Tales of Poe (Official Trailer)

Published July 31, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

TOP’s Donaldson (Curtains, Funeral Home)

Dine at the Scream Queen Buffet?!? With appearances by (femme horror film regulars) Debbie Rochon, Adrienne King, Amy Steel, Caroline Williams, Lesleh Donaldson, Susan Adrienson, Amy Lynn Best and Zoe Daelman Chlanda that is exactly what Bart Mastronardi and Alan Rowe Kelly’s upcoming Tales of Poe invites you to do!

…and the official trailer makes the whole shrieking affair look like bloody awesome fun, as well!

Now that you’re heeding the raven’s call, be sure to entomb yourself with all this awesome (literary based) project has to offer at the following sites:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tales-of-Poe and

http://www.talesofpoe.com

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Book Review: Melody Burning

Published July 30, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Just like the kid who wolfs down 5 corn dogs and then gets on the parking lot fair’s Tilt-a-Whirl, you have to let a lot go to buy into Whitley Strieber’s first young adult novel Melody Burning. But suspension of disbelief here, ultimately, results in a fun, quick read with a number of surprises and some fairly shocking charms.

Teen pop star/television actress Melody Mc Grath moves into the elite Beresford apartment building with her controlling manager-mother. Melody soon discovers, Phantom of the Opera style, the Beresford is home to a hunky teen boy who has grown up among its elevator shafts and secret passageways. As the two fall in love, the building’s murderously corrupt owner plots to incinerate it, hence the novel’s wonderfully sparky title.

Strieber (Wolfen, The Hunger) gets down the intense nature of control and rigidity that most younger people are exposed to when nailing down a show business career – making us sympathize greatly with Melody and her fate, both emotionally and physically. He, also, doesn’t candy coat the worlds of syndicate crime or the juvenile court system, most extremely highlighted by a sequence implying the reality of homosexual rape in group lockdown.

All the truthful harshness, though, is definitely leavened by the almost fairy tale nature of the two leads’ courtship and the radical change in thinking of Melody’s guardian by the tale’s explosive end.

You can keep up with Strieber’s adventures (literary and otherwise) at http://www.unknowncountry.com.

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

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Dennis Weaver

Published July 27, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Battling down a mysterious truck driving stranger in Duel? Count television maverick Dennis Weaver in! Hitting a high note? H-m-m…maybe not so much!

Yet, like 70s boob tube regulars Chad Everett and Telly Savalas, the late Weaver (who, also, co-starred with Valerie Harper in 1982’s truly spooky Don’t Go To Sleep) cut a number of (probably pretty misguided) albums.

Granted, our Stetson sporting buddy infused his recordings with a cheery folksy vibe that makes them a bit easier to take than Savalas’ monotone talk-sing. ‘sides, everybody likes critters, right?!?

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

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Bad CGI Friday’s: Shark Week (2012)

Published July 25, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

While not nearly as hotly electric as her death in Kick-Ass 2, the unstoppable Yancy Butler has lent some charged pizzaz to such low budget animal-horror-oaters like Rage of the Yeti, Wolvesbayne and the Lake Placid series, of late.

Unfortunately, as the demented mistress of a madman who likes “to watch”, she is the most exciting thing about 2012’s Shark Week, The Asylum’s quick attempt to cash in on Shark Night’s mainstream release. Much of this aquanoid terror is spent watching a group of folks wander around an island (often not even in the water) trying to outwit a variety of murderous fin sporting creatures.

Naturally, the numerous attacks are created using bad CGI effects – often distorted by shaking camera work in a seeming attempt to overcome their obvious weaknesses.

Granted, with a super ridiculous shark-on-a-spear effect and a cat-fight between Butler’s Elena and Erin Coker’s victorious journalist, things do escalate a bit as the film heads into its final half hour.

Besides, what else are you going to be doing with your time? Studying Sharks-speare?

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

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Heiress Horror: Formula for a Murder (1985)

Published July 24, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Ruth: “I almost envy her. What a way to die, making love.”
Craig: “I know a place where you can watch.”

While they might not all enjoy the terror subgenre of Heiress Horror (wherein a sweet moneyed miss is done wrong so others may gain her fortune), The Society of Disgruntled Altar Boys simply has to enjoy the 1985 rarity Formula For A Murder for another reason. Here, two men of the cloth are, alternately, razored and bludgeoned to death with vicious glee by the film’s cash grubbing antagonist. Note: Never take a donation from amnesia stricken cripple, folks!

Yes, our leading lady here, Joanna (a modestly thoughtful Christina Nagy) is confined to a wheelchair due to being viciously attacked, as a child, by a man impersonating a priest. Now, that the money is coming her way, a proposal from a hunky archery (???) coach falls on her lap. Of course, post-marriage, a morbid case of gas-lighting soon ensues.

Here, though, director/co-screenwriter Alberto de Martino (The Tempter, Blood Link, Contraband) lets you know, fairly quickly, that it is indeed the young woman’s new love (a finely outrageous David Warbeck) and her saucy best friend who are planning her undoing. With her noted weak heart, Craig (Warbeck) plans to fuck Joanna to death!

Of course, strange dreams, betrayals and growing affections alter the course here and soon blood is being spilled in all directions. Even fans of strictly classic cinema should get a (minor) kick out of the proceedings due to the appearance of Rossano Brazzi (South Pacific, The Italian Job, Omen III) as Joanna’s concerned mentor.

Still, more than anything, this is a movie to track down for Warbeck’s blazingly frightful work. Those familiar with his heroic antics in Twins of Evil and The Beyond will be delighted by the frenzied passion he brings to this role. With demonic energy pouring from his eyes, he attacks the landscape (and Nagy) with an over brimming psychosis and scenery chewing panache.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Retro Shark Bait Village: Isn’t It Shocking? (1973)

Published July 23, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

The disgruntled, time biding killers of slasher classics like Prom Night and Terror Train have nothing on the very creepy, incredibly patient Justin Oates of 1973 telefilm Isn’t It Shocking? 45 years after his then girlfriend humiliated him during a naked tumble with another gent, Oates returns to his small home town to enact his revenge – using a jacked out defibrillator that causes quite a jolt!

As enacted by veteran tough guy Edmund O’Brien (DOA, The Killers), Oates is a sweaty, candy inhaling freak. O’Brien’s commitment to this odd creature, ultimately, helps secure Oates’ place as one of the more notable villains of the small screen’s golden age of TV movies.

Working with quaint and quirky charm, director John Badham (Dracula, Blue Thunder) ekes pleasantly effective performances from his entire cast, though. Granted, many of the feature’s older generation end up on the cold end of a slab. But as the beleaguered and bewildered sheriff, Alan Alda cuts a completely sympathetic figure and he blends effortlessly with the perkily unusual energy of Louise Lasser, playing his efficient, crime solving secretary.

Ruth Gordon as the saucy Marge, the last name on the madman’s list, supplies the expected zesty fabulousness, but true pleasures are, also, derived from Dorothy Tristan (Suspended Animation) and Will Geer as a daughter-father doctor team who help Alda and Lasser solve the case. These two are so unexpectedly enjoyable that they almost steal the show from the rest of the very, very fine cast.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Overview: Terror in the Aisles presents Short Cuts

Published July 22, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Money was raised (for AIDS charity Vital Bridges), chills were induced and laughter resounded throughout the theatre during Terror in the Aisles’ latest movie event Short Cuts. Taking place at the historic Davis Theatre in Chicago, Short Cuts featured the mini-masterpieces of over a dozen Midwestern filmmakers. Introducing the audience to works of humor, homage and serious horror, this one-of-a-kind event, ultimately, offered up a program that I was truly honored to serve as host of.

Introducing the directors!

With many of the artists on hand to celebrate, each abbreviated feature contained true points of interest. Industrious Tony Wash (Its My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To) even utilized the event to promote his anticipated upcoming compiliation World of Death, featuring many of the selections submitted to last fall’s ABC’s of Death competition. John Pata, coming off the high of his critically acclaimed feature Dead Weight, also, choose Short Cuts as the Chicago premiere site of his latest (poetically macabre) effort Pity.

Clark & Pata chatting

Personal favorites included Red Clark’s fun The Pool. Detailing the comeuppance of a bratty sibling, this charming throwback ends with some nifty camera work and a startling monster reveal. Lowcarbcomedy’s hysterical 4th Rule of Gremlins, meanwhile, offers up a very naughty take on what not to do with everybody’s favorite furry monsters. David Schmidt’s mock trailer for House on Nightmare Lane, also, hit the mark. Here, Schmidt combines the atmosphere of such classic flicks as The Haunting with the acting style of such drive-in favorites as Frankenstein’s Daughter. Overall, it’s like opening the (rusting) gates to a real winner!

Keep up with World of Death at https://www.facebook.com/worldofdeathfilm and Pity at https://www.facebook.com/PityFilm . Lowcarbcomedy rules the roost at http://www.lowcarbcomedy.com and Vital Bridges is always keeping up the good work at http://www.heartlandalliance.org/vital.

Meanwhile, you can keep updated with Terror in the Aisles at https://www.facebook.com/terrorintheaisles and me at http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan.

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

Defending Jaws 4: The Revenge!

Published July 19, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Frequently, I have been referred to as all wet! While this may certainly be true in some cases, it does not apply when considering the fact that I believe the widely reviled Jaws 4: The Revenge is actually a pretty fun, vaguely feminist romp.

Recently, the distinguished gents of Astro Radio Z (including jocular host Derrick Carey) took a moment to examine their favorite films (including such titles as Firewalker, Staying Alive and Megaforce) that, currently, have a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

You can hear all about them and discover why I think Jaws 4: The Revenge is a perfect 50% at the link, below:

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

G-FEST 2014: Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion

Published July 17, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

A recent showing of Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion (1996) at G-FEST 2014 in Rosemont, IL proved that while Americanized dubbing may occasionally miss the mark, it can often produce truly hilarious results. (Especially, if like me, your sense of humor hasn’t regressed much beyond the 5th grade!)

This tale of everyone’s favorite avenging turtle facing down sprawling tentacle creatures, that just happen to be waging mass destruction for a huge alien invader, featured such comical readings as:

“The second it flowered, we were completely helpless!”

“We cannot afford another Sendai!”

“He’s going straight for the Big One!”

“Gamera is alive. He will come back for us. Gamera will not let the Legion win!”

“I don’t have time to argue with you! Give me every ounce of your power!”

“The Big One is right on top of us”

“The Big One has something new up its sleeve!”

“It’s the Big One! He made it past the last barricade!”

Still hurting from that last one… and with hopes that you brought your own double entendres (because mine are all used up), Big Gay Horror Fan!

Still giddy from Gamera!

PS: G-FEST is held every July in Rosemont, IL. For more information, take a look at http://www.gfan.com.

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Emi Gennis: Sweet Princess of Unknown Origins

Published July 16, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Recently, I was truly lucky to get a chance to chat with adorably talented editor/comic creator Emi Gennis about Unknown Origins and Untimely Ends, the comic book anthology she edited featuring macabre true life stories and unending crime mysteries.

Gennis has promised more scintillating horror flecked work in her future. So, be sure to check out http://www.emigennis.com and http://www.hicandhoc.com.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan