming a superior slasher. The story is nasty from start to finish, and there is pretty much zero chance any of the kids will survive.

The Humongous monster is a rather unique slasher killer. His closest living relatives would probably be the freaks in Hell Night. HUMONGOUS is somewhat tame in the blood and guts department, but it’s questionable how much footage was scissored for release. You never get a really good look at the monster: only a few select shots of his deformed face, hands, and body. The monster is not the star of the show here. The focus instead goes to the kids and trying to make them sympathetic body count fodder. This one actually reminds me of Prom Night in that sense. It’s something of a suspense thriller occasionally punctuated with slasher violence, but unlike Prom Night and the majority of other 80’s slasher flicks, in HUMONGOUS there is no element of revenge motivating the killings. This is man versus beast in a struggle for survival.

Sadly, this flick has not had a proper dvd release yet. It’s making the rounds on the internet, but beware of edited prints beings sold as “uncut.” You can tell right away if you have an edited print by watching the opening rape scene. If the scene seems a bit short, it’s edited. If you get several sweaty closeups of the rapist’s face while he pumps away you actually have the UNCUT version. All versions I’ve seen, uncut or otherwise are pitch black. Some are dark to the point of being almost unwatchable. The night scenes become old time radio serials. HUMONGOUS is another great old school horror flick that needs a special edition dvd release. I’d love to “see” this one for the first time!

Do you have the GUTS to watch the trailer for HUMONGOUS?!?

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME (re-release): Starz/Anchor Bay

Welcome to upscale Crawford Academy, where everyone – especially new student Ginny (Melissa Sue Anderson of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE) – wants to be part of the school’s most popular clique. But now somebody has begun butchering the group’s members. Could a deadly accident from Ginny’s past be connected to the brutal killings? And as her 18th birthday approaches, will Ginny be the guest of honor at the most horrific party of all? This twisted slasher shocker from Oscar®-nominated director J. Lee Thompson (10 TO MIDNIGHT) features – as its infamous poster promised – “six of the most bizarre murders you will ever see!”

*NOTE* This flick can currently be found at Wal Mart for $5!!!

You can check out my review of HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME here.

HARDWARE (2 Disc Limited Edition): Severin/ADA

It was the movie that stunned audiences, shocked the MPAA and marked the debut of one of the most uncompromising filmmakers in modern horror. Golden Globe® winner Dylan McDermott (The Practice, Dark Blue) stars as a post-apocalyptic scavenger who brings home a battered cyborg skull for his metal-sculptor girlfriend. But this steel scrap contains the brain of the M.A.R.K. 13, the military’s most ferocious bio-mechancial combat droid. It is cunning, cruel, and knows how to reassemble itself. Tonight, it is reborn…and no flesh shall be spared. Stacey Travis (GHOSTWORLD) co-stars – along with appearances by Iggy Pop, Lemmy of Motörhead and music by Ministry and Public Image Ltd. – in the kick-ass sci-fi thriller from Richard Stanley (DUST DEVIL).

EXTRAS:

* Audio Commentary with Director Richard Stanley
* No Flesh Shall Be Spared – All-New 60 min Documentary Featuring Interviews with Cast and Crew
* ‘Incidents In An Expanding Universe’ – Early Super 8 Version of HARDWARE
* ‘The Sea of Perdition’ – 2006 Richard Stanley Short Film
* ‘Rites of Passage’ – Early Richard Stanley Short Film
* Richard Stanley on Hardware 2
* Theatrical Trailer
* Deleted, Extended & Behind-the-Scenes Footage

THE STEPFATHER (special edition): Shout! Factory

Jerry Blake (Terry O Quinn, Lost) is a man obsessed with having the perfect American Dream life: including the house with the white picket fence in the suburbs, an adoring wife and loving children. He believes he has found it when he marries Susan Maine and becomes the stepfather to her 16-year-old daughter, Stephanie. But Stephanie (Jill Schoelen) gets an uneasy feeling when she is around Jerry with his Father Knows Best attitude: she can see that there is a darker side behind his cheerful exterior. Could she just be going through the typical teenager rebellion against her new stepfather, or is he actually the same man who brutally murdered his family just one year earlier?

EXTRAS:

*Audio Commentary with director Joseph Ruben
*The Stepfather Chronicles: An all-new retrospective featuring interviews with director Joseph Ruben, producer Jay Benson, actress Jill Schoelen, author Brian Garfield and others on the making of the film and its enduring legacy.

You can check out my review of THE STEPFATHER here.

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!

Gory greetings! Check out this weeks Brain Hammer approved horror dvd release, which hits stores Tuesday 10/06/09!

THE GATE (Monstrous Special Edition): Lionsgate

After an old and rotting tree is removed, three young children accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from the hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.

This long awaited special edition dvd release will include a commentary track with director Tibor Takacs, interviews with the cast and crew, a stills gallery, and the original trailer. THE GATE has a well deserved reputation for being one of the most creepy horror flicks to have a pg-13 rating, and this dvd will make a nice addition to your Halloween viewing schedule.

KEEP THE BLOOD AND DEMONS FLOWING!!!