Welcome to the new home of Creepercast.com. Where we let the fear creep in with all things horror genre. News, Reviews, and more! STAFF:
J.P.: Editor (EIC - Editor in Cheif), Writer (CC - Content Contributor);
Joel Kenyon: Editor (AE - Assistant Editor), Writer (CC - Content Contributor); William S Mayfield: Writer (CC - Content Contributor)
On this day in horror history.... the world of gimmicky horror lost it's patriarch, as William Castle passed away. Known for being a true showman and a master at getting butts in the seats, Mr. Castle could never be duplicated. I hope that somewhere you're still figuring out ways to entertain people. Rest in peace.
Global Music Award-winning Nomadic Mongolian folk metal group TENGGER CAVALRY aren't just all about history, heavy metal and cultural issues. Sometimes, the NYC-based quintet just wants to take time to enjoy themselves and have fun. TENGGER CAVALRY have let loose this month by recording not one, but two covers of tracks by punk-influenced pop star Avril Lavigne. Showcasing their ability to explore different influences while remaining true to their unique sound, TENGGER CAVALRY have unleashed their Mongolian metal version of the hit song, "My Happy Ending". Watch the official video now via Alternative Press: (VIEW HERE)
"My Happy Ending" follows the band's release of another Avril Lavigne cover - "Sk8er Boi" - available now via iTunes.
TENGGER CAVALRY frontman Nature Ganganbaigal says: "Recording this track was one of the weirdest ideas I have ever had. Generally, I find that the metal community dislikes pop stuff a lot, but Avril, she does have some good hooks! "My Happy Ending" has some cool leads and I figured I could spin it around with some Morin Khuur and Mongolian fiddle. I also wanted to use this opportunity to experiment a bit with my clean vocal performance. But, all in all, we just did this for fun. We hope our fans like it!"
Stay tuned for details on new original music coming from TENGGER CAVALRY very soon!
TENGGER CAVALRY Guitar Tab Book - order via Amazon | iTunes
About TENGGER CAVALRY:
TENGGER CAVALRY has been turning heads in the music world since the band's inception in 2010 - since releasing five full-length albums, two EPs and numerous singles, successfully completing two headlining tours across over 40 cities in North America, and even selling out the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. They have been featured by the likes of CNN, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others. TENGGER CAVALRY is recognized for their bevy of folk music-influenced cover songs, leading massive artists such as Motörhead and Dave Mustaine to share the tracks on social media.
TENGGER CAVALRY is recognized as one of the most unique, innovative and exciting metal bands to come out of Asia for blending the nomadic music tradition of Central Asia with heavy metal music - dubbed Mongolian folk metal. Band leader Nature Ganganbaigal performs multiple Mongolian nomadic instruments including Mongolian horse-head fiddle Morin Khuur, Mongolian flute, Tibetan horn, Mongolian guitar (Tovshuur) and other instruments native to the region. He is also able to sing using the ancient Mongolian singing tradition of Khoomei, also known as throat singing or overtone singing.
TENGGER CAVALRY line-up is:
Nature Ganganbaigal - (a.k.a. Nature G) is a music performer, songwriter, producer and film music composer based in New York City. Originated from Beijing, he is of mixed Chinese and partial Mongol ancestry, and performs Mongolian Morin Khuur and throat singing. He appeared on the stage of Lincoln Center and, as mentioned above, Carnegie Hall. Graduated from New York University in 2015, he held a master of music degree in film music composition.
Bass, Alex Abayev - Growing up in Uzbekistan, Alex is deeply rooted in Central Asian nomadic culture and has enjoyed nomadic music from a very young age. He also comes from a strong extreme death metal background, and has opened for renowned metal acts such as Immortal and Cephalic Carnage.
Morin Khuur, Uljmuren - A professional film director and Morin Khuur fiddle player from Ordos, Southern Mongolia (Inner Mongolia). He majored in Music Recording back in Beijing and formed multiple rock bands in the Beijing rock scene years ago. He has been toured in North America twice and played more than 60 live concerts with Tengger Cavalry.
Shanz, Robert McLaughlin - Growing up in the USA with a close relationship with the Tuvan people, Robert studied the Tuvan fiddle Igil, Tuvan throat singing and the Tuvan language; he performed at Carnegie Hall in 2015; Robert is also a shaman and practices a variety of rituals.
Drummer, Josh Schifris - Josh has been drumming since the 4th grade and has been gigging fairly heavily since the age of 17. Having formed Thrashole and Entropy, he has opened for many legendary bands like Negura Bunget, Lich King and Philm.
On this day in horror history.... legendary actor, Claude Rains, passes away. Most well known in horror circles, for his portrayal of 'The Invisible Man', Mr. Rains was a force of nature. Also known for some other amazing films, such as 'Casablanca', 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'Notorious' and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington'. Claude was a recognizable character and always a box office draw. The world lost a great voice on this day in 1967.
On this day in horror history.... our patron saint, Bill Oberst Jr, does it again. 'Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies' shambles its way into our lives. The Asylum's answer to 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter', this little movie that could, shows what Bill is truly capable of. Not only is he an amazing Lincoln, but a bad ass zombie killer and a bit of an action hero. This one may not have had the major studio backing that the other film did, but it doesn't matter.... it still kicks ass.
As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
When I came up with my list of the top 13 horror films of 2016, I was so incredibly excited to share my feelings on my number one selection for the year. It, literally, blew me away with it's storytelling, emotional impact, special effects and heart. It had been a while since I'd seen a film take on an over saturated genre and make it new again. That film was, 'Train To Busan'. Not since 2014's, 'Spring', had a horror film moved me with it's depth of emotions. Typically, our beloved genre goes for scares over cares and these two films proved that there was so much more to it than just trying to one up the last movie in how creatively you can kill someone. So, when I heard that there was an animated prequel to 'Train To Busan', I became very excited. Anime has shown itself, time and time again, as a proven medium where you can tell any story imaginable and make it work. No matter how bizarre or how much or how little money you have.... if you can think of it, you can animate it. This made me hopeful for what was to come. There also were so many unanswered questions as to how the outbreak started and what was happening in other parts of Korea, as our main characters were barreling down the tracks on a train filled with the undead. I was hoping that 'Seoul Station' would answer those questions and add another chapter to an already amazing story. Last night, I sat down with my mind racing with the possibilities and fired up what, basically, is the equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon for adults. (And I mean that in the best way possible.)
'Seoul Station' begins with a busy downtown scene, in which an elderly man is wandering the streets, clearly suffering from some sort of injury. Being looked at as merely a homeless man with some kind of bite wound, he's almost entirely ignored by those all around him. He eventually finds his way to a place where others have gathered to find somewhere to sit and rest for awhile. He lays down and is left alone. Before long, another man enters the scene. A rather odd fellow who isn't looked at as much more than a buffoon. He finds the old man and tries to get help for him. At the same time all of this is happening, we're introduced to a young couple who are also struggling, but with their relationship and money issues. As the film goes on, their stories intertwine, as the old man returns from the dead, to begin infecting all of those around him with a zombie virus. It quickly spreads and soon there's an army of the living dead, killing and infecting everyone in their path. Things just go from bad to worse and before long, it's a full fledged outbreak and no one is safe. Without spoiling the ending, all of my fellow Creeps have seen this scenario before and we all know how it will end. Or do we?
There was a lot to really enjoy about this film. Granted, the animation was a bit of a throw back to the older style of anime. A bit stuttered and grainy, but it wasn't without it's charm and the zombies were still quite terrifying. Chattering teeth and all. There were a few pacing issues and the tension could have been raised, by some more full on running, instead of the 'Heavy Metal' style of running. However, there were some legitimately great sequences in 'Seoul Station'. I don't find myself talking back to a movie much these days. I've seen so many and spent much of my life viewing horror film after horror film, but this one had me saying things out loud, to animated characters on the screen. That's the sign of an effective film. The two scenes that stood out the most for me were the ambulance flip scene. In which, two of our main protagonists are involved in an ambulance crash. It was a slow motion shot and was executed as well as any big budget Hollywood fare. The second scene was when the same two protagonists, were trying to escape through the subway tunnels. I won't give away what happened, but you'll know it, when you see the gate and the older woman coming towards them. It was an incredibly effective way to build tension and had me on the edge of my seat. Again, not something that happens much these days. Not too mention the ending. A twist that I never saw coming.
All in all, 'Seoul Station' may not be held in the same high regard as 'Train To Busan' is, but it's a worthy prequel to an amazing masterpiece of modern zombie cinema. It provided us another view on the eve of an oncoming apocalypse. Written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who also has the same credits for 'Train To Busan', he's proven that he can not only tell an effective story in animation.... but in real life as well. I'm excited to see what the future holds from him. This film may have some faults, but no film is truly perfect and when you compare it to the constant birage of other zombie films being produced right now, it's still head and shoulders above most of them. The main characters are well drawn out and the story, although very simple in scope, has a lot of complexities and not so subtle social commentary attached to it. My feelings are that this is a 4 out of 5 star film, whether it was animated or not. I do think that the animation was a better medium in which to tell this particular story, but that's just my opinion. In America, we don't see too many franchises that take this route to deliver a gripping story. The only other example I can think of, is 'The Matrix' and 'The Animatrix'. I'm hoping that we see more of this in the future, as it opens up a lot of doorways to tell a story in creative and new ways. At the end of the day, I would recommend both of these films, as a double feature. If you think you've seen all that the horror world has to offer, in terms of the zombie genre, then you might just end up being pleasantly surprised.
Here's a link to the film's pre-order page at iTunes, it will be available exclusively in the U.S. tomorrow, May 30th, and worth every frame!
If you enjoy this film, check out some other original zombie tales: 'The Battery', 'Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead' and 'Burying the Ex'
"We are fascinated by the darkness in ourselves, we are fascinated by the shadow, we are fascinated by the boogeyman."
~ Anthony Hopkins
#2: The Babadook (2014)
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
As usually adults refuse to accept the monster in the closet, but kids know that not only is he real, but he’s also a lot closer than we realize.
There is good movies and then there are crap
movies. Movies that entertain us and ones that make us wish we had never seen any
film ever. Then there comes along a gem like Massacre on Aisle 12. The brain
child of Chad Ridgely and A.J Via. This is the story of a group of workers in a
hardware store on Christmas Eve who find a dead body and a bag of cash, and the
comedy that is Massacre on aisle 12 begins. Filled with great characters and
tons of one liners this movie hooked me right from the beginning. We first neet
Jack (Chad Ridgely) who is the assistant manger showing the new guy, Dave
(Michael Buonomo) around the store and introducing him to the motley crew that
runs this store. From the lovely Melissa Saint-Amand who plays the cashier Tara
to the very ambiguously Gay manager Mr. Kipper (Doug Burch) this cast is all
star and funny as hell.
After the dead guy is found all the employees start to
question each other right off the bat. Someone grabs a crossbow out of the
sporting goods department and then the body's start to drop. Massacre is
defiantly a comedy horror movie and would make a great party movie. To anyone
that has ever worked retail this is must see, it has every person you have ever
worked with and the ones you wish you had. I give this a solid 9 out of 10. I
encourage you the reader to check out all of the movies I review and form your
own opinion but this is a stop what you are doing right now and go see see it.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
On this day in horror history.... Charles Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo unleash the 'Killer Klowns from Outer Space' on the world! A b-movie to end ALL b-movies, this film is not only fun to watch, but clever and very well done.... considering the budget. It's been rumored to be in the works for a long overdue sequel or for television series. However, nothing has seen the light of day, as of yet. For now, we wait and watch the skies.
On this day in horror history.... one of the greatest actors of our generation, Peter Cushing is born. Known for starring in countless horror films, including The Hammer films, Peter was always in demand. A man, a myth, a 'Star Wars' villain. He may be gone,
but he'll never be forgotten.
With the upcoming release of the new 'Friday the 13th: The Game', on Xbox One, it's had me thinking a lot about one of my favorite franchises. Granted, it's a bit of a guilty pleasure, Jason has always held a soft spot in my heart among the horror icons. With a new film seemingly in development hell, there is a bright spot with the fan made 'Never Hike Alone', currently in production. However, there's 12 other feature films that have been released since 1980 and I thought it might be fun to rank them, according to which ones I consider to be the best. So here we go, my personal top 12 'Friday the 13th' movies....
Number 4) Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
One of my personal favorites, for many reasons. Corey Feldman, Tom Savani and the amazing Crispin Glover. This film really has all the earmarks of a classic 80's slasher film. Great special effects, fun characters, pretty sweet kills and Jason in full effect. Nothing more to say about this one, other than you should see it, at some point. 4 out of 5 stars.
On this day in horror history.... my favorite zombie film ever, is released, 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978). Setting the standard for what a zombie film truly can be, 'Dawn of the Dead' stood head and shoulders above all the others. Building on a concept and taking it to the next level, all the while commentating on the world at large. A true masterpiece, brought to us by the godfather of the modern zombie, George A. Romero.
Dragging the depths of my old horror reviews, I thought they might need to see the light of day again. So, I bring you some of Joel's 'Classic' horror reviews....
Last night, I had the pleasure of watching a little low budget nasty called, 'Laid to Rest'. It isn't going to win any awards. It didn't re-invent the wheel, but it's an hour and a half of non-stop blood, guts, gore and icky stuff. Not too mention that the killer was fairly original and entertaining to watch and learn about. In a sea of stellar slasher flicks, it's nice to find one that is a tad above the bar. The basic premise is that a woman wakes up in a casket with no memory. Soon, she finds out that she's being chased by a serial killer called 'Chromeskull'. Shortly after that, we're off to the races! She tracks down some help, along the way, and each one is killed off one after another. More and more is revealed and soon we've reached the climax of the film. Meanwhile, you're wondering where the time went?
The stand out parts of this film, invlove the gore. The special effects are above average and tend to overshadow the story, which is very simple in scope. There are some violent kills, but nothing very new or inventive. Still, it's worth the price of admission. One thing that left me feeling a bit let down was the ending and the lack of closure. It seemed like we got a lot of build up to only end with a slighly abrut and unsatisfying finale. I'd say it pays off, however, not as well as I'd hoped. I mean, they build up this killer so much, that it would have left itself wide open for a franchise. Sadly, that probably won't happen, but I've said too much. (Editorial note: There was a sequel to this film called 'Chromeskull: Laid To Rest 2', that was released 2 years later. There is also a 3rd film in the franchise in the works now.)
All that being said, if you have Netflix, it's on demand right now or to rent. (Editor's note: This film is no longer available to stream online.) I would say it's worth a night of popcorn and brainless slaying. You won't find any great revelations and will probably feel slightly let down, but the rest of it is so strong, that it holds up to the test of above average slasher film. If this piece of bloody good fun is an indication of what the director and writer have in store for the future, then I'm eager to see what's next. All in all, 3 out of 5 stars. Worth your time, but perhaps not worth repeated viewings. Check it out for yourselves and let me know what you think. A killer for a new age. One of cell phones, fast cars and shoudler mounted video cameras. Keep in mind though, this one isn't for the faint of heart.
If you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Splinter', 'P2' and 'Scream'
Featuring Headliner DANZIG and Special Guests MINISTRY, ATREYU, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and More May 26-27, 2017 in Silverado, CA
Coming to Oak Canyon Park in Silverado, CA in Orange County on Memorial Day Weekend, the two-day Blackest Of The Black festival (Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27) will host two music stages featuring performances by headliner and festival presenter Danzig, as well as Ministry, Suicidal Tendencies, Atreyu, Vamps and many more. The festival will be hosted by Full Metal Jackie and will feature camping, along with a number of sinister attractions including Castle Danzig -- a fully immersive walkthrough experience of agony, ecstasy and more, all based on the music and graphic novels of Glenn Danzig.
Information on tickets, VIP packages, camping and more can be found at www.BlackestFest.com. Discounted 2-day Early Bird Tickets start at $66.66 plus parking and fees, while supplies last. Early Bird Single-day Friday tickets start at $39.00, and single-day Saturday tickets start at $49.00.
Ever since we released THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE on December 22nd, we've had countless numbers of people asking when it was coming to DVD and Blu-ray (plenty of people still buy them). Well, now we can finally answer that - May 2nd! Arriving as a DVD/Blu combo pack from our friends at Scream Factory, THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE was made available as a Wal-Mart exclusive on May 2nd, with a wide release in all stores on June 27th. You can pre-order this terrifying modern classic on the Wal-Mart website now or pick it up in stores in just over a month!
"The strongest human emotion is fear. It's the essence of any good thriller that, for a little while, you believe in the boogeyman."
~ John Carpenter
#3: Boogeyman (2005)
A young man tries to deal with the childhood terror that has affected his life.
As a boy, the boogeyman destroyed his family, but he’s not supposed to exist when you’re a full grown adult. In this boogeyman film he has unfinished business with a man who refuses to let go.
Holidays is an anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all time by challenging our folklore, traditions and assumptions, making Holidays a celebration of the horror on those same special days' year after year. A collaboration of some of Hollywood's most distinct voices, the directors include Kevin Smith (Tusk), Gary Shore (Dracula Untold), Scott Stewart (Dark Skies), Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes), Sarah Adina Smith (The Midnight Swim), Nicholas McCarthy (The Pact), Adam Egypt Mortimer (Some Kind of Hate), and Anthony Scott Burns (Darknet). The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 14, 2016 before its VOD release the next day.
The segments...
Valentine's Day (written & directed by Kevin Kölsch & Dennis Widmyer) starring Madeleine Coghlan, Savannah Kennick, Rick Peters, and Britain Simons.
A teenager with a crush on her gym coach is bullied by the rest of her classmates, but an innocent Valentine's Day gesture leads to horrific results.
St. Patrick's Day (written & directed by Gary Shore) starring Ruth Bradley, Peter Campion and Isolt McCaffrey
A young teacher learns the frightening truth about the legendary snakes of St. Patrick. A student makes her deepest wish come true, with a sick twist.
The segment, "St. Patrick's Day", references the Norwegian folktale "The Lindworm Prince", also known as simply "The Lindworm". While there are several versions of the folktale, the version anthologized in the seminal Asbjornsen and Moe Collection is the most popular one. The folktale tells of a queen giving birth to a snake creature and when the creature is born, it flees into the land. When the creature grows up, it becomes a prince.
Easter (written & directed by Nicholas McCarthy) starring Ava Acres, Petra Wright and Mark Steger
A young girl who wakes up and sees the Easter Bunny arrive is in for a shock.
Mother's Day (written & directed by Sarah Adina Smith) starring Sophie Traub, Aleksa Palladino, Sheila Vand, Jennifer Lafleur and Sonja Kinski
A woman who can't stop getting pregnant finds herself involved with a coven of barren witches after attending a strange ritual.
Father's Day (written & directed by Anthony Scott Burns) starring Jocelin Donahue, Michael Gross and Jana Karan
A teacher receives a mysterious cassette tape from her long-estranged father that leads to a darker mystery. The answer for why he disappeared may not be what she expected.
Halloween (written & directed by Kevin Smith) starring Ashley Greene, Olivia Roush, Harley Quinn Smith, Harley Morenstein and Shelby Kemper
A man running an internet cam sex business finds himself in dire straits when he crosses his employees on Halloween.
Christmas (written & directed by Scott Stewart) starring Seth Green, Clare Grant, Kalos Cluff, John C. Johnson, Shawn Parsons, Michael Sun Lee, Wes Robertson, Karina Noelle, Scott Stewart and Richard DiLorenzo
A man goes to terrible lengths to get a virtual reality device for his son for Christmas, but finds himself haunted by it. Seth Green and Clare Grant play a married couple and are also married to each other in real life.
New Year's Eve (written by Kevin Kölsch & Dennis Widmyer; directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer) starring Lorenza Izzo, Andrew Bowen and Megan Duffy
A disturbed young man discovers that his New Year's date may be just as twisted.
