The Art of Ruff

Published August 25, 2016 by biggayhorrorfan

Ruff Jason

My friend Christine couldn’t come out to play yesterday, but I didn’t mind. I just spent the night at home, writing under the watchful, protective eyes of little Jason, artist Bryan Ruff’s brilliantly gleeful and imaginatively childlike take on the legendary Friday the 13^th villain!

In fact, all of Ruff’s soulful creations prove that the only guardian angels that any true horror lover will ever need are his personality filled imaginings of the younger versions of Michael, Pinhead, Leatherface and so many other terror icons. Ruff Michael

Besides the cute factor – which there is plenty of – what Ruff details, so personally, with these renderings is the innocence that these characters might have had before their more evil instincts took over. It’s a powerful reminder of the humanity that exists in our scares – something that is often overlooked in the flashier aspects of fright culture. It is also what sets Ruff’s work apart from so many other artists who are dealing with the terror genre. In a word, it’s heart.

To get your total horror movie “heart-on”, please visit www.facebook.com/theartofruff and https://www.instagram.com/sir_ruffikins/.

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

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

The Frosty Edge of Danielle Panabaker

Published March 12, 2016 by biggayhorrorfan

girls against boys 2

As a child, my politeness often covered up my (admittedly) rare acts of devilishness.

Radiating with an assured sweetness, the accomplished Danielle Panabaker has used her quiet and pure beauty to, occasionally, surprise audiences with the wide variety of deadly mischievousness that some of her characters have gotten into, as well.

Beloved by terror fans for her work as the kind and resourceful Jenna in the 2009 Friday the 13^th reimagining, she was also adorably spunky in the fun, less well regarded horror sequel, Piranha 3DD. But it is her chillingly cool work as Kevin Costner’s daughter Jane in Mr. Brooks that showed the true depths of her talent, providing viewers with a truly shocking and surprisingly poignant twist ending.

girlsagainstboys-01 Using this duality to smart effect in writer-director Austin Chick’s surreal revenge fantasy Girls Against Boys, Panabaker’s sweet Shae reacts with fevered excitement when she first discovers how good bloody vengeance against those who have harmed her can feel. Here, Panabaker’s eyes glisten with excitement as she and her friend Lu cut a swath through adulterers and rapists and the film’s ending, once again, allows her to cut an ice cold path into the audience’s heart.

Interestingly, Chick’s fantasy seems to either be taking place in an alternative universe, as the murderous duo suffers no consequences for their actions, or in Shae’s fragile head. This tender thread allows Panabaker a wide range of emotions to play with and, ultimately, gives those watching an escape from a reality where the subjugated often have no recourse.

Panabaker, whose exemplary Caitlin on the television series The Flash also recently visited the dark side as Killer Frost, can be kept up with at www.daniellepanabaker.com.

girls against boys 3

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

www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Triumvirate of Horror: Queen Bee (1955)

Published September 10, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Once upon a time, a former goddess of scream met two future contenders to her throne and they all played, very bitchily, together!

Years after facing down the likes of Leslie Banks in The Most Dangerous Game (1932), Lionel Atwill in Doctor X (1932) and Kong in King Kong (1933), the versatile Fay Wray dealt with her most monstrous adversary of all – Joan Crawford’s malevolent Eva Phillips in 1955’s woman-centric noir Queen Bee.

As the addled, childish Sue McKinnon, Wray strikes an incredibly sympathetic pose here. Years earlier, Crawford’s Phillips stole McKinnon’s beau out from underneath her wedding slippered feet and McKinnon has never been the same. On a visit to the Phillips’ Southern mansion, McKinnon is tenderly awash in false memories, lovingly tended to by Eva’s sister-in-law, Carol Lee, warmly played by Betsy Palmer. But when Eva enters the picture, Wray, expertly, falters as McKinnon, hurriedly, rushes away. It is a powerful sequence and one that sets up the twisted, future paths that Eva will wander down – including driving the increasingly fragile Carol Lee to suicide.

Naturally, for horror fans this scene is an exquisite treat. Obviously, Wray, lovingly referred to as the original Scream Queen, and her co-stars had no idea what gothic paths their careers would go down. By the early 60s, Crawford would find her steadiest employment in such thrillers as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Berserk and Strait-Jacket. Palmer, of course, would find joyous infamy as one of the slasher era’s most endearing serial killers, Mrs. Voorhees, in 1980’s seminal Friday the 13th.

Here, though, they are three pros, lovingly, excising all the heightened drama out of the lurid circumstances at hand – terror projects, past and future, be damned.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

In Remembrance: Betsy Palmer

Published June 3, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Those who were lucky enough to meet actress Betsy Palmer, who died at the age of 88 this past weekend, in person, often found themselves inundated with delightful information. Mention her role in a production of Countess Dracula in 1979, at the Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, and she’d blush with love for that particular character and then swiftly reminisce about how she had to make the quickest and most difficult costume changes ever imagined during its run. Producing a leggy, cheesecake photo for her to sign, would elicit a remembrance of how all the young starlets in the 1950s, no matter how serious their intentions, were required to pose for such seductive publicity images. Inquire about her long run as a game show guest during television’s golden years and she’d reveal how she never got to see herself in any of those productions as they were all performed live.

For those who didn’t make Ms. Palmer’s acquaintance, and even for those who had, director S. Shane Marr does the world a great service with Betsy Palmer: A Scream Queen Legend in Her Own Words. Marr, who worked with Palmer on Bell Witch: The Movie, was so enchanted by Palmer’s show biz stories that he ingeniously decided to have her sit before his camera and talk to it as if it were an eager new friend.

We get the familiar Friday the 13th story. Palmer’s car broke down and needing the $10,000, she accepted the role of Mrs. Voorhees even though she hated the script. Palmer delights in the irony that while this killer mommy is her best known role, her decision was initially made because she thought that no one would ever see the film. It is interesting to watch her make sense of her place in film history and hear her analyzing the appeal of her most popular character.

More than that, we learn of Palmer’s humble beginnings and her gradual indoctrination into an acting career.
She regales us with stories of working with famed director John Ford and the behind the scenes controversies of one of her earliest, best known films Mister Roberts. We are, also, told that she actually got along with the combative Joan Crawford on the set of their film Queen Bee. One of the most interesting stories is about her adventures making the obscure, low budget The True Story of Lynn Stuart with Hawaii Five-0′s Jack Lord. Apparently, the real Lynn Stuart visited the set and brought more attention to her presence by elaborately masking herself then if she had just shown up and silently observed.

It would have been nice to have learned something about Palmer’s other genre credits (1999’s The Fear: Resurrection and 2005’s Penny Dreadful) yet she does speak glowingly of the Bell Witch: The Movie and of her then hopes to be involved in any sequels.

Overall, Marr allows us to see Palmer as she truly was – warm and sharply inviting. Here, she, ultimately, proves herself to be that lively aunt or grandmotherly figure that has lived a life that most could only dream of. It’s a visual document that makes her passing all the more bittersweet.

Betsy Palmer: A Scream Queen Legend in Her Own Words is available for free viewing on YouTube and for purchase from Amazon in various formats.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

The Power of Speaking Out!

Published April 8, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Folks fighting the good fight!

I so wasn’t looking for another battle. The constant protesting against and arguing over the minutiae of Indiana’s RFRA law, last week, left me emotionally exhausted. But, I just couldn’t ignore this.

When researching a quick feature on the 2016 remount of Friday the 13th, yesterday, I came upon the Facebook page for the film. I, excitedly, checked it out and noticed that, on March 28th, the page was updated with the film’s new promo poster. While many fans were commenting on the plotline of the film and what certain wording on the poster implied, some idiot decided to leave this comment re: the poster’s image: “this pick is f—g gay as shit and slaps horror in the face . wtf is this garbage?”

The “Gay” Poster

Really? First of all, spell check, buddy! Secondly, I think the poster (pictured) was kind of cool. But, more importantly, I still can’t get over the fact that, in this day and age, the term gay is still be using as an insult and/or as a descriptor for something that is presumably weak or not kick-ass enough. It’s even more discouraging when it comes from a fan of an outsider genre such as horror.

Of course, the last thing I wanted to do was to get into an online shouting match with some buffoon. The idea of going back and forth, while surely being insulted, trying to explain human rights to someone who doesn’t want to get human rights was a totally wearying thought.

But, if the quick turnaround with RFRA taught me anything, it was that being quiet wouldn’t help anything. So, even though my brain was crying, I left this response for him: “As a gay man whose main friends are tattooed, queer hard ass punk rockers, I have to say this image definitely is NOT gay. & seeing as its 2015, isn’t it time that we stopped using gay as a derogatory descriptor?!?”

Then, what do you know?!? While I was taking a moment to wonder if said idiot would even understand anything I wrote, the administrators of the site, quickly, deleted his offensive statement, solving the situation in an incredibly timely manner. (Thank you, F13 folks!)

So, while I am still baffled and discouraged to know there are actually people who still think that my sexuality is wrong and/or makes me lesser than the average person, I am encouraged to be reminded that not speaking out is always the wrong path. Even when the results aren’t instantaneous, to be scared and silent is never the preferable way to live.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Friday the 13th News!

Published April 8, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

There’s always good news and bad news, right?

The Hollywood Reporter recently revealed some more specifics behind the upcoming Friday the 13th film, scheduled to hit theaters on May 13th, 2016.

As for the less than happy news, the latest report does confirm that, as of this time, Platinum Dunes and Paramount are planning to use the found footage format for this latest venture. But, on the more positive side, it was noted that the aim of writer Nick Antosca’s (Hannibal, Teen Wolf) script will be to reveal why Jason has been an indestructible killing force for decades.

While this concept didn’t work so well for Michael and the original Halloween series, it is still an intriguing premise and, hopefully, Antosca will be able to work all forms of slasher magic within this overview.

Be sure to keep up with the latest developments on this project at https://www.facebook.com/Friday13th2015.

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Friday the 13th Art Sale!

Published March 13, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

For cheaply done, strictly commercial projects, the Friday the 13th film series has actually inspired some insanely talented acts of creativity.

Speaking of which, in honor of today’s bloody heritage (3/13/2015), detailed Chicago artist Jeff Lassiter is offering his beautiful Friday the 13th pieces (above) for $20 – for one horror-ificly historic day only!

Check out this deal and Lassiter’s other amazing work at:

http://www.jefflassiter.com

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Douglas McKeown’s ZADD Online

Published January 10, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Ari Lehman welcomes you to ZADD!

Mom always told me wearing that sweater vest would get me into trouble. Now, it’s gotten me killed!!

But, it’s all good! Playing a properly attired business type in Deadly Spawn writer/director Douglas McKeown’s new zombie short ZADD was a shambling blast! Now, this mini monster-piece is finally available for free viewing, online:

Shot and edited in 24 hours (by the ultra amazing Jayme Joyce) and featuring such talents as Friday the 13th‘s Ari Lehman, genre artist Mitch O’Connell (and infant son), Double Page Spread‘s Wendi Freeman and Chateau Grrr ‘s Chad Hawks, I have to say that I am pretty proud of this little adventure in 50s style horror filmmaking.

Now, rock a mean ghoul, everyone!!

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Music to Make Horror Movies By: Pseudo Echo

Published December 7, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Roses, carnations, blood red pansies. Do I smell a reunion in the air? Well, maybe not. But while 2015 promises a new take on Friday the 13th’s iconic Jason, 2014 saw the release of new music from Australian New Wave giants Pseudo Echo, as well.

Slasher freaks, of course, are familiar with the Pseudo crew due to their haunting 80s track His Eyes which found premium placement in Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, the fourth sequel in the original series.

The new stuff, meanwhile, puts a bit more dance in your pants, but is compelling nonetheless.

Be sure to keep up with (lead singer) Brian Canham and crew at

https://www.facebook.com/pseudoecho

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Smooth as the Finest Wine: Interviewing Adrienne King

Published September 13, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Good things are worth waiting for. Four years ago, I was hired to interview Adrienne King for (website) Chateau Grrr. Soon after, Grrr morphed into a YouTube channel and the videos with King have been hard to find. Now, Grrr’s magnificent founder Chad Hawks has made them available on the page, at last!

Here, the open and friendly King talks about the entirety of her career (up until that point) with natural emphasis on Friday the 13th but we, also, chat about her experiences on the set of the legendary television production of Inherit the Wind (with Ed Begley and Diane Baker) and so much more.

Indulge yourself!

On Inherit the Wind and the connection that the queer community and minorities have with her due to her stalking experiences and playing one of filmdom’s honored final girls:

On looping and fighting Betsy Palmer:

On working with Mel House and adventures in wine making:

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

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan