Marcia Lewis: To the Edge of Night with Broadway’s Bloody Wonder!

Published April 29, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Brass Beds, Brass Monkeys, Brassy Dames! Big Gay Horror Fan will take the latter, thank you, especially if it is the grand, larger-than-life goddess of stage and screen, Marcia Lewis (1938-2010).

Lewis made her Broadway debut opposite such powerhouses as Phyllis Diller and Ethel Merman in a production of Hello, Dolly! Their combined magnificence obviously gave her a clue on which coat rack hook to hang her professional personality. Lewis became best known for belting out the goods as the comically evil Miss Hannigan in Annie (appearing with Jason Goes to Hell’s Allison Smith) in the 80’s and as a superior Big Mama Morton in the award winning 90’s revival of Chicago.

Ice Pirates

But, this saucy wonder also appeared in such science fiction efforts as the original Bionic Woman (as an aggressive wrestler on the second season episode ‘In This Corner, Jaime Sommers’) and 1984 goof-fest The Ice Pirates (whose jaw dropping supporting cast included Anjelica Huston, Ron Perlman, John Carradine and Bruce Vilanch).

Terror and thriller enthusiasts were also glazed over with happiness when Lewis appeared in a couple of horror influenced offerings in the late 70’s, as well.

In 1977 television film The Night They Took Miss Beautiful, a handful of glamorous pageant contestants are kidnapped by a group of ruthless, politically charged outlaws. Suffering from roulette style degradation and aggression, these pretty ladies (including genre regular Rosanne Katon, Dallas’ Victoria Principal and Karen Lamm from Ants, AKA It Happened at Lakewood Manor, and The Unseen) soon find their worst enemy just happens to be Lewis’ drippingly sweet, completely savage Mrs. Barrett. As mother to Lamm’s sweet Cindy Lou, Lewis is a wicked wonder. Lewis’ Barrett is so determined that her daughter escape with youth intact, that she offers her up, willingly, as a sexual conquest, to one of the amorous vigilantes. When Lamm/Cindy Lou finally rejects her mother in the telefilm’s final moments, Lewis shows shocked vulnerability yet a steely determination to go on – it is a bravura performance (worthy of a Tennessee Williams’ subplot or two) in an enjoyable yet unsubstantial suspense offering.

In 1982’s Night Warning (AKA Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker among others), which was filmed in the late 70’s, Lewis brings an appropriate yet over-the-top charm to her nosey Margie. As best friend to Susan Tyrell’s increasingly unhinged lead, Cheryl, Lewis radiates with personality. She hits the nail on the head as the much seen housewife who truly wears the pants in the family. It’s a theatrical performance, but one grounded in reality. Concerned yet sneaky, Margie soon faces down the psychotic Tyrell with an emotional resourcefulness brined in great fear. Incidentally, Night Warning has become a deserved cult classic due to it modern take on the Gothic esthetics of hag horror, it’s even keeled treatment of gay characters and subtle looks at the venomous effects of racism.

Here is a fun clip of Lewis trying to manipulate the legendary Phil Silvers in The Night They Took Miss Beautiful:

Be sure to check back often as Big Gay Horror Fan (https://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan) frequently looks at the magical majesty of women in horror.

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

Music to Make Horror Films By: Les Baxter and “Mr. Robot”

Published April 28, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Of his multiple, life altering heroes few rate higher in Big Gay Horror Fan’s book than exquisitely eclectic musician-composer-man of the hour Les Baxter.

Well known to the swinging bachelor pad compilation listener, Baxter actually scored tons of amazing genre flicks throughout the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Titles such as Pharaoh’s Curse, Voodoo Island, Black Sunday (US Version), Corman’s The Pit and the Pendulum and Cry of the Banshee grace his vastly appreciated repertoire.

Here Baxter imagines what love with “Robby” set might be like with this spritely track:

Then, with seemingly ease, he produces an atmosphere of mystic foreboding with “The Gates of Annam” from his superior work Ports of Pleasure. Ports features many compositions that entice and terrify, alternatively, making it the perfect background muse for your homegrown horror efforts.

Stylin’ Les!

Getting “Reddy” for Felicia Day and C2E2 2013!

Published April 26, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

After spending several years being raised by those feral Amazonian mountain women there is nothing Big Gay Horror Fan appreciates more than a flame haired goddess with a gun! Thus the image of the ever eclectic Felicia Day as Red in 2010’s Red: Werewolf Hunter is the perfect way to start off every Friday for me! Well, especially, Friday, April 26th – which marks the beginning of Day’s three day appearance at Chicago’s hope grown geek delight C2E2 (www.c2e2.com).

Of course, the powerful, all too human Red was just another color notch in Day’s already rainbow hued talent. Whether she is sweetly singing as a hopeful human rights activist in Jess Whedon’s fan favorite Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog or providing mischievous escape in her own delightful project The Guild, Day provides vulnerability and excessive quirk – just the right combination for many a discerning viewer.

One of her most recent roles, the recurring character of Charlie Bradbury on the popular spook show Supernatural should ensure Day’s place as a queer icon (if she isn’t already), as well. As the gay Bradbury, Day is an amazing combination of goofy brightness, timid determination and crafty wonder. Sam and Dean need this lady at their side, at all times!! (Or if they don’t – I do!)

Be sure to keep up with all of Day’s zany musings and insanely awesome projects at www.feliciaday.com!

Meanwhile, Big Gay Horror Fan is always worshipping all that is auburn at https://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan, as well.

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

The Theatrical Madness of Slumber Party’s Michael Villella!

Published April 26, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Slumber Party Massacre‘s dedicated original maniac Michael Villella talks with Big Gay Horror Fan about his true passion – theater (a guy after my own heart — or whatever body part he can slash at the easiest!!!) – and his surprise at the eternal legacy and fandom surrounding Slumber Party Massacre.

Be sure to keep up with the eclectic Villella at the Official Slumber Party Massacre Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/officialtheslumberpartymassacre

New Trailer Time with The Hanover House and She Wolf Rising

Published April 25, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

“Bing! You’re a freaking homo!” – She Wolf Rising

Big Gay Horror Fan COULD live by scream queens alone – especially as evidenced by brand new trailers for She Wolf Rising starring Tiffany Shepis, Debbie Rochon and Tina Krause…

…and the truly dramatic and spooky looking The Hanover House featuring Nightbreed‘s singular Anne Bobby

Keep up on the hairy pulse of She Wolf Rising at https://www.facebook.com/Shewolfrising.

More ghostly conjuring can be had for The Hanover House at https://www.facebook.com/TheHanoverHouse, as well.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan (https://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan)!

Talking with the Goddess of Horror: Brinke Stevens!

Published April 24, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Brinke Stevens! Big Gay Horror Fan!! Chatting on film!!! At Cinema Wasteland!!!! Need I say more?

R.I.P. (Horror Soundtrack Goddess) Christina Amphlett

Published April 24, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

World wise sexuality and courageous resolve – No, I am not talking about the hunchbacked warrior goddesses that raised Big Gay Horror Fan, but New Wave rocker, author and actress Christina Amphlett who lost her fierce battle with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis on Sunday, April 21st (2013) at the age of 53.

As the lead singer of Divinyls, Amphlett brought strength and sexuality to the fore in the mid-to-late 80’s with hits such as “I Touch Myself” and (the even more tantalizing) “Pleasure and Pain”. More than anything, perhaps, it was her image as a woman who would take no guff (one Divinyls’ LP was entitled “Temperamental”) that endeared her to the more pin sharp music lovers of the MTV age.

Teens who grew into their terror tights during the reign of Freddy and Jason, also, fondly remember Amphlett as one of the horror soundtrack queens. Divinyls’ songs decorated the background atmosphere of such notable flicks as The Stepfather and (the original) Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Most iconic was her seductive, smoke drenched warbling on “Back to the Wall”, a track that was featured, prominently, in Nightmare on Elm Street 4.

After the Divinyls’ short reign of hit making was over, Amphlett spent the 90’s as a guest vocalist on recordings by legendary folk artist John Prine and appeared on the stage in her native Australia. (She gets extra pink points for portraying Judy Garland in a production of Boy From Oz.) A (hard-to-find) memoir about her battles with disease was published, as well, proving that not only was she one of rock’s most ferocious beauties, but one of its most eclectic, as well.

R.I.P. to one hell of a “Sleeping Beauty”!

The Backside of Horror: Mark Metcalf in “The Final Terror”

Published April 23, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Best known to scare enthusiasts for providing thrills of the evil incarnate variety as The Master on the Buffy, the Vampire Slayer television series, serious character actor Mark Metcalf found himself naked and on the other side of the terror-giving in (1981 lensed, 1983 released) slasher The Final Terror.

As Mike, the kind chaperone of a group of wayward teens (including Grease 2‘s Adrian Zmed and soon-to-be superstars Daryl Hannah and Rachel Ward) on a wilderness outing, Metcalf makes the unfortunate decision to relax with a quick skinny-dip while searching for one of his wards.

Surprised by his girlfriend Melanie (played by the adorable Cindy Harrell), Metcalf is soon bearing his lean booty for crafty cinema-goers as the two prescribe to a little forest loving.

Of course, anyone with their horror stripes knows that even consensual copulation means a horrible death in early 80’s horror flicks. Therefore, Metcalf/Mike’s howling orgasm turns into yodels of pain as the film’s mountainside maniac does him in with a crafty sickle in the back.

Thankfully, Metcalf’s death is one of the film’s more memorable ones and his rump bearing, itself, is notable in a genre that frequently fetishizes the feminine virtues and not the male’s.

Check back here frequently and at http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan as Big Gay Horror Fan often celebrates the sensual, butt shaking dudes of horror.

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

Music to Make Horror Films By: Goo Goes Laves – “Get in! Get Out! Jump!”

Published April 21, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Great Buckets of Blood! No, Big Gay Horror Fan is not talking about old school Roger Corman in this instance. I am actually referring to sexy Brazilian pop band Goo Goes Laves and their horror inspired video for their upbeat track “Get in! Get Out! Jump!”

Filled with spooky houses, scar sporting villains and driller killers galore, this rambunctious offering ultimately gives you the choice of three endings – naturally resulting in a genre filled morning of fun.

Check it!:

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is always giving up the fright film tributes at https://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan!

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

Room 237 – An Appreciation.

Published April 20, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

At a recent dinner celebration at the piping hot Godzilla Café, Big Gay Horror Fan’s beloved Aunt Pamela (a vegan witch, naturally) made a charming and pertinent observation. She noted that the art of the appreciator was often neglected in social and cultural importance – IE that the act of appreciating is just as much of an art form as that of the person doing the creating.

Rodney Ascher’s truly engaging, frequently mindboggling documentary Room 237 takes this notion to grand heights. Highlighting the observations of a handful of devotees to Stanley Kubrick’s highly debated 1980 film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining, Room 237 revels in obsessive fan love and features highly detailed theories on Kubrick’s artistic intent.

Creatively, Ascher never shows the faces of his subjects, but uses clips from Kubrick’s oeuvre (including massive segments of The Shining) to illustrate the interviewee’s points. True horror fans are, also, sure to delight in his liberal use of crowd scenes from Italian gore fests Demons and Demons 2 to help augment the situations described, as well.

Some of the theories introduced are fairly ludicrous (making even the most rampaging nerd feel a bit more normal than he or she did before watching the documentary). One interested party is fully invested in the thought that Kubrick used this film to let the world know his part in helping the government fake the moon landing. (That he then goes on question the validity of this claim in the film’s wrap-up makes the concept even more noteworthy.)

Of course, anyone who has seen the subject film (and lusted after Shelley Duvall’s prairie-like yet seemingly eternal costumes) knows that Kubrick obviously ladled on the influences with this one. So the participants in Room 237 that suggest that he may have been working out his feelings on the Holocaust and the treatment of the American Indians may have some valid points. But, was that the entire extent of his focus (or something that he was even conscious of doing in the moment) – well, who the hell knows?!?

Other funny theories about subtle erections, media manipulation and disappearing Disney images – all seem purely accidental, mere mistakes that Kubrick missed with his over-the-top, highly stylistic directing of this glorious piece of cinema.

Ultimately, Room 237 illustrates how much a work takes on the spirit of the viewer once it is released into the world – giving all the detailed summaries an honest validity of sorts. Perhaps most importantly, for anyone whom has ever obsessed over a certain genre, filmmaker or film, Room 237 brings about a sense of kinship and, as my dear Aunt Pamela suggested, the thought that the audience is just as important as those behind the camera.

Further information about Room 237 can be gathered at www.room237movie.com.

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is always throwing on his best wide-eyed Duvall shriek at http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan, as well!

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