Film

All posts in the Film category

In Fear Of

Published December 29, 2012 by biggayhorrorfan

As you all know, Big Gay Horror Fan’s biggest fear is himself! Thankfully (for viewers), that is NOT one of the fears that is covered in the amazingly fun, absolutely free web series In Fear Of featuring genre legend Debbie Rochon and other amazing horror regulars like Raine Brown, David Marancik and Suzi Lorraine.

Directors Scott W. Perry, Jeremiah Kipp and Mike Polizzi DO cover such fears as Selenophobia (fear of the moon), Podophobia (fear of feet) and Thanatophobia (fear of feet), though.

Kipp’s initial segment Monophobia: Fear of Being Alone is a wacky delight featuring an energetic, humorously layered performance from Rochon (sporting a sleekly gamine hair style). Rochon has a perfect scene partner in Marancik who gives a subtle and committed performance as a man caught in a torturous date that just will not end! For all those concerned, though, this piece’s highlight definitely has to be when Rochon, giddily, reads graphic gay sex personals out loud to a clearly unresponsive Marancik.

Be sure to check the whole series out at: www.youtube.com/infearofwebseries.

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is always exploring the stuff that frightens him at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

(Have a Mary, Bloody X-Mas With) Home for the Holidays!

Published December 25, 2012 by biggayhorrorfan

Living solo, Big Gay Horror Fan never has to worry about billing. I ALWAYS top line! But, gothic and gruesome 1972 made for television holiday horror Home for the Holidays had five divas battling for glory – (then television star) Sally Field, (the legendary) Julie Harris, (very popular) Jessica Walter, (Oscar nominee/screen legend) Eleanor Parker and (Broadway Baby-the original Sally Bowles, herself) Jill Haworth (whose British origins reveal themselves, slightly, throughout the telefilm).

Therefore, the opening of this grande dame fest is particularily fun. Field and Haworth are Starring, Harris is a Guest Star while Parker is a Special Guest Star and (rounding it up) Walter makes a Special Appearance (By). Whoa! Who doesn’t want to re-visit those contract negotiations?!?

And while there is definitely some mayhem here – including death by pitchfork and a deep sea bathtub drowning – the main fun of this John Llewellyn Moxey (Horror Hotel AKA The City of the Dead) helmed event is watching our beautifully filmed dames go at it.

Field, Haworth, Parker and Walter are estranged siblings reunited to support their cranky father whom claims his current wife (Harris) is trying to do away with him. Of course, Harris’ character was accused (and found innocent) of her first husband’s murder, so the five have plenty of heavily twisted encounters. Think The Women with a twist of Days of Our Lives and an early 1970’s slasher hybrid.

All are in fine velvet form, here, but Walter is truly heartwrenching as an alcoholic socialite type who still can’t forgive her father’s role in her mother’s death, many years previous. Meanwhile, Harris (never looking prettier) walks a fine line between compassion and menace as the (seemingly) shady stepmother.

You can watch Home for the Holidays, in the whole, here:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=home+for+the+holidays+1972&mid=019C87ED016B5D941630019C87ED016B5D941630&view=detail&FORM=VIRE2

So, Mary Bloody X-Mas – and until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan (http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan)!

Dive into Snow Shark!

Published December 20, 2012 by biggayhorrorfan

The only thing that Big Gay Horror Fan used to find in the snow, growing up, was the local drunk, Ralph.

Thankfully, writer-director Sam Qualiana and Metroshia Productions have come up with something a bit more toothy for their frosty wonderland walks with the delightful sounding Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast. Currently touring the festival circuit, you can keep up with this icy, body chopping flick at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Snow-Shark-Ancient-Snow-Beast/184154051607263

Watch the trailer here:

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is always getting into the gruesome fins at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan!

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE! – Big Gay Horror Fan!

Carole Lombard is Supernatural!

Published December 18, 2012 by biggayhorrorfan

Oh, the things that Big Gay Horror Fan wishes he never knew: Love in a rectory with the bulbous priests of destruction – The wraith of the Dragon Lady as she paraded, shoeless, through the offices of hell – The call of the self hating id as it wakes him early in the morning and hounds his every waking second! All are things that I wish I could forget! But the discovery that Golden Age screen goddess Carole Lombard appeared in a Universal horror film? That’s a fact that I want to treasure forever!

Best known as the snappy comedienne in such treasured flicks as Twentieth Century, My Man Godfrey and Nothing Sacred, 1933’s Supernatural was Lombard’s only attempt at an occult flavored offering. Directed by Victor Halperin, coming off the grand delights provided by 1932’s White Zombie, Supernatural has all the components of being a runaway success – including a powerful feminist stance provided by Vivienne Osborne’s sadistic murderess, Ruth Rogan. Yet, despite it moments of intense enjoyability, this Supernatural is a bit of a structural mess.

Quite simply, there is too much going on for a solid aura of creepiness to establish itself. 1941’s The Wolf Man had its quaint, gypsy laden countryside with gothic overtones while 1931’s Frankenstein mixed a bit of laboratory madness into that mix. But, Supernatural features a friendly ghost, a mad scientist type, a female serial killer, a murderous charlatan psychic and a possession subplot, and bops from set piece to set piece, ultimately producing a movie that never quite gels.

Still Lombard, whom apparently felt ill-at-ease away from her more comic playing grounds, delights with grisly glee once Roma, her heiress character, is taken over by the recently executed murderess, played in the film’s opening moments, with chilling ease by character actress Osborne.

More enjoyable, though, are the subtle Pre Code touches, including roaches scattering about a cackling landlady’s sink and Lombard’s breast being groped AND one grand, glass enclosed set piece that is introduced in the latter part of the film.

Determined to stop Rogan’s ghostly influence after her death, Carl Houston, a concerned doctor played by H.B. Warner, is experimenting on her corpse in a window coated laboratory, located in a penthouse suite in the heart of the city. Halperin brings all the glorious mood that would have made this movie truly memorable to this sequence. As Lombard and the handsome Randolph Scott discover what Houston is up to, Rogan’s influence is truly felt and one wishes that screenwriter Garnett Weston would have found a way to focus more of the story here.

Still, true fans of women in horror are sure to delight in sassy Lombard’s appearance in a dusty horror flick and the movie (available only on VHS) is definitely worth tracking down if only to gander at all of its (too) plentiful elements of spook.

Be sure to check back as Big Gay Horror Fan often uncovers the femmes of fright. Keep a (well arched) eye on http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Nightbreed’s Anne Bobby: Occupation: Artist!

Published July 13, 2012 by biggayhorrorfan

Best known to genre freaks as “Lori” in Clive Barker’s seminal Nightbreed, stunningly eclectic actress-writer Anne Bobby is definitely more than a one scream wonder. From the stage (Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing with Jeremy Irons, the acclaimed 1994 revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along)to television (cult series Cop Rock and the delightful trio of Bride films featuring Rue McClanahan and Kristy McNichol) to books (including a notable collection focusing on her love of dogs), Bobby is simply a multi-faceted creative wonder. Thankfully, Big Gay Horror Fan was able to stop swooning long enough to have a reasonably minded chat with this generous performer on the eve of her appearance on Friday, July 13, 2012 in Chicago at Terror in the Aisles 11 (http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/224106554368445/)to celebrate the more in depth Cabal cut of Nightbreed.

BGHF: What a cool life you have led. Lori in Nightbreed, appearances in films by Todd Solondz and Ted Demme and you are the voice of Brigid Tenenbaum for the Bioshock games!

Anne: Well, what I say about my voiceover work is there is only one other profession where you can go into a dark room and come out a half hour later $200 richer.

BGHF: (laughing) That is so awesome!

Anne: Honestly, they have given me so much freedom. I’m able to do theater and my volunteering and undertake so many other projects because of them.

BGHF: And you have a bunch of appearances lined up to celebrate this restored version of Nightbreed, as well. You must be having a blast with the fans of the film!

Anne: Well, I am a Twilight Zone fanatic. I can guess the episode within the 1st or 2nd frame. I always rejoice when I discover there are a few more moments to be had – you know, those few extra seconds with George Takei or what have you. So, I can totally understand the joy of the fans of this film.

BGHF: Well, as a fan of the film, myself, I have often wondered about your take on Lori. It seems like she may have some doubts about Boone’s innocence at certain moments in the released film. Was that something that you wrestled with as an actress?

Anne: Lori never doubted Boone for a second. She just simply believed he didn’t do it and went about trying to prove that. It’s very clear in this version.

BGHF: Interesting. Was there a moment that you were less clear of in the film? Something that made you take a jump back?

Anne: Well, I love snakes. In one scene I had to descend a flight of stairs, have a brief scene and then run up the stairs again – which were covered in snakes! I was trying so hard to be careful, but I slipped and landed on top of an albino python. I let out the biggest scream because I absolutely believed I had killed the snake.

BGHF: You didn’t, of course!

Anne: He finally revived himself – and all was well.

BGHF: Good! Tell us about Cop Rock! It was such a unique show – police officers breaking out into song. Way ahead of its time!

Anne: I loved it! It was the forerunner to a lot of things. It took the pressure off. “Don’t worry, Glee! Cop Rock started it all!”

BGHF: Did you perform the songs to tracks or were they done live?

Anne: Most of them were recorded beforehand and we played to tracks. Some of the quieter ones we did live and those were lifted on set. We were all singers from Broadway or bands, so we were able to do what was required.

BGHF: And you have some recordings out there, correct?

Anne: I did the first revival of Merrily, We Roll Along and that soundtrack is readily available.

BGHF: You’ve written plays, as well.

Anne: I did a solo show about journalist Rebecca West. It ran Off Broadway and toured the Netherlands with none other than Xaviera Hollander producing it.

BGHF: That is beyond cool. The Happy Hooker! And she is someone whom I am sure has definitely seen her share of bad press!

Anne: I think she saw the journey as a very important one. She’s a remarkable woman, Xaviera… with an amazing bed and breakfast.

BGHF: Well, you are amazing, too! A one woman show!

Anne: I think every actor should do a one person show– once! For over 80 minutes, I went from playing practically a 90 year old to 16 and then aging back to the 80’s again.

BGHF: It’s something I would have loved to have seen. Was that your favorite theater project?

Anne: You know, I think my favorite project is the play I am working on, right now. It’s a play about a very fascinating actual historical figure that I discovered in a used bookstore in New Orleans after Katrina.

BGHF: How about a film project? Is there one that sticks out in your head?

Anne: Film wise, there are those occasional projects where you say, “I’ll do anything – hire me!” Like Todd Solondz’s Happiness, when I read that script it was just something I had to do. I did something I had never done before — I went in and begged to be in the film. (Laughs) “I’ll do anything! Let me do this film!”

BGHF: Well, you keep me in awe, my friend. Singing, writing, voiceovers, acting! Amazing!

Anne: Well for me, Occupation: Artist is the way to go.

BGHF: Brilliant! Occupation: Artist! Let’s leave it at that!

So, while I recover from my encounter with scintillating Bobby, I wish you Sweet love and pink Grue,

Until the next time,

Big Gay Horror Fan!

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan