Review: Scum

Published June 27, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

After working all day at Big Bo’s Big Body Parts Shack, I often feel particularly filthy.

My outsides could never look as corrupted as the insides of the lead character in Zach Schildwachter’s potent short, Scum, though. Utilizing testimonials from real life serial killers to populate his killer’s thoughts, Shildwachter creates a very potent, nearly poetic examination here.

Nice editing, solid performances and a sure sense of filmic purpose mark Scum as a vital calling card, making viewers eager for more fine, independent horror from the shores of Ohio, where this mini-opus was filmed.

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

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Astro Radio Z: The Last of Witchcraft!

Published June 25, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

So, this is just like the time I went out with the drooling maniac that my mother (the lesbian prostitute nun) wanted to marry. Even though she didn’t realize it at the time, I was doing her a favor.

Likewise, the charming gents of the amazing podcast Astro Radio Z and myself have taken a bullet for all cinematic voyeurs out there by diving into the entire Witchcraft series! Yes, watching the oftentimes unbelievably boring entries in this soft core horror enterprise was both a horror and a joy – something we all point out in this the (gasp!) final episode covering the last two (ahem!) films in the series.

So, dive in – and if you find that you need a warlock to help pull you out of the mucky abyss – please DON’T call someone named Will Spanner!

http://astroradioz.tumblr.com/post/89509938852/the-final-witchcraft-episode-its-over-listen

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

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Sexy Witch, Dark Side of the Moon!

Published June 24, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Acting like a witch isn’t always a bad thing – especially when you are talking about Charlie Irving and Aaron Cammack, the two versatile performers playing seductive witches in New American Folk Theatre’s Dark of the Moon. I, recently, had the chance to talk with this fabulously talented duo and I am still feeling beguiled and fascinatingly charmed!

Dark of the Moon runs until June 29th, 2014 at the Den Theatre in Chicago. More information is available at http://www.newamericanfolktheatre.org.

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

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The Unexpected Father – A Memoir Piece.

Published June 24, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Me and my real dad.

This is probably my favorite photo of us. We’re in costume for (my first summer stock show) American Primitive.

There is an interesting, vaguely unsettling (to my childhood mind) stage dad story with this, as well. This was 1976 and for the 1.5/2 weeks of rehearsal, a young, very handsome blonde actor had been playing my father in the show. Suddenly, a day or so before we opened, the director (a darker, heavyset guy) took over the part. If I’m not mistaken, that was the plan all along – but I was never told.

Honestly, I don’t think I ever said a word to the first guy off-stage, being enamored and much too shy, but I had definitely bonded with him, theatrically, and didn’t like the change. I was bewildered yet exceedingly polite about the situation – but not happy.

As the show came to a close, the imposter stage dad became increasingly emotional before every performance – stating each night, loudly and dramatically, to me (& to all that were near) that “In two days…one day…tonight…I’m losing a son!!!”

I thought it was the strangest thing ever. I knew we were just acting!

Anyhow, all these years later, I do hope that my second fake dad eventually had plenty of kids who truly loved him – or, as the case may be (bachelor actor!!!), had plenty of fictional theatre children who adored him in all the ways that I certainly couldn’t!

But…

Next time, let a kid know, yo!!!!

Big Gay Horror Fan
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Kelli Maroney Talks!

Published June 23, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

She’s overpowered tiny yet vicious rolling robots, post apocalyptic zombies and a murder happy madman or two – now eclectic genre actress Kelli Maroney is taking over the airwaves.

Along with Rick Farmiloe, Amanda Raymond and Jerry McCarty, Maroney (Chopping Mall, Zero Boys, Night of the Comet) is one of the co-hosts of the truly fun podcast, Rick’s Martini Bar. The show’s most recent guest is the (pictured) legendary Chuck McCann (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Cameron’s Closet), but you can catch up with previous episodes featuring folks like Maroney’s CM co-star Tony O’Dell and former drive-in cutie Kristine DeBell (Meatballs, Cheerleaders Wild Weekend) at the link below, as well!

http://www.mccartymetro.com/podcast.html

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Review: Hell (Naked Hobo Productions)

Published June 17, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

“Lakes of fire just don’t grow on trees!” – Devil, Hell

Short and sassy – that’s how I like my gym teachers and my horror shorts.

Thankfully, ambitious Naked Hobo Productions (based in ever-loving WI) has given us a sharp, quick take on terror comedy with their fun Hell.

Here, the wrongdoing Mr. John Jacobs (a fine Mark Wooldrage) finds that the wicked underworld looks much like Earth and that his options for eternity come with a bizarre twist.

Filled with nice pacing and set-ups (courtesy of director Glenn R. Buettner) and some extraordinarily vibrant photography (courtesy of Dave Garacci), this piece also contains confident performances from all involved (especially in Buettner’s low-key, totally charming Irish accented Devil) making it a truly engaging way to spend 9 (or so) minutes.

Be sure to keep up with all the fiery happenings of Naked Hobo Productions at https://twitter.com/Nakedhobo. Meanwhile, the official page for Hell is https://www.facebook.com/Hellshortfilm.

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

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Review: 7th Day

Published June 14, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

“The real famous people are in the news.” – Allen Dean, 7th Day

In my head, I’ve been a worldly pop star serenading a gaggle of worshipful soap opera actors. I’ve, also, won several Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards and, most importantly, I am still in the shape I was ten years ago!

Mind games, also, weigh in heavily in Dire Wit Films’ explosive 2013 examination 7th Day. A dishwasher in a midrange restaurant, Allen Dean is quiet and shy. Often picked on by his co-workers, Dean harbors a dark secret. He is, also, a notorious serial killer. Or is he? As Allen is followed by a mysterious interviewer, the strong corridors of his reality soon seem to weaken. Could the vivid destruction and grue strewn mayhem that he engages in be nothing but an escape from his dreary existence? Ultimately, the affections of a disdainful waitress that Allen has fallen for may be the only balm for his fractured soul.

Filled to the brim with gut wrenching effects (brilliantly created by Kaleigh Brown), eclectic writer Mark Leake (Isle of the Damned) and leveled director Jason Koch (Aftermath FX Studio) seem to be going for much more than shock value here. Allen’s internal ramblings, ultimately, hit an emotional cord within us all. His inner monologues remind us of how we all would like to react in the face of adversity — calmly and with intelligently well spoken confidence.

Anchored by Mark Sanders’ subtle, surprising sympathetic performance as Allen, 7th Day is an interesting, much needed shot in the arm to the prevalent landscape of independent serial killer adventures.

More info on 7th Day is available at http://www.direwitfilms.com, https://www.facebook.com/pages/7th-Day and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dire-Wit-Films.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

R.I.P. Carla Laemmle!

Published June 13, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

She danced for Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and spoke the first words in the classic 1931 Dracula – and now the iconic Carla Laemmle has breathed her last breath on this planet.

This beloved host of 1999’s The Road to Dracula (and one of the remaining heirs to a Hollywood film dynasty), passed away on June 12th, 2014 at the age of 104.

Loving and appreciative of her fans to the end, Laemmle’s energetic spirit will always reside, though, in those glowing embers of gothic celluloid and the ever sparkling photos that she left behind.

R.I.P., Carla! May your current journey be much smoother than that legendary (cinematic) one from 70 years ago!

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Martin Cummins and the F13 Curse!

Published June 13, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Poor Martin Cummins! 22 years after his Wayne in Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan got fried and grilled…

…his uptight government official in Seattle Superstorm got zapped and quickly extinguished, too!

Some guys just can’t win! Oh, well!

Happy F13, everyone,
Big Gay Horror Fan!

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(Bad) CGI Friday’s: Seattle Superstorm (2011)

Published June 13, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

While sudden rainfall has definitely destroyed one or two of my Batgirl costumes – at least it hasn’t turned me into (unrealistic) vibrating ash like some of the unlucky victims of the Seattle Superstorm!

No way to lend a hand!

After a meteor bound for Seattle is destroyed by the government, powerful storms soon begin to crystallize some unlucky folks while, also, knocking over buildings and whipping tons of underpaid extras around. Thankfully, journeyman actor Esai Morales is on the job as a former NASA scientist who works, mightily, to stop all of that superimposed fog and fake lightening from harming too many people.

With plenty of car crashes, explosions, smoking chemistry experiments and familiar plotline tropes, Seattle Superstorm definitely isn’t high art – but in watching it, every filmic dreamer surely realizes how super fun it would have been to make!

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

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