Egomaniac is a British comedy horror film co-produced, written, edited and directed by Kate Shenton (GIMP; Send in the Clowns). Its stars Nic Lamont, Adam Rhys Davies (The Twins Macabre), Laurence Harvey (Human Centipede 2 and 3), Dan Palmer (Stalled) and Eric Elick (Rats, The Package).

It should not be confused with Svend Ploug Johansen’s 2015 Danish short film of the same name. 

The film has its premiere in London on 28 August 2016 at the Horror Channel FrightFest.

Plot:

Filmmaker Catherine Sweeney is determined to make a zombie horror romantic comedy. However, in order to get the funding, everyone in the industry is telling her to put a talking dog in it. Desperate, Catherine does whatever it takes to get her film made… Even at the cost of her own sanity.

Cast and characters:

Catherine Sweeney – Nic Lamont
Nathan – Adam Rhy-Davies
Michael – Laurence Harvey
Natasha – Loren O’Brien
Kevin – David Wayman
Derek – Simeon Willis
Devon – Mark Logan
Julian – Patrick Fysh
Adam – Oliver Tilney
Chester – Dan Palmer
Festival Programer – Tom Crowely
Betty – Amy Feeley
Galina – Cristina Neacsu
Helena – Lucy Farret
Lucas – James Harker
Zumbo – Matt Springett
Piggy – Matt Fraiser

Behind-the-scenes

IMDb | Facebook | Official site

‘Looking for love in all the wrong faces’

Halloween Party is a 2012 comedy film co-produced and directed by Linda Palmer from a screenplay co-written with Laree’ Griffith.

The Leomark Studios film premiered on VOD on September 2, 2016.

Main cast:

Elle Newlands, Frank Gangarossa, Chris Pentzell, Christine Blackburn, David Banks, Andrea Leithe, Danny Pardo, Skyler Cooper, Jennifer Popagain, Elina Madison, Anora Lyn, Rachel Sorsa, Daniel Schweiger, Karyss Gonzalez.

IMDb | Facebook | Official site

I Am a Hero – アイアムアヒーロー – is a 2015 Japanese live action horror film adaption of the manga comic of the same name by Kengo Hanazawa, directed by Shinsuke Sato from a screenplay by Akiko Nogi.

The film premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in October 13, 2015, and is scheduled for commercial release in 2016.

Main cast:

Yo Oizumi, Kasumi Arimura and Masami Nagasawa.

Plot:

Hideo Suzuki is a 35-year-old manga artist assistant, whose life seem to be stuck around his exhausting but low-paying job, unfulfilled dreams, strange hallucinations and unsatisfying relationships. He sees himself as a supporting character in his own life, has low self-esteem, resulting in frustration.

One day, the world as Hideo knows it is shattered by the presence of a disease that turns people into homicidal maniacs, whose first instinct is to attack and devour the nearest human.

Armed with only his sporting shotgun, Hideo runs for his life, meeting strangers along the way. All the while, he and his companions struggle to stay alive, while questioning their moral choices…

Trailer: 

IMDb

The Best of Sex and Violence is a 1981 American compilation of film trailers directed by Ken Dixon (Filmgore; Zombiethon; Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity) and produced by Charles Band for release on his Wizard Video label. The film also received some theatrical showings (see ad mat below).

Plot:

Genre veteran John Carradine presents “a veritable cosmic cavalcade of celluloid insanity” by way of a slew of exploitation movie trailers from the Dimension Pictures back catalogue, Charles Band’s own productions and the Jerry Gross Organisation. In doing so, Carradine self-deprecatingly bemoans the poor standard of most of the movies represented. At one point, Carradine is joined by his sons David and Keith, both of whom join in the good-humoured mockery.

Cast:

John Carradine, David Carradine (Q: The Winged Serpent; Evil Toons) Dinocroc vs. Supergator), Keith Carradine (Hex), Laura Jane Leary (as Girl Victim). Future Scream Queen Brinke Stevens is featured as the cover model on the VHS clamshell box (above) for this film.

Reviews:

“Carradine is spliced in-between trailers, spouting quips about the films he’s introducing (as well as his own career) that were written by Frank Ray Perilli (who also wrote several of the movies featured here, such as The Doberman Gang and Band’s 1977 musical comedy for adults, Cinderella).” Adam Becvar, DVD Drive-In

“Despite is near non-existent production values, Dixon’s The Best of Sex and Violence is constructed with far more care and professionalism than subsequent Wizard trailer/clip comps such as Zombiethon. Composer Richard Band’s fake group Rome provides an hilariously over the top prog-rockin’ main title tune…” Empire of the ‘B’s

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Trailers featured:

The Sin of Adam and Eve (1969)
Bury Me an Angel (1972)
Sweet Sugar (1972)
Twilight People (1972)
The Doberman Gang (1972)
The Devil’s Wedding Night (1973)

Terminal Island (1973)
Beyond Atlantis (1973)
The Single Girls (1974)
Truck Stop Women (1974)
The Working Girls (1974)
The Manhandlers (1974)
Dolemite (1975)
Dr. Minx (1975)
Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)

Tunnel Vision (1976)
She Devils in Chains (1976)
The Human Tornado (1976)
Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy (1976)
Cinderella (1977)
Confessions of Emanuelle (1977)
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
Fairy Tales (1978)
Tourist Trap (1979)

Zombie (1979)
Disco Godfather (1979)

The Boogey Man (1980)
Tanya’s Island (1980)

IMDb

‘Schools out …and so are the zombies.’

Boy Eats Girl is a 2005 Irish-British horror-comedy film directed by Stephen Bradley from a screenplay by Derek Landy (Dead Bodies). The plot tells of a teenage boy who comes back to life as a zombie. The gory special effects were provided by Bob Keen (Hellraiser III; Event Horizon; Waxwork).

Main cast:

Samantha Mumba, David Leon, Tadhg Murphy, Laurence Kinlan, Sara James, Mark Huberman, Sarah Burke.

Plot:

While renovating a church, Grace finds a hidden crypt. Investigating, she discovers a voodoo book, however she is soon sent away by angry Father Cornelius.

Grace’s son, Nathan attends the local high school. Nathan fancies his long-time friend Jessica however is too scared to ask her out. Nevertheless, they arrange a rendezvous. Meanwhile, Jessica’s over-protective father forbids her to leave, but she eventually sneaks out.

Nathan becomes impatient due to Jessica’s lateness and, morose, leaves before she arrives. At home, he gets drunk and contemplates hanging himself in his room. Just as he dismisses the idea, his mother Grace enters and knocks the chair over Nathan is standing on, causing him to be hanged.

Grace performs a ritual from the voodoo book, which brings Nathan back to life. However Father Cornelius soon warns Grace that the book was damaged and those who are resurrected by it have the urge to eat human flesh…

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“Story-wise this flick gives an interesting look into teen love with its usage of the “gent” turning into a zombie before he can profess his love to his longtime friend and potential lover, who of course for the sake of all the females and romantics watching…equally loves him as well. While it comes off cheesy at times, we all probably can relate to such teen antics and that brings some fun into this film.” Bloody Disgusting

“Instead of going for what made the Simon Pegg/Edward Wright/Nick Frost film so fantastic, it put zombies in the UK (in this case, a small Irish community) and hoped horror fans would see the similarities. Unfortunately, this is more after school special than scary movie, a lesson in peer pressure, underage sex, and bullying tactics more than a wacky genre spoof.” Bill Gibron, DVD Talk

“A somewhat darker and more engaging variant on the long familiar coming-of-age teenage zombie flick … This is a crisp with stunning scenery (filmed on the Isle of Man as well as around Dublin); there are good tongue-in-cheek lines, and some creative takes on how to kill zombies.” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia 2000 – 2010

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

“Bad Irish pop music, flat characters, and quick running time aside, how is Boy Eats Girl? Fun, plain and simple. Don’t expect biting social commentary (pun intended), laugh-out-loud humor, or anything groundbreaking for the zombie genre and you’ll be fine. Some choice gore, nice looking women, and a quick pace…” Johnny Butane, Dread Central

“Mumba’s role as Jessica is atypical for a black actress. She’s not only the main love interest and heroine — saving her friends by mowing down a zombie horde with a tractor — but she’s portrayed as strong, smart and sexy, yet still a “good girl.” And race is never an issue. Bravo! Now, if they could only straighten out her eyebrows a bit…” Black Horror Movies

Buy: Amazon.com

Cast and characters:

• Samantha Mumba as Jessica
• David Leon as Nathan
• Tadhg Murphy as Diggs
• Laurence Kinlan as Henry
• Sara James as Cheryl
• Mark Huberman as Samson
• Sarah Burke as Charlotte
• Paul Reid as Shane
• Jane Valentine as Glenda
• Conor Ryan as Kenneth
• Deirdre O’Kane as Grace
• Lalor Roddy as Father Cornelius

Filming locations:

Dublin, Republic of Ireland
The Isle of Man

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Sex and horror in one gigantic thrill show!’

Revolt of the Zombies is a 1936 American horror film directed and produced by the Halperin Brothers which stars Dean Jagger and Dorothy Stone. It is one of the earliest zombie films.

Although it was conceived as a loose sequel to Victor Halperin’s moderately successful 1932 film White Zombie, when compared with Halperin’s previous work, this film is generally regarded as a disappointment.

Although he is not credited in the film, Bela Lugosi’s eyes appear in Revolt of the Zombies whenever zombifying-powers are used; it is the same image of Lugosi’s eyes used in the film White Zombie.

Reviews:

‘” …the most celebrated elements of White Zombie are left out and traded for bigger versions of its weakest parts. Halperin, who must had been more comfortable in silent cinema, seems lost at directing a sound film, with the characters reciting their lines as if was a theatre. The overall style of the acting is too stagy, as if the film was merely a filmed play. And not even a good play to begin with.” W-Cinema

“There are so many scenes of people standing still in front of photographed backdrops, mouthing clumsy and insipid dialogue full of coagulating curds of lumpy exposition … You might be asking yourself how anyone could possibly make an unbearably boring movie about zombies in Cambodia, amongst the majestic ruins of Angkor Wat. It’s an awfully tall order, but the Halperins found a way.” Nigel Honeybone, HorrorNews.net

“The film is briefly interesting when Armand starts to raise his zombie armies, but they never actually do anything. Revolt is only noteworthy in being unusually grandiose for its time – the swiftness with which Armand gains control over the minds of an entire nation anticipates the apocalyptic proportions of later zombie movies.” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

“The film promptly degenerates into a silly triangular affair, which though it echoes White Zombie, is even more atrociously acted and lacks that films saving graces.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

“‘B’ picture silliness with the germ of a good idea.” Alan Frank, The Horror Film Handbook

“Terribly inept, almost unwatchable. A low point in the career of Dean Jagger…”John Stanley, Creature Features

“You’ll spot the villain right away, as he does his best to overact every sinister eye shift.” Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg, Andrew Herschberger, Zombiemania

Wikipedia

‘Raise some hell’

Pet Sematary II is a 1992 supernatural horror film directed by Mary Lambert (Mega Python vs. Gatoroid; The Attic) from a screenplay by Richard Outten. It is the sequel to the 1989 film Pet Sematary, also directed by Lambert and is stylized as Pet Sematary Two.

The film stars Edward Furlong (The Zombie King; Arachnoquake; Brainscan), Anthony Edwards (Zodiac; The Forgotten) and Clancy Brown (Little Evil; John Dies at the End; Cowboys & Aliens).

Steve Johnson handled the special makeup effects.

Opening plot:

Following the accidental death of his mother Renee during production of her latest film, thirteen-year-old Jeff Matthews and his veterinarian-father Chase move to the Maine town of Ludlow. Jeff learns about the Creed family, and about the cursed Indian burial ground.

His friend Drew’s dog, Zowie, is fatally shot by Gus Gilbert – Drew’s stepfather, who also happens to be the town sheriff – for chasing Gus’s pet rabbits. It doesn’t help that Gus was in love with Renee 20 years ago; ever since she turned him down to marry Chase, Gus has been venting his ire on everything and everybody around him.

Jeff and Drew bury Zowie at the Indian cemetery, in order to bring the dog back to life. It works, with some side effects: Zowie is uncharacteristically fierce; the dog’s eyes have an unnatural glow to them, even in daylight…

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“Ms. Lambert made her reputation directing Madonna’s music videos, and the new film has the garish theatrical look and pumpingly precise rhythms of an extravagantly produced heavy-metal video. Most of many shock scenes are above average in impact and suspense, with the scenes of the resurrected, red-eyed Zowie going for people’s throats especially gruesome.” Stephen Holden, The New York Times

“Filled with sadistic story turns, mean spirited humor, and almost gratuitous animal cruelty, Pet Sematary Two is an ugly, unappealing, and unnecessary follow-up to the ’89 melodrama that fails to pinpoint the appeal of the sematary yet again.” Felix Vasquez, Cinema Crazed

“Director Mary Lambert (reprising her duties from the 1989 release) again errs by setting much of the action around the cemetery in daylight, although the pacing is significantly better than the first pic. Makeup and special effects are topnotch.” Variety

“What made the first film work is not so much its theme but the way that Stephen King approached it, particularly during the latter half where he gave it a driving sense of cosmic fear, of a great and unutterable desecration about to be committed and of the supernatural stepping in to aid in stopping it. Pet Semetary II lacks any similar sense of drive and seems too pedestrian and obvious in its setting up of characters and situations.” Richard Scheib, Moria

” …it’s better stupid entertainment than the first Pet Sematary. The difference is that in the three years since she directed the original, Mary Lambert has sharpened her skills, and although Stephen King’s name is nowhere on this sequel, his characteristic braiding of Freudian and Christian themes is present…” Jay Carr, The Boston Globe

“The two films are so different in tone it’s actually difficult to believe they were both directed by the same person: however, with Stephen King having nothing to do with the sequel it just goes to show the person with the pen is often more important than the person behind the camera.” That was a Bit Mental

“Pet Sematary Two tells a very different story from the first film while still incorporating the elements that made the original great. It’s part bonkers, part creepy but always interesting. It’s also a bold movie, one that attempts to fully realize itself and its ideas around every turn. It doesn’t hide behind the first but embraces it and creates something new and genuinely disturbing.” Alexandra West, ComingSoon.net

“While it contains more dark humor than the first, there’s also more gore than the original and I think these two things go hand in hand. There are more squeamish, visceral, hard to look at moments–which the ’89 film already had its share of. These elements of the movie–particularly the death scenes–seem absurd, and they are, but I think that absurdity is a bonus for the narrative, not a hindrance.” Nat Brehmer, Wicked Horror

” …rather than being classically morbid, this horror tale is grossly sickening and nihilistic in its statement about man’s inhumanity to animals – not to mention man himself.” John Stanley, Creature Features

“Here’s another sequel that’s even worse than the first movie. It has false scares, nightmares, gore, rape and topless scenes. Lots of animals (not real) are killed.” Michael J. Weldon, The Psychotronic Video Guide

Cast and characters:

• Edward Furlong as Jeff Matthews
• Anthony Edwards as Chase Matthews
• Clancy Brown as Gus Gilbert
• Jared Rushton as Clyde Parker
• Jason McGuire as Drew Gilbert
• Darlanne Fluegel as Renee Hallow/Matthews
• Lisa Waltz as Amanda Gilbert
• Sarah Trigger as Marjorie Hargrove

Wikipedia | IMDb

It Stains the Sands Red is a 2016 zombie horror film directed by Colin Minihan (Extraterrestrial; Grave Encounters and sequel) from a screenplay co-written with Stuart Ortiz (aka The Vicious Brothers). It stars Brittany Allen, Juan Riedinger, and Merwin Mondesir.

In the throes of a zombie apocalypse, a troubled woman from Las Vegas with a dark past, finds herself stranded in the desert with a lone and ravenous zombie…

The film is being shown at the Horror Channel Frightfest in Glasgow on 24 February 2017.

Main cast:

Brittany Allen (Extraterrestrial; Dead Before Dawn 3D), Juan Riedinger (Excess Flesh; The Haunting of Alice D; Jennifer’s Body), Merwin Mondesir (Grave Encounters; Lost Boys: The Tribe), Kristopher Higgins, Andrew Supanz, Michael Filipowich, Nico David, Dylan Playfair, Kyle McCachen, Steve Judkins, Warren E. Thomas.

Filming locations:

Valley of Fire, Nevada, USA

IMDb

Ibiza Undead is a 2016 British comedy horror film written and directed by Andy Edwards (Three’s a Shroud; Blaze of Gory; Grindsploitation: The Movie) and produced by Elisar Cabrera for Templeheart Films (The Seasoning House, Devil’s Tower, Deranged).

The film’s world premiere was at the Horror Channel FrightFest in London on 26 August 2016. Soda Pictures release the film on DVD on 20 March 2017.

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Main cast:

Cara Theobold, Emily Atack, Emily Atack, Homer Todiwala, Jordan Coulson,  Matt King, Marcia Do Vales,  Matt Kennard, Alex Felton, Ed Kear and featuring Xfm’s Alex Zane (Cain Hill; Cannibals and Carpet Fitters) as a club host.

Plot:

A group of young people head to Ibiza for the holiday of a lifetime – all the sun, sea and sex they can handle. If only there wasn’t a zombie outbreak getting in the way…

Reviews:

“The story moves along nicely but feels bloated in places due to an abundance of characters. Also, one of our trio of heroes, Big Jim, is a little too crass and sex-obsessed to win the audience over. A sun-soaked zombie adventure than plays for laughs, Ibiza Undead won’t set the world alight, but it’s a great choice for a fun night in with friends. Inbetweeners meets Shaun of the Dead.” Kat Hughes, The Hollywood News

“It’s a bit light on the expected gore gags, spending more time on the fun in the sun silliness and youthful sex comedy business.  It’s no Sean – it isn’t even Dead Set, Stalled or Harold’s Going Stiff, but there honestly are dozens of worse zombie movies stumbling around out there.” The Kim Newman Web Site

” …one of the film’s running gags is that, despite the unfolding apocalypse, everyone here continues trying to eke as much fun as they can from the rapidly fading party vibe. Whether that fun translates for the viewer is another question. There is some savvy, self-conscious wit to be found here, but also a lot of cake-eating sexism and hit-or-miss inanity, culminating in a blooper reel over the closing credits.” Anton Bitel, Projected Figures

“It is neither original nor one of the best examples of the curious sub-genre of the British zombie comedy. There’s an amateurishness to the proceedings (especially the acting) but somehow it all ends up quite endearing […] there’s the sense that this was shot in a hell of a rush – another couple of takes might have helped to make some of the scenes are bit less stilted (and with fewer dialogue trip ups).” John Llewellyn Probert, House of Mortal Cinema

“Surprisingly, for a film based in Ibiza, the soundtrack is as bland as the taste buds of the undead leaving nothing more than a late night snack when you really have no other choice to watch. Ibiza Undead is a zombie film on vacation but one that feels as though the parents tagged along and gatecrashed the party. This should have been fun, bit in trying too hard to be “cool” and attract the lad market of immature 14 year olds, it fails at being funny or enjoyable.” BloodGuts UK Horror

“Ibiza Undead has its moments of wit and intelligence, but for every good joke (or at least, disarmingly cheap one) there’s at least ten other banal, misogynistic one-liners. Cheap, sleazy, morally objectionable, and full of utterly repulsive people (Alex Zane is in this movie) and brain-dead zombies (Alex Zane is… ah, you get the idea), Ibiza Undead is, at least, the authentic Ibiza experience.” Joel Harley, Horror Talk

“Taking a very current and clever satirical side swipe at immigration, desensitisation, youth culture and even teenage attitudes to STD’s, Ibiza Undead has a lot more going on than you may expect however don’t worry it still delivers graphic gore and plenty of undead madness to keep horror hounds happy with some cracking effects.” Love Horror

IMDb | Facebook | Twitter | Official site

Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy web television series created by Victor Fresco for the streaming service Netflix. It stars Drew Barrymore,Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson and Skyler Gisondo.

Married couple Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant) are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. The couple’s lives take a dark turn after Sheila goes through a transformation – becoming a zombie who feeds on human flesh…

The series premiered on February 3, 2017 and consists of ten episodes. The first season has received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the cast and premise, but criticising the number of graphic scenes. In Germany, posters depicting a human finger sliced up like a Currywurst, a popular German fast food dish, were removed after Netflix received complaints.

Reviews:

“Death as it appears in all its gory glory in Netflix’s sparkling new comedy Santa Clarita Diet can also be a stomach-wrenching experience. But for those who can muscle through, the reward is one of the most joyous, hilariously dark comedies to come our way in many a season.” Robert Bianco, USA Today

“At a nuts-and-bolts level, Santa Clarita Diet isn’t entirely novel: In addition to those Ash vs. Evil Dead and Stan Against Evil parallels, the show is essentially a sitcom hybridization of iZombie and The Americans. The main attraction, and the thing that’ll pull viewers from one episode to the next, is the show’s deranged energy.” Erik Adams, A.V. Club

“As you binge along, you’ll notice that things seem to gel nicely around episode 4-ish through 7-ish, as Santa Clarita Diet finds a balance and settles down. Even Barrymore’s struggling performance takes on a certain charm. But that momentum falters as the series searches for a suitable climax.” Hank Stuever, The Washington Post

” …vomit can be very funny; it’s just not funny here. Neither is 99% of what goes on in each episode, but there’s a potent sense of bemusement to everything, a fakeness bordering on overt coyness. Ultimately, Santa Clarita Diet stands most prominently as a sadly still-timely cautionary tale, a warning against those who might make a show that is much funnier to its creators than those who are actually watching the episodes.” Chris Cabin, Collider

Cast and characters:

• Timothy Olyphant as Joel Hammond, Sheila’s husband and Abby’s father
• Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, Joel’s wife and Abby’s mother
• Liv Hewson as Abby Hammond, Sheila and Joel’s daughter
• Skyler Gisondo as Eric Bemis, the Hammond’s neighbor and Dan’s stepson
• Ricardo Chavira as Dan Palmer, a sheriff’s deputy and the Hammond’s neighbor
• Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Lisa Palmer, Dan’s wife
• Richard T. Jones as Rick, a police officer, the Hammond’s neighbor, and Joel’s friend
• Joy Osmanski as Alondra, Rick’s wife
• Natalie Morales as Anne Garcia, a sheriff’s deputy and co-worker of Dan
• Thomas Lennon as Novak, Abby’s school principal
• Grace Zabriskie as Mrs. Bakavic, Novak’s grandmother
• DeObia Oparei as Loki Hayes, a convicted felon
• Portia de Rossi as Cora Wolf, a scientist focused on the undead

Wikipedia | IMDb | Twitter | Image credits: Netflix

Poster by Chris Cosgrave, inspired by Basil Gogos‘ artwork

‘Live fast. Die young. Leave carnage.’

Johnny Gruesome is a 2017 American supernatural horror film written, produced and directed by Greg Lamberson (Killer Rack; Dry Bones; Slime City), based on his own 2007 novel. It film stars Anthony De La Torre, Byron Brown II and Aprilann.

In the village of Red Hill, rebellious high school senior Johnny Grissom (Anthony De La Torre) is murdered while on a drunken joyride.

Soon, Johnny’s classmates turn up dead, murdered by an unknown assailant. Johnny’s best friend Eric (Byron Brown II) begins to suspect Johnny has returned from the grave to wreak havoc on those who wronged him…

The film is currently in post-production.

Main cast:

Anthony De La Torre (Lords of Chaos), Byron Brown II, Aprilann, Michael Delorenzo (Ghost Whisperer; Phantoms), Chris Modrzynski, Kim Piazza, Rich Lounello, Madison Amey, Travis Torlone, John Renna, Jon Cesar, Nelson Wakefield, Kaelin Lamberson, Tim O’Hearn, Alexander S. McBryde.

Filming locations:

Akron, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Clarence and Lancaster, New York, USA.

IMDb | Facebook

FleshEater: Revenge of the Living Dead is a 1988 American horror film produced and directed by Bill Hinzman from a screenplay co-written with William Randolph. It is also known as FleshEater, Revenge of the Living Zombies and, in the UK, it was released on VHS as Zombie Nosh.

Hinzman is best known for playing the cemetery ghoul in the opening scenes of George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968). This film also stars John Mowod, Leslie Ann Wick, and Kevin Kindlin. It was completed on a budget of just $60,000.

Plot:

When a farmer unearths a coffin on his land, he unwittingly releases a ravenous zombie hungry for human flesh.

Nearby, a group of teenagers are having a party in the forest, oblivious to the danger that they are in. When the zombies attack, the terrified youngsters flee to a deserted farmhouse, desperately trying to hold the undead horde back…

Buy: Blu-ray | DVD from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

Hinzman’s sparse effects crew proves to be impressive and prolific gag artists throughout, as there’s nary a stretch where someone isn’t having their guts consumed or their face blown off. If you’re going to basically eschew plot like FleshEater does, it’s wise to keep the blood flowing (and, some might say, the boobs flashing—there’s plenty of T&A here…” Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

“Flesh Eater wallows in the base elements that was horror in the 80’s and basically still is. No, not the cerebral horror that pulls our deepest fears from our bellies. No, not the “self aware” crap like Scream but the purely gratuitous sort! (Smiles warmly).” The Horror Review

“Most of the film has no atmosphere and no tension. The only scenes with any tension at all bear a striking resemblance to scenes from Night of the Living Dead, and these are dispensed with early in the film so Hinzman can get down to the business of his monotonous killing.” Brian Robinson, Zombierama

“Zombie Nosh has some moments of sleaze worth noting but Hinzman’s brainchild film is simply a very bad rip-off of a far superior film. Stick with the original zombie shocker Night of the Living Dead if you want sophisticated splatter.” Popcorn Pictures

Wikipedia | IMDb

Posted by Will Holland

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Image credits: VHSplatter

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‘A new sensation in horror!’

The Mad Ghoul is a 1943 American science fiction horror film directed by James P. Hogan (his last film, before he died of a heart attack, aged 53) from a screenplay by Paul Gangelin and Brenda Weisberg.

The Universal production stars Turhan Bey, Evelyn Ankers (Hold That Ghost; The Frozen Ghost), David Bruce, George Zucco, Robert Armstrong and Milburn Stone.

Plot:

Dr. Alfred Morris (Zucco) is curious about the effects of an ancient nerve gas, used by the Mayans during rituals of human dissection to appease their gods. He takes medical student Ted Allison (Bruce) under his wing to assist him with his experiments in using the gas on modern animals.

However, despite Ted’s enthusiasm for the success of their effort to revive Morris’ dead monkey Choco (who was earlier exposed to the gas and died) by using a fluid from the heart of another creature, Ted also has on his mind his girlfriend Isabel Lewis (Ankers), of whom Morris has also become enamoured…

Later, on the night of the duo’s first experiment, Ted brings Isabel to Morris’ house, where Morris notices Isabel’s discomfort about her relationship with Ted. He confers with Isabel, saying that she does indeed need a man more involved with her love of music, secretly meaning himself. Isabel, however, is afraid of hurting Ted’s feelings and getting him to understand what she wants, but Morris promises to take care of the situation himself.

Unbeknownst to Isabel, Morris’ evil plan involves destroying Ted by exposing him to the lethal Mayan gas the next day, and in effect, making him a mindless ghoul who, like Choco, must continually rely on the fluid of human hearts, in this case, to survive, obtained by performing cardioectomies on freshly dead people…

Reviews:

“Of all Universal’s regular actors, George Zucco was one of their most prolific, but was usually confined to supporting roles. Here he is given the starring role, and his well-spoken, subtly evil performance proves to be one of the few positives in what is a quite dull affair. Universal’s gorgeous set-design and high production values are clear to see, but the story is old-fashioned and weak, offering nothing more than a familiar mad scientist storyline… ” Tom Gillespie, The Wrath of Blog

“The Mad Ghoul is the best PRC horror movie that Universal ever made. It’s every bit as strange and oddly engaging as any Poverty Row monster movie of the 1940s that you can name, but it’s got all the brand-name (B-unit) trappings of Universal Studios to give it that little bit extra and deliver a lasting, satisfying, and fun film.” Shock!

“There is a mildly effective scene near the end that stirs some bathos where George Zucco becomes infected and crawls towards an open grave, at the same time as David Bruce has been commanded to kill and stumbles out onto the stage during Evelyn Ankers’ performance but ends up conflicted between his orders and feelings. George Zucco livens the show up playing to form with a wonderfully mad intensity.” Richard Scheib, Moria

“With good performances and some minor directorial flourishes, Hogan’s film is a neat programmer, even if its central monster is a bit bland. Perhaps a bit slow in its set-up (even if it’s only just over an hour), The Mad Ghoul delivers enough thrills, within 1940s Production Code limits, to make it worth reviving.” Brian J. Robb, Sci-Fi Bulletin

“The Mad Ghoul is whole lot of fun and has its roots in 1930s serials and screwball comedies. It also gives popular supporting actor George Zucco one of his few starring roles. In fact, he’s at his unctuous best playing the subtly evil Dr Morris that makes this otherwise mediocre affair worth checking out. The final shot of Zucco’s mad doctor frantically scratching at the dirt in the cemetery gives the film its biggest – and only real – chill.” Peter Fuller, Kultguy’s Keep

Choice dialogue:

Zucco: “Reports of your death seem to have been grossly exaggerated”.

Trivia:

The film is also known as Mystery of the Ghoul

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Cast and characters:

• George Zucco as Dr. Alfred Morris
• David Bruce as Ted Allison / The Mad Ghoul
• Evelyn Ankers as Isabel Lewis
• Robert Armstrong as Ken McClure
• Turhan Bey as Eric Iversen
• Milburn Stone as Macklin
• Andrew Tombes as Eagan
• Rose Hobart as Della
• Addison Richards as Gavigan
• Charles McGraw as Garrity
• Gus Glassmire as Caretaker
• Lillian Cornell as singing for Evelyn Ankers (voice) (uncredited)
• Bess Flowers as Woman in Audience (uncredited)
• Hans Herbert as Attendant (uncredited)
• Lew Kelly as Stagehand (uncredited)
• Isabel La Mal as Maid (uncredited)
• Mike Lally as Reporter (uncredited)
• Gene O’Donnell as Radio Reporter (uncredited)

Buy Women in Horror Films, 1940s book from Amazon.com

Wikipedia | IMDb | American Film Institute

‘We dare you to look into’

Doctor Blood’s Coffin is a 1960 British horror film directed by Canadian Sidney J. Furie (The Entity; The Snake Woman) from a screenplay by James Kelly (What the Peeper Saw; The Beast in the Cellar) and Peter Miller, based on an original story and screenplay by Nathan Juran (The Boy Who Cried Werewolf; The Brain from Planet Arous; 20 Million Miles to Earth). Kieron Moore, Hazel Court and Ian Hunter star.

Buxton Orr (Corridors of Blood; Fiend Without a Face; The Haunted Strangler) provided the film’s emphatic soundtrack score; arranged by Hammer regular Phillip Martell.

Future director Nicolas Roeg (The Witches; Don’t Look Now) served as a camera operator.

Buy UK DVD: Amazon.co.uk

The Caralan production began shooting on 7 June 1960 and was awarded an ‘X’ certificate by the BBFC, following cuts, on 31 October 1960. Director Sidney J. Furie shot The Snake Woman almost back-to-back.

In her autobiography, Hazel Court: Horror Queen, the actress recalls: “It was wild, going into the mines under the ocean, disused for many, many, many years. We accessed the disused mines from the rocks along the coastline. It was very scary. At one point, I looked up and whispered to myself, “Oh my God, the Atlantic Ocean is above me.”

Having been reprimanded for his unethical medical experiments in Vienna, young doctor Peter Blood (Kieron Moore) reluctantly returns to stay with his father – the local general practitioner – in the Cornish village where he grew up.

However, he continues his nefarious attempts to bring the dead back to life. His early subject is the deceased husband of Linda Parker (Hazel Court), a nurse he is strongly attracted to.

Hidden away in a tin mine, the aptly-named Blood conducts his gruesome experiments using South American poison curare (also used in The Crimes of the Black Cat) to remove living, beating hearts from undeserving people in order to bring the deserving dead back to life…

Buy US MGM DVD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“If you’ve ever wanted to see a half-hearted Frankenstein rehash where the monster is traded in for tepid romance until the very end, Doctor Blood’s Coffin is the movie for you. While it’s handsomely shot and adequately acted, you’re better off sticking with any of the Hammer films that certainly inspired this […] Despite the modest star power attached to it, this one has remained obscure for a reason.” Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

“For the most part, Furie seems content to allow the visuals to unfold onscreen without the need to build tension and, like the victims, the film struggles to overcome an inherent lethargy; there is simply too much talk and not enough action. The few interesting set-pieces which could have pepped things up are allowed to slide into tedium.”John Hamilton, X-Cert: The British Independent Horror Film 1951 – 1970

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

“The lush color cinematography is eye-popping but that doesn’t disguise the fact that Doctor Blood’s Coffin is one heck of a dull, lifeless, and boring flick.  The doctor spends most of the movie traipsing around abandoned mine shafts…” Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum

“The film’s sub-Frankenstein shenanigans are clearly modelled on Hammer’s success in this area, but carry none of the baroque flamboyance of Hammer’s approach. They also carry none of Hammer’s relative subtlety, with the debate regarding morality and science given to us in crashingly literal terms […] What sinks the film completely is Kieron Moore’s charisma-free performance as Peter Blood.” Jonathan Rigby, English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema 

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

“It isn’t until the final four minutes of the film that a brown, flaky-skinned man with decaying cheeks (he doesn’t look half bad) rises and attacks the leads. It’s all pretty lame stuff.” Glenn Kay, Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide

“The no-nonsense direction, the total nonsense dialogue, the luminous, airy, panoramic vistas and the sharp, bright colour photography make this quite a tonic for horror fans wanting to take a break from an excess of bleak, gritty, unrelentingly downbeat fare – in fact, it’s just what the doctor ordered.” Mike Hodges, The Shrieking Sixties

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

“The result, though rich in curare, flashing scalpels, decayed flesh and the Cornish, lacks style, suspense and imagination and will scarcely satisfy the most naive necrophiliac” The Monthly Film Bulletin

“A fairly indifferent film without much to recommend it outside of some nice color photography. Even this attribute was lost on American audiences as most of the theatrical showings were in black and white.” Gary A. Smith, Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956 – 1976

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

“Though dated and watery in most respects, this British biomedical horror by Canadian director Furie offers the first glimpse of the modern screen zombie – decayed and violent, rather than simply pale and aloof.” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia

Cast and characters:

• Kieron Moore as Dr. Peter Blood (The Day of the Triffids)
• Hazel Court as Nurse Linda Parker (The Masque of the Red Death; The Raven; The Premature Burial; et al)
• Ian Hunter as Dr. Robert Blood, Peter’s Father (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [1941]; Tower of London)
• Kenneth J. Warren as Sergeant Cook (The Creeping Flesh; Demons of the Mind; I, Monster)
• Gerald Lawson as Mr. G. F. Morton (Mystery and Imagination; The Mummy; The Revenge of Frankenstein)
• Fred Johnson as Tregaye (Scream of Fear; The City of the Dead; The Brides of Dracula; The Curse of Frankenstein)
• Paul Hardtmuth as Professor Luckman (The Curse of Frankenstein; The Strange World of Planet X)
• Paul Stockman as Steve Parker, Linda’s Husband (Vampire Academy; The Skull; Konga)
• Andy Alston as George Beale, Tunnel Expert (The City of the Dead)
• Ruth Lee as Girl [uncredited] (The Couch)
• John Ronane as Hanson [uncredited] (The Spiral Staircase [1975]; Journey to the Unknown; Mystery and Imagination)

Filming locations:

Nettlefold [later Walton] Film Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK
Zennor and the Carn Galver tin mine near St. Just, Cornwall, UK

Trivia:

The film was initially titled Face of Evil.

The Plague of the Zombies (1966) is also set around a Cornish tin mine.

Wikipedia | IMDb | Image credits: Just screenshots | Wrong Side of the Art!

Zombie Collectible Enamel Pin is a collectible, officially-licensed, enamel pin produced by Cavity Colors.

The image, designed by Aaron Crawford, is based upon the iconic worm-eyed conquistador zombie from the Lucio Fulci-directed Italian gore-drenched horror classic Zombi 2 aka Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979).

The 1.7-inch tall pin, which is a limited edition of just 400 available worldwide, features worms attached to a spinner inside the eye socket!

‘Love and laughter with’

The Ghost Breakers is a 1940 American comedy horror film directed by George Marshall and starring Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard and Richard Carlson. The Paramount film was adapted by Walter DeLeon from the 1909 play ‘The Ghost Breaker’ by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard.

It was remade by George Marshall as Scared Stiff in 1953, a vehicle for comedy team Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

In a Manhattan radio studio, a broadcast is being made by crime reporter Lawrence Lawrence (Bob Hope)—”Larry” to his friends, as well as his enemies, who are many in number among the local underworld.

Listening in on the broadcast is pretty brunette Mary Carter (Paulette Goddard), whose high-rise hotel room goes dark as a violent thunderstorm causes a citywide blackout. In the near darkness, a knock comes at her door. It is Mr. Parada (Paul Lukas), a suave, vaguely sinister Cuban solicitor. He delivers the deed to her inherited plantation and mansion, “Castillo Maldito”, on a small island off the coast of Cuba. Despite Parada’s discouragement, she impulsively decides to travel to Cuba by ship to inspect her new property…

Reviews:

“The acting is decent, which isn’t surprising given the cast, and the cinematography is strong, emulating the Universal horror classics from the preceding decade. There’s one scene late in the movie where a zombie stalks Mary within Castillo Maldito and it’s wonderfully handled. Another character trying to climb out of a glass coffin is another spooky highlight. This is no horror movie though, it’s firmly a comedy first and an old dark house mystery second.” Hal C. F. Astell, Apocalypse Later

“Outdoing even The Cat and the Canary, Marshall lays the atmosphere on thick. The approach to Castillo Maldito is undertaken under broiling skies, with a swarm of bats to greet Hope and Best at the entrance. Inside, louvred doors spray spindly shadows across a monumental staircase and Don Santiago rises in a wisp of ectoplasm from a gilt-edged ottoman.” Jonathan Rigby, American Gothic, Signum Books, 2017

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

“For reasons of political correctness, contemporary critics tend to be a little hard on The Ghost Breakers, principally for the zingers Bob Hope bounces off the woolly head of Willie Best. Some of these are beyond the pale but most of the jokes are good natured and Best gives it back as much as he takes it.” Arbogast on Film

“While the film is dated and sometimes uncomfortable in its political incorrectness – especially its characterization of Hope’s black servant (Willie Best) – there are a couple of effectively eerie scenes and Hope and Goddard are excellent.” Glenn Kay, Zombies Movies: The Ultimate Guide, Chicago Review Press, 2008

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

“As director, Marshall weaves a marvellously evocative atmosphere, from the opening thunderstorm above New York which carries an almost Lovecraftian sense of foreboding, to the scenes where his camera creeps through the cobwebbed catacombs that lurk beneath Castillo Maldito.” Andrew Pragasam, The Spinning Image

“The scenes at Castillo Maldito are the film’s highlight, and Marshall milks them for all they are worth, with specters, an organ that plays itself, secret passages, cobwebs on cobwebs, and one stunning moment when Goddard descends the staircase dressed in her ancestors black gown to the shock of zombie Johnson. There are some genuine frissons in these scenes…” Mystery File

“The movie is a perfect example of the blending of genres, with the horror taking a backseat to the laughs, and being used almost as a set-piece more than anything else.  The ghosts, the zombies and the castle were there to just seemingly further the story along and get the two main characters to end up together in the end…” The Telltale Mind

“The emphasis is first on the humor, second on the characters, third on the mystery, and finally on the ghosts. All of it mixes wonderfully. A mood of mischievous tension pervades the film one scene into the next, as the plot surprises us with intrigue as well as laughs.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers, Lulu, 2012

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

“The film is lifted considerably by Bob Hope, tossing off a barrage of one-liners with great comic timing. With Hope on top form, director George Marshall keeps the film snappy and fast paced. This results in some wonderfully goofy and nonsensical scenes […] As with many of the films of the era, there is a racist element that kind of takes you aback today.” Richard Scheib, Moria

” …one of the funniest horror comedies of all time […] Though mainly concerned with ghosts (and the various human villains – and accompanying red herrings – skulking about ), the story also tosses out a few voodoo bones in the form of a “death ouanga”…” Bryan Senn, Drums of Terror: Voodoo in the Cinema, Midnight Marquee Press, 1998

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

“Sprightly comedy thriller, an agreeable blend of wisecracks and thrills on very similar lines to the same team’s earlier success, The Cat and the Canary. Production excellent.” Howard Maxford, The A – Z of Horror Films, Batsford, 1996

“This is considered to be among Bob Hope’s finest pictures, and the direction is smooth and the lines delivered flawlessly, but black actor Willie Best’s jokes about fried chicken are no longer funny, and smarmy Hope isn’t funny to begin with.” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, McFarland, 2001

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

” …there is genuine menace in the zombie lurking in a tumbledown shack by the fog-laden pier (Johnson), and real flair in scenes like the discovery of Lukas’ body sinisterly laid out in a coffin. This is probably Hope’s best film.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

” …The Ghost Breakers is obsessed with issues of race. It certainly seems significant that the castle is located on Black Island, was built by “Cuba’s greatest slave trader” and is haunted by “those lost souls who were starved and murdered in the castle dungeons.” Nor does its come as any surprise to learn that the zombie and his mother are black.” Jamie Russell, Book of the Dead: The Complete History of Zombie Cinema

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

“First-rate comedy horror with Bob Hope in fine fettle and George Marshall neatly orchestrating the chills and laughs.” Alan Frank, The Horror Film Handbook, Batsford, 1982

“It looks as though Paramount has really discovered something: it has found the fabled formula for making an audience shriek with laughter and fright at one and (as the barkers say) the simultaneous time […] It worked out very nicely in The Cat and the Canary last year, and it is working quite as nicely—and even more amusingly, in fact—in The Ghost Breakers…” Bosley Crowther, The New York Times, July 4, 1940

” …solid comedy entertainment that will generate plenty of laughs and roll up some hefty b.o. figures along the way.” Variety, June 12, 1940

Choice dialogue:

Larry Lawrence (Bob Hope): “Basil Rathbone must be having a party.”

Alex (Willie Best): “Speak up, I can’t hear you in the dark.”

Larry Lawrence (Bob Hope): “You look like a black out in a blackout. If this keeps up, I’ll have to paint you white.”

Cast and characters:

• Bob Hope … Larry Lawrence – That Little Monster; The Cat and the Canary
• Paulette Goddard … Mary Carter – The Cat and the Canary
• Richard Carlson … Geoff Montgomery – Tormented; It Came from Outer Space; The Creature from the Black Lagoon; The Maze; The Magnetic Monster; Lights Out TV series; Hold That Ghost; et al
• Paul Lukas … Parada
• Willie Best … Alex – The Smiling Ghost; The Monster Walks
• Pedro De Cordoba … Havez
• Virginia Brissac … Mother Zombie
• Noble Johnson … The Zombie
• Anthony Quinn … Ramon Mederos / Francisco Mederos – The
• Tom Dugan … Raspy Kelly
• Paul Fix … Frenchy Duval
• Lloyd Corrigan … Martin
• Jack Norton … Drunk
• Emmett Vogan … Announcer
• Robert Elliott … Lieutenant Murray
• James Flavin … Hotel porter
• Max Wagner … Ship porter
• Paul Newlan … Beggar
• Blanca Vischer … Dolores from Cuba
• Douglas Kennedy … Intern
• Robert Ryan … Intern

Trivia:

The Ghost Breakers was adapted for radio on Screen Directors Playhouse on April 4, 1949. Bob Hope re-created his film role, and Shirley Mitchell starred as Mary. Hope appeared again on the program for an hour-long version on June 14, 1951.

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘The ‘walking dead’ are the most deadly!’

Black Magic 2 – original title: 勾魂降頭; Gou hun jiang tou – is a 1976 supernatural Hong Kong horror film directed by Ho Meng-Hua (Oily Maniac) and produced by the Shaw Brothers (Seeding a a Ghost; Inseminoid; Human Lanterns). It stars Ti Lung, Lo Lieh, Liu Hui-Ju, Lily Li and Lin Wei-Tu.

The film is a sequel to the previous year’s Black Magic, also directed by Ho Meng-Hua). It was released in the US in 1982 by World Northal as Revenge of the Zombies and proved to be a box office draw.

On 11 June 2018, Black Magic 2 is released on Blu-ray in the UK by 88 Films.

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk

Mysterious zombies run amok while baffled doctors try to find out why. The zombies vomit, melt, spontaneously combust, explode and may be abducting the local lady folk.

While the doctors look for a natural explanation the real cause appears to be supernatural…

Reviews:

‘Delivering a steady stream of bizarre and gruesome sights (including bodies infested with live wriggling worms, cursed victims dissolving into putrescence in a matter of seconds, and undead sycophants controlled via spikes driven through their heads), this offers a great introduction to HK horror, while also eerie and outlandish enough to engage those familiar with this sub-genre…‘ By John Charles

‘It’s colorfully – sometimes very stylishly – photographed, fast-paced, tasteless and often highly imaginative… and there is a ton of gore.’ Justin McKinney, The Bloody Pit of Horror

‘Black Magic 2 has everything that was great about Black Magic, only more. This means more gratuitous nudity, more gore, and more out and out nuttiness. The only thing Black Magic 2 has less of is anything resembling a logical story or even a dash of common sense.’ Coffee, Coffee and More Coffee

“Things get a little bit sluggish around the halfway point when the evil sorcerer forces the hero scientists into a black magic-fueled love triangle. But stick with it because the last half hour or so is almost as nutty as the first […] Black Magic 2 made my jaw drop numerous times throughout it’s 90 minute running time; a hearty recommendation to be sure.” Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Buy DVD Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Release:

Released on 9 December 1976 in Hong Kong.

Wikipedia | IMDb

Dawn of the Dead (1978) Action Figure set is a collectible item produced by Mezco Toyz. The One:12 Collective Boxed Set celebrates a couple of the most recognisable undead corpses in cinematic history.

‘Flyboy Zombie’, also known as Stephen Andrews, is cornered by the living dead while trying to escape through an elevator shaft. Now joining the forces of the infected, Flyboy is outfitted in blood stained clothing – a button down workmen’s shirt, belt, workmen’s pants, and wedge work boots. He comes equipped with his signature pistol from the iconic scene in the film.

Straight from the original Dawn of the Dead movie poster, ‘Plaid Shirt Zombie’ is presented in a distressed flannel shirt exposing his rotting flesh, jeans, and work boots.

Both zombies clawed their way into the public consciousness from their appearance in George A. Romero’s 1978 horror film, Dawn of the Dead, where a group takes refuge to make humanity’s last stand against a horde of zombies swarming the U.S. Although their actual screen time was fleeting, their influence on pop culture is long-lasting.

The figures stand approx 6″ tall and feature over 28 points of articulation. Pre-order now for shipping in early 2019.

The post Dawn of the Dead (1978) Zombie Action Figures appeared first on HORRORPEDIA.

Zombie, or Zombie Flesh Eaters as we prefer to refer to it, is being unleashed by Blue Underground as a 3-disc limited edition that includes two Blu-ray discs and a CD soundtrack on November 27, 2018.

The release comes with a choice of 3D Lenticular Slipcover featuring 3 different iconic scenes from Lucio Fulci’s gore classic.

“World premiere of brand-new 4K restoration from the uncensored original camera negative, Limited Collector’s Edition includes 1080p Feature on Blu-ray, bonus High Def Extras Blu-ray, Soundtrack CD, collectible booklet, reversible sleeve with original US poster artwork (pictured below), and special 3D lenticular slipcover (first pressing only).

Bursting at the seams with hours of new and archival extras:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray):

•  New! Audio Commentary #1 with Troy Howarth, Author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films
• Audio Commentary #2 with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater
• New! When The Earth Spits Out The Dead – Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Radio Spots
• Poster and Still Gallery
• Guillermo del Toro Intro

Disc 2 (Blu-ray):

• Zombie Wasteland – Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell’Acqua
• Flesh Eaters on Film – Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis
• Deadtime Stories – Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti
• World of the Dead – Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production and Costume Designer Walter Patriarca
• Zombi Italiano – Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi
• Notes on a Headstone – Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi
• All in the Family – Interview with Antonella Fulci
• Zombie Lover – Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films

Disc 3 (CD):

• Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Fabio Frizzi

Bonus Collectable Booklet with new essay by Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci author and HORRORPEDIA contributor Stephen Thrower

Specs:

• Video: Widescreen 2.40:1
• Audio: English 7.1 DTS-HD; English 1.0 DTS-HD; Italian 7.1 DTS-HD; Italian 1.0 DTS-HD
• Optional Subtitles: English SDH, Français, Español, Português, Deutsch, Italiano, Dansk, Suomi, Nederlands, Svenska, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, English for Italian Audio
• All Regions”

The post Zombie Flesh Eaters – 4K Blu-ray restoration coming soon – news appeared first on HORRORPEDIA.

It Stains the Sands Red is a 2016 American horror feature film directed by Colin Minihan (Extraterrestrial; Grave Encounters and sequel) from a screenplay co-written with Stuart Ortiz (aka The Vicious Brothers). It stars Brittany Allen, Juan Riedinger, and Merwin Mondesir.

In the throes of a zombie apocalypse, a troubled woman from Las Vegas with a dark past, finds herself stranded in the desert with a lone and ravenous zombie…

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com

Reviews:

Director Minihan understands audience’s expectation and uses that to wheedle viewers into an appropriate state of mind before scaring the living shit out of them […] ISTSR is thrilling, fascinating, groundbreaking and deserves a wider audience than its marketing might find it. It’s a remarkable work for film fans in general, as well as being one of the greatest zombie movies ever made.” Daniel Goodwin, HeyUGuys

“For a film with “sands” in the title, Minihan makes very little use of the unique location on a narrative level. He doesn’t pitch the film as the natural survival story with zombies it could have been. Instead, he mines classic tropes with a thoroughly modern twist and brings a fresh dose of social commentary back to the zombie genre, even if that element is sidelined as the film progresses.” Benedict Seal, Bloody Disgusting

“Allen brings heart and soul to an unusually well written role (the significance of the tin can she carries around is as moving as any straight drama this year), while Reidinger offers subtle nuance and humanity in the finest zombie performance since Howard Sherman’s Bub in Day of the Dead. Although there’s not a false note in the whole movie, it’s the two-hander at its core that you will remember the most.” Steven West, Horror Screams Video Vault

” …this viewer wished for at least one decent, honest character on-screen. There were none. Action was reduced to a prolonged chase sequence. And, true conflict only emerged near the later half of the film. Also, you will need to prepare for a number of sadder scenes as Molly treats one undead much like a child, or a pet dog. It Stains the Sands Red is original, but it is not thoroughly entertaining.” Michael Allen, 28 Days Later Analysis 

“We’ve all made mistakes and experienced moments we wished played out differently. Some people are led down unconventional, undesirable paths, but it’s never too late to make amends.  That’s the theme behind It Stains the Sands Red which makes it transcend its subgenre and become something so much more. At this moment in time, It Stains the Sands Red is the best zombie film since Shaun of the Dead.” Kieran Fisher, Scream magazine

“In the wake of the film’s lean, original setup, the attempt to pack so much character drama into its finale feels simultaneously rushed and underdeveloped, and as a result there’s a sense of derailment to the final act. That being said, It Stains The Sands Red has built up such a bank of goodwill by this point that this doesn’t feel like a total showstopper…” Shock Street Horror

“When the film switches gears for the final act it does not feel out of place and Molly’s new found chutzpah is believable and deserved. The makeup and gore effects are top notch, and when zombie overload threatens to rob the creatures of their menace, It Stains the Sand Red expertly gifts them back a Romero-ian combination of deadliness and tragedy in the zombie movie of the year.” Alan Simmons, Live for Films

“Minihan and Ortiz manages to craft a tight, character-driven story that harkens back to Sherman Howard’s role as Bub in Day of the Dead and even the titular Bud the Chud – in so much that they humanise the zombie menace […] A taut, tense (and funny) reinvigoration of the zombie genre, It Stains the Sands Red honestly deserves to be held in as high a regard as Romero’s original zombie trilogy.” Phil Wheat, Nerdly

“Director Minihan (Grave Encounters, Extraterrestrial) has performed a masterstroke with It Stains the Sands Red. After the experience of directing horror with a bigger budget, he has gone in the opposite direction and made a film that’s almost minimalistic in execution […] His direction, coupled with Allen’s performance, makes for a winning combination that puts a beating heart in the chest of the undead.” Garry McConnachie, Glasgow Live

“It’s good to see the different types of zombies and it’s a surprise that Molly didn’t get infected during her zombie battles as Minihan throws in some gore punches which will make you look away. It Stains the Sands Red might be vague or perhaps unconventional in its narrative structure, but it still manages to rope you into a frustrating but watchable discourse.” Spinechillers, Wicker Girl

Main cast:

• Brittany Allen (Extraterrestrial; Dead Before Dawn 3D)
• Juan Riedinger (Excess Flesh; The Haunting of Alice D; Jennifer’s Body)
• Merwin Mondesir (Grave Encounters; Lost Boys: The Tribe)
• Kristopher Higgins
• Andrew Supanz
• Michael Filipowich
• Nico David
• Dylan Playfair
• Kyle McCachen
• Steve Judkins
• Warren E. Thomas

Filming locations:

Valley of Fire, Nevada, USA

The post It Stains the Sands Red – USA, 2016 appeared first on HORRORPEDIA.