Music to Make Horror Movies By: Tim Curry

Published November 16, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

This truly calls for some high heels and fishnets! Renowned for his lascivious portrayals in such cult classics as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and It, the versatile Tim Curry, also, released three solo albums in the late 70s and early 80s.

1981’s Simplicity, the last of the three, contains a truly spooky version of Squeeze’s Take Me I’m Yours. Menacing and sexual, this cut is only a little over three minutes, but it is truly one of Curry’s finest hours.

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

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Retro Sharkbait Village: Fer De Lance (1974)

Published November 15, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

“Terror Strikes the Trapped Crew!”

A little bit of herb is never a bad thing, right? Well, that is, unless you’re Frank Bonner (who’d go onto television fame playing the obnoxious Herb Tarlek on WKRP in Cincinnati) and you’re playing Compton, an intellectually absent mate on a submarine. Here, Bonner/Compton’s idea of a gag is to smuggle a basket full of highly poisonous fer-de-lance snakes onboard for his next assignment. Naturally, Bonner- Compton and his bunkmate soon wind up very, very comatose.

Thus begins 1974 television horror-adventure show Fer-de-Lance. Starting out promisingly enough, with Bonner actually supplying plenty of rascally charm, this piece soon turns into more of a choppingly paced action film (as the submarine becomes landlocked between some underwater rock formations) than an out and out source of animal terror. Lead David Janssen even spends a major part of the running time flat on his back in a decompression chamber.

Best known to terror aficionados for playing the concerned matriarch role in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, the pixie-like Hope Lange does show up as a Naval Commander Elaine Wedell, proving these type of genre flicks did (and do) offer female performers a terrific chance to stretch outside of the typical girlfriend and mom roles. Other notable female roles in this venture include a diving champ (who performs a dangerous rescue mission) and Lange’s trustworthy underling, a lieutenant.

Still, Lange and Janssen are pretty much just phoning it in here with even the slithery yet jokey final shock scene not playing as well as it should. Dominic Frontiere does do impressive work with the musical score, though. He creates a soundtrack that is aquatically majestic and skin-shiveringly slithery.

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

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A Double Page Spread Halloween!

Published November 15, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Don’t worry, Virginia! Halloween never dies. Especially if you’re the divine Wendi Freeman and your (comic book oriented) podcast is called Double Page Spread!

In one of her latest installments (ep. 98), the winning Freeman interviews Andrew Pepoy, the man responsible for the variant covers for Afterlife with Archie, that splatter-ific take on Riverdale, post zombie apocalypse, and Robert Hack, the genius whose artwork is making many folks take a very different, totally spooky look at Sabrina, everyone’s favorite teen witch.

Be sure to take a listen at:

http://doublepgspread.tumblr.com/

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

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Hell of a Gal: The Blancheville Monster

Published November 13, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Hell of a Gal explores the many genre credits of the eclectic, eternally glamorous Helga Liné.

Every time I try to float into a room, I wind up tripping over my shoelaces! But, as the sensually foreboding Miss Eleonore (the companion and resourceful assistant of a regal heir) in 1963’s The Blancheville Monster (AKA Horror), the stunning Helga Liné seemingly glides into spaces with creepy panache.

Thus, despite the presence of an ominous nobleman (or two) and the escape of a crazed and disfigured father figure, Line is, ultimately, the most frightening thing on display, here.

Forever wielding needles, knives and glasses filled with potions, Liné invests her creation with such cool mystery that it appears even her cheek bones could kill you, if your trespasses were serious enough.

Of course, director Alberto De Martino and cinematographer Alejandro Ulloa fill this tale (of a young college woman battling the dangers of a family curse) with shady texture and magnificently ominous shots of mausoleums and drafty castles. (You can even see the actors’ breath in certain shots, determining that this must have been a very frightful shoot for reasons other than haunting predictions.)

But, the arresting Liné, ultimately, cancels out even the ancient architecture. She combines the wide eyed, horrific glamour of Vampira with the elegance of a European duchess to create an indelible role in this minor Italian horror masterpiece.

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

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The Art and Writing of Kate Davis

Published November 12, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Climbed a couple of cavernous mountains without protection? Fought off a pack of mildly satanic poodles with your bare hands? Pffft! You haven’t truly lived dangerously until you’ve checked out the amazing artistry of the genuinely amazing Kate Davis!

A prime journalistic contributor for Forces of Geek and an amazingly inventive terror artisan, Davis has recently launched a Facebook page, so that everyone (with any horror loving sense) can keep track of her latest accomplishments.

https://www.facebook.com/katedangerously

Her latest article for FOG is, also, pretty amazing. There, in two parts, she chronicles 30 genre epics that opened in 1984. Even the most studly walking filmography is bound to find some info in this fun and sassy expose that he/she previously hadn’t know about!

http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2014/10/1984-30-cult-and-horror-flicks-in-30.html

Bravo, Madame Davis!!!

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

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Horror Movie Poster Exhibit

Published November 11, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Small but mighty has worked well for Brenda Lee and other powerhouse vocalists. It works pretty well for the Horror Movie Poster Exhibit at I AM Logan Square Gallery, 2644 1/2 N. Milwaukee, in Chicago, as well. The posters on display are all original theatrical items, including one sheets and lobby cards, donated by the historic Logan Theatre (based right next store to the gallery).

While many terror fiends may have more original artwork in their house than is on display here, the exhibit’s purpose cannot be denied. Created to acknowledge the power of the images contained in these advertisements, the organizers’ do, ultimately, elevate these pieces to a place of high art and strike a blow to the perception that these films and their (often potent images) are just pure schlock.

Nicely, the exhibit, also, contains some rare images and features work on films that even the most well versed fan may never have heard of. (1974’s Golden Needles, anyone?)

Unfortunately, this particular show is closing on 11/14/2014, but you can keep up with future offerings at https://www.facebook.com/IAMLoganSquare.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Dead Kansas

Published November 10, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Looks like things will never be the same again, Toto! Dead Kansas’ writer-director-producer Aaron Carter (and his multi-talented crew) just won Best Zombie Film at the 2014 Fantastic Horror Film Fest in San Diego!

Featuring a strong heroine (a passionate Erin Miracle), Dead Kansas details what happens when a determined young woman traverses across the barren land of a once thriving state in order to save her father. Chased by a band of renegades determined to use her to jumpstart society and the hungry undead (known here as Rottens), Carter’s vision shows how far a little bit of attitude and a sure sense of familial love can take someone.

Naturally, some performances here are stronger than others, but genre veteran Irwin Keyes (as a kindly character known as the Giant) continues to prove that his versatility is pretty much endless.

Most significantly, Carter has made his feature available, for free, online.

You can keep up with further news on this shambling, rock n roll style epic at

https://www.facebook.com/deadkansas, as well.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Music to Make Horror Movies By: David Johansen

Published November 9, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Forever proving a connective energy between rock n roll and horror, the outrageous antics of such bands as KISS, Twisted Sister, The Runaways and New York Dolls have always found favor with fans of terror.

Yum! The Dolls!

David Johansen, the eclectic lead singer of the glamorous, hyperactive New York Dolls, took the strand even further by essaying roles in such fright flicks as Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) and Campfire Stories (2001). His 1984 solo album Sweet Revenge (which directly preceded his popular stint as Buster Poindexter), also, featured such ominous creations as the title track, Too Many Midnights (is there such a thing?) and Big Trouble.

Johansen even gave a highly energetic performance of the album’s King of Babylon on the (then) mega-blockbuster television series Miami Vice:

Granted his rap, there, may have some shrieking in terror – but more forgiving souls will believe that, always a consummate professional, he delivers it with gutsy panache.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Doug McKeown’s ZADD!

Published November 8, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

ZADD

Sticky rivers of beer and pop; ghoulish make-up; excited horror fans getting to work with the genius mind behind one of the 80s most beloved creature flicks. You don’t come across those ingredients everyday – so when it comes along, you jump on that spongy beast with enthusiasm!

BGHF, Wendi and Chad

Indeed, after twenty some years away from the horror film making field, Douglas McKeown, director of the chewy, beloved Deadly Spawn, set upon Chicago this October, with a cinematic vengeance. In a matter of days, he and a bevy of local talent (including amazing DP and film editor Jayme Joyce) created a fun, short terror film (ZADD) with a pertinent social message attached to boot!

Jayme: capturing magic

Eager participants (including artist Mitch O’Connell and his infant son, Double Page Spread’s Wendi Freeman, Chateau Grrr’s Chad Hawks and myself) gathered at the historic Portage Theater, one Thursday, for an afternoon of intense mayhem. We were all playing ghouls who had been run over by an extremely dangerous drunk driver. Once some minimal grey face make-up was applied (often by McKeown himself), we lumbered into the theater. Soon we were all hovering behind the seats in the theaters, trying to ignore the calcified remains of beverages that had dried on the floors and were now sticking to our hands. After appropriately scaring our murderer, an action that McKeown directed with knowing insistence and humor, we washed our deadliness off in the theater’s tiny sink and soon adjourned to a local parking lot. There, we enacted our death scenarios. Let’s just say, anyone who ever had a fantasy involving James Brolin and 70s cult masterpiece The Car slept soundly that night.

After a day and a half of consistent editing and some voiceover magic, ZADD premiered at The Massacre 2014 on Saturday, October 18th, before a rare screening of Deadly Spawn. With a solid premise, a surprise cameo appearance from Ari Lehman from Friday the 13th and a ghoulish sense of 50s monster movie dread, this little flick proves that McKeown hasn’t lost any movie making magic.

McKeown & ZADD Cast

Be sure to keep up with McKeown at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Deadly-Spawns-director-Douglas-McKeown and, while you’re at it, urge him to procure an online release for ZADD as soon as possible.

McKeown & BGHF

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Paul Leeming’s Pieces of 8

Published November 7, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Controversy is never a bad thing. Right?

Accomplished director Paul Leeming is finding this out with his visually stunning, syrupy ode to female regret, Pieces of 8. A quick yet potent look at the specific damages that personal freedom can promote, this ripping horror piece has been gaining protests from those who believe it buys into a pro-life agenda.

But here, Leeming, a pro-choice atheist in real life, seems to be simply acknowledging the fact that, while a vital option, there is nothing easy about the decision to terminate a life. This is something that this richly acted, agonizingly gorgeous piece brings home hard.

You can keep up with Leeming and his production company Visceral Psyche at

https://www.facebook.com/visceralpsyche.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan