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)
In
a world that experiences everything 4 to 5 minutes at a time you may be
hard pressed to find entertaining material to fill that short attention
span. That's why I have begun a series of reviews in which I will
discuss upcoming film-makers that seek only to occupy your brain, if
only for a few moments, in the hopes of lingering there eternally. One
of those visionaries is Jose Pedro Lopes (IMDB, HOME PAGE, VIMEO).
Background:
Jose calls Oporto, Portugal home and is a film journalist for C7nema.net .
He's also an adept filmmaker whose been producing and directing
commercials and instructional videos since 2006. He's continually
involved in creating short fiction films including his work as writer,
director, and producer of the three horror genre shorts being discussed here.
Films: A NOIVA
(The Bride, 2007): “Deep in the Douro river there is a legend about the
ghost of a dead bride, who haunts the area. Regardless, a couple of
lovers go to an abandoned house near the river, where they are attacked
by the undying bride” (IMDB).
According to Jose and IMDB “A Noiva” was written and produced by Jose Pedro Lopes and directed by his partner in crime Ana Almeida.
He also refers to it as “a European slasher movie, in the style of the
70s and 80s Italian horror cinema but with the typical Asia villain.”
From what I see he knows what they created. It's also a very interesting
combination of spirit culture at work (Japanese/Eurpoean) and the
cinematography is brilliant - from the picturesque view of the
countryside to the blood splattered car window through which we see our
female lead go all glassy eyed. The only concerns I have is they may be
to much misdirection when it comes to story. First the guy jokes about
nobody being able to find them out in the countryside not even her
stupid boyfriend. It's hard to tell if he's joking or not and poses
questions as to why what happens to them does. Was it because of a
jealous boyfriend or vengeful spirit that punishes infidelity? In the
ruined house the guy seems to be making up a story about a girl who once
lived there but went crazy which leads one to believe it's the ghost of
the girl. Finally, by the end we know there are actually two forces at
work here, the ghost of the bride who watches, and the actual killer
(since they both appear on screen at the same time). So maybe the killer
is the girl, but other than the fact that female Asian spirits have
been known to be the harbingers of death and not necessarily the cause, I
haven't quiet figured out her significance. Or maybe that's just it and
I'm looking for to many answers. One thing for certain is it has
inspired me to watch more Gallo and Japanese ghost stories! All
questions aside this is an excellent example of combining two distinct
horror film styles. To prove it this movie has played in over 40 film
festival worldwide. Most notably, it has been featured for several years
in Women in Horror Recognition Month festivals such as the Viscera Film Tour, the Jennifer’s Bodies Film Festival and the Stilletto Film Festival.
O RISCO (The
Line, 2011): “On a remote road, two friends try out a magic chalk that
was bought online. According to the site, if someone crosses a line
drawn with that chalk, his head explodes. They draw a line and wait for
someone to come by… but are they ready to face the consequences if this
turns out to be true?” (IMDB)
The concept of this two minute mind blower is “what if that stuff
advertised in the back of a comic book or online was real?” and the end
result is hilarious! According to Jose it “is a slasher comedy, based on
the gag joke between friends, made in a very lo-to-no budget style.” As
for the low budget style its obvious that most of the money was spent
on chalk and brain matter, which is fantastic! It's one of those two
minute films that delivers everything it promises – humor, a be careful
what you ask for because you just might get it moral, and gore. It works
so well on delivering these three things that it has won several
awards, and was featured in the Bicycle Film Festival world tour. It's also been sold in 4 territories for VOD distribution. What brought it the Creepercast's attention when Cheryl Compton announced it is a part of the pilot of The Dark Cinema live on the Creepercast!
SURVIVALISMO
(Survivalism, 2011): “A man wakes up with a bag over his head and a
rope around his neck, he finds himself in a chair, in a situation where a
sudden movement can leave him hanging. Abandoned in a basement, will he
be able to survive?” (IMDB)
According to Jose, this film “is an experimental horror movie, based on the 5 Stages of Grief of the Kubbler-Ross Model.
Designed to be the total opposite of the torture horror movies.”
Knowing that, this one requires repeated viewing! At least for me, the
first time I saw it the film seemed to test my patience. But when it got
to the end of its eight and half minute run the payoff was so intense I
needed to watch it again to truly appreciate what had brought it to
that point. The lack of background music and attention to small natural
sounds actually puts us into the head of the guy we are watching. We
also picture his surroundings much as he does and all of those little
details make it that much more creepy. As he goes through his five
stages we learn more about him, and that in the end he is quiet possibly
the worst friend anyone could have. Then the twist comes, which
actually made my eyes pop wide open while I declared “Holy Shit!” I have
no intention of ruining this one for you all so please, do what ever it
takes to see it. It also comes as a horror festival surprise having
been featured in some major fantastic festivals such as Yubari Fanta Film Festival, (Japan), and The Abertoir Horror Film Festival Melies D'Argent Competition (UK).
Keep checking back for more independent film makers you should be paying attention too!
“FDR” is directed by Garrett Braweth (“The Legend of Bloody Jack,” “Poolboy”) and written by the young and hilarious Ross Patterson (“Accepted,” “7-10 Split”). It also features a veritable smorgasbord of well known actors including but not limited too Lin Shaye as Eleanor Roosevelt, Ray Wise as General MacArthur, Ed Metzger as Albert Einstein, and Kevin Sorbo as another version of the a fore mentioned Abraham Lincoln.
Here's the setup...
“After contracting polio from a venomous werewolf bite, FDR won't
stop at single-handedly ending the Great Depression and prohibition.
With the help of a team of historic figures, he must end WWII by
exacting revenge on an army of Nazi-werewolves from the comfort of his
Albert Einstein-designed wheelchair of death. An outrageous,
over-the-top spoof, FDR: American Badass is the untold true story of our
countrys greatest monster-hunting president!” (IMDB)
This movie is full of names you've heard before both historically and
on screen, and is guaranteed to be a hilarious addition to the
alternate history movement currently storming the horror genre.
Before we begin, I want to let you know that this review may
contain some pretty big spoilers and nothing is worse than spoiled human flesh.
The Creepercast has already posted the spoiler free review of 'The Green
Inferno'. Now it's time to take the blinders off and look death square in the
face. If you haven't seen the film yet and want to watch it with the same
naivety as the protagonists in the film, then I suggest you wait before reading
any further. The review will still be here when you get back, but I can't say
the same for you.... you have been warned.
Directed by Eli Roth and written by Eli Roth and Guillermo
Amoedo (who also co-wrote 'Knock Knock' and the Eli Roth produced/acted in
'Aftershock), 'The Green Inferno' is a cannibal film in it's purest sense. I'm
going to let you in on a secret before we get into this review, I've never been
a big fan of the 70's cannibal genre. I suppose you should know that. However,
as a student of film, I've seen quite a few, but never had one really hit any
sweet spots. The odd thing to me, is that I think of them as a sub genre of the
zombie film and I love zombie films. They're my waffles of horror, like
slashers are my bread and butter. The basic concept is the same as a zombie
film. You have a group of people who are trying to eat you and your goal is to
stay alive. The only real difference is, where the films take place and the fact
that the cannibals aren't the living dead. However, that doesn't make them the
same animal or that if you enjoy one, you'll enjoy the other. They're very,
very different kinds of films. There's something much more disturbing about
being eaten alive, when you consider the reality of cannibalism. I think that's
one of the main reasons they have such appeal and why so many were drawn to
them in the 70's. During that time, the Italians took the genre and made it
their own, while the American zombie films filtered their way into the public
consciousness. Lucio Fulci had proven that the Italians could make amazing
films about the undead, but Ruggero Deodato proved that the Italians would be
the masters of cannibalism. He would be the name that the world still shudders
at, when they think of his masterpiece, 'Cannibal Holocaust'. However, Deodato
wasn't the grandfather of the Italian cannibal film, that credit belongs to
Umberto Lenzi. He brought the genre to life with his 1970 re-telling of the
American film 'A Man Called Horse', titled 'Man From Deep River'. It didn't
have the shock value or longevity that 'Cannibal Holocaust' has, but it
deserves a mention in the history of the films of that time. Where 'Cannibal
Holocaust' earned it's fame was in it's real life animal killings and it's
portrayal of the death of several people in the film that were so realistic, it
was treated as a snuff film. Until recently, some people still believed that
several of the deaths were possibly real. This film also is looked at by many
as one of the first found footage films, watch it and you'll understand why.
It's an exploitation cult classic that was passed around on grainy VHS tapes
for many, many years. Being watched in dark rooms, with the doors locked,
hoping no one would find out what sick and disgusting things you were watching.
Admittedly, the first time I saw it, I was with my best friend and up until the
very end.... we both felt kind of dirty. But that's the masterful way that the
film cast it's spell. You felt like you were there and you felt every bit of
the horror that was on screen, but in the last 2 minutes, you find out what
it's really all about. In that single moment, all the pieces fall into place
and you have a collective sigh of relief that it's over, but the message is now
crystal clear and it all becomes worthwhile. Not unlike the fairly recent
nasty, 'A Serbian Film'. You can't argue with the film making or the script or
the acting. Even with that being said, the actions contained within are
sickening and beyond horrifying, but there is an undeniable message that you
have to tolerate the perverse to be able to accept the reality being presented.
Going into 'The Green Inferno', knowing that 'Cannibal Holocaust' is the reason
it exists and is the much younger counter part and companion piece. You can
appreciate and see that it's a film on its own and also a tribute to all of the
cannibal films that came before. That must be understood, before you can truly
appreciate what Eli Roth has accomplished.
I've been a fan of Eli Roth ever since I first saw 'Cabin
Fever'. I fell in love with his film making style and the way he would told a
story, using humor and all out gore. There was just something so unique and
fresh about it. Not too mention, the film was quirky, didn't pull any punches
and had a really fun and interesting script. The characters he created that
were supposed to be likable, were likable and the ones that weren't, weren't.
It wasn't really until 'Hostel' though, that I felt like he was one of the leaders
in the next new wave of horror directors and one of the few that would carry
the genre into the upcoming decade. At the time, there was just so much bland
horror happening and so many cookie cutter movies being made, that seeing what
came out of Eli Roth's brain was like a shot of adrenaline. It was also the
catalyst for a lot of hatred and the coining of a phrase that was used to
describe his films, that I don't think is accurate or realistic: “Torture
porn”. Yes, there is such a thing as torture porn, but it exits on the dark
side of the internet. Where people do vile things to each other in real life.
It's not something that any studio would put into a multi million dollar
multiplex cinema. It was a buzz phrase that people latched onto and are still
throwing around today. Since then, Eli's gone on to make a couple of other
films, but has shifted gears a bit in order to become more involved in being an
actor and producer, as well as creating a Netflix original series called,
'Hemlock Grove'. Which has just begun it's 3rd season online. He's a
man of many talents and I've continually looked forward to everything he does,
but when I heard he was making a film about cannibals, I got a little
concerned. As it just so happens, this is one of the two horror genres I've
never quite understood. (the other being Giallo films) I guess I must have a
thing against the Italian horror maestro's? I've honestly tried several times
to enjoy or at least, appreciate both genre's, but the closest I can come are
the zombie films of the time that were being produced in Italy. Even a lot of
those fell way short of the mark and aren't anything I ever need to see again.
(I'm looking at you, 'City of the Walking Dead' aka 'Nightmare City') As you
could imagine, this put me into a bit of an entertainment conundrum. How can a
genre that's proven to be something I don't care for, be made by a director
that I absolutely love and what will happen when I watch it? But in the end
there was one thing that made me turn a corner and realize that this was
something I needed to see. That moment was when I found out that Eli Roth said
that the cannibal films of Italy were the reason he got into being a film maker
in the first place. This was his love letter to something that he held close to
his heart and finding that out, was something that I could completely respect
him for and admire the genre using his eyes
'The Green Inferno' opens with a beautiful shot from the sky
above a lush and green tropical forest. As the credits roll we're lulled into a
false sense of calm. Soon, the scene snaps into focus on a college campus where
we meet Justine and Kaycee. Both of whom have slightly different opinions on
the political group on campus. We're then introduced to Alejandro and Jonah, who are passionate about their cause, but in
different ways too. Soon Jonah is actively pursuing Justine to be a part of
their group. Telling her she's been specifically picked out by their leader,
Alejandro. She attends a meeting and is promptly shunned and turned off by the
quick judgment of her, to which she storms out of the meeting pursued by Jonah.
He eventually convinces her to come with them on a trip to stop the bulldozing
or a forest in the amazon. After persuading her father and convincing Kaycee
she'd be okay, Justine takes off with the small group of social justice
warriors to make a change in the world. What's that mean exactly? Well, it's
kind of important to the plot. There's a trend that been going on for quite
sometime, involving a form of political activism carried out by people known as
'Social Justice Warriors'. Urban Dictionary defines this as: “A pejorative term
for an individual who repeatedly and vehemently engages in arguments on social
justice on the Internet, often in a shallow or not well-thought-out way, for
the purpose of raising their own personal reputation. A social justice warrior,
or SJW, does not necessarily strongly believe all that they say, or even care
about the groups they are fighting on behalf of. They typically repeat points
from whoever is the most popular blogger or commenter of the moment, hoping
that they will "get SJ points" and become popular in return. They are
very sure to adopt stances that are "correct" in their social
circle.” However, I didn't know them by that name, until this film was made. If
you're not familiar with the moniker, you'll have a pretty good understanding
once you've taken a trip deep into 'The Green Inferno' and back. It's a large
part of what the film is about and what Eli Roth feels so strongly about. It
also helps to make more sense of what's going on, if you know who they are
ahead of time. Not that the film doesn't make itself crystal clear, it has a
message and it makes sure you don't miss it. However, it factors so heavily
into the story line, that it ultimately IS the story line. Which brings us to
where the group successfully stops the bulldozing, gets their video to go viral
and soon find out that they have effectively brought about sweeping change in a
matter of minutes. Not without some casualties. Justine finds out that her
father's connections to the United Nations were more than just a coincidence,
as Alejandro has used this to his advantage and basically turned her into bait.
As they leave in their tiny plane to head back to the main airport, something
goes wrong and soon they're crashing down in the middle of a densely forested
area, with no working phones, a missing GPS and surrounded by cannibals who are
always on the lookout for fresh meat. With half of the original group dead and
no way to get back to civilization, the group soon finds themselves been
drugged by blow darts tipped with some kind of toxin. (Note to the reader: This
doesn't even happen until, almost, the 45 minute mark) When they wake up,
they're in tiny canoe type boats, surrounded on all sides by a tribesmen who
are taking them down river. Once they're back at the village, all but Jonah are
put into a giant cage, as they watch their injured friend be gently laid down
on a large stone slab. He's give some kind of drink and he's soon thinking that
they may be tending to his wounds. Instead, the head priestess of the tribe
comes to inspect him and then proceeds to pluck out his eyeballs and tongue and
eats them raw. As his friends look on in terror, Jonah is cut into pieces, one
by one, as he's still alive and screaming. From that point on, things go from
bad to worse and in an effort not to spoil the entire film, I'll leave the rest
up to you to watch on your own and experience just as I did.
This film has so many different things I want to talk about,
but I'm torn as to which things to reveal and what things would be best left
unsaid. Because part of what makes this film work, is that you're always on
your toes and are never quite sure what is going to happen next. There's that
constant uneasy feeling, that is not unlike our captured protagonists are
feeling. It's such a horrific thing to imagine, watching your friends being
killed and eaten, one by one. Not in a humane and quick way, but in the most
viscous ways possible. Almost as if the tribesmen had to make them suffer,
before they would be allowed to eat them. Despite all of the violence and gore
associated with the each of the deaths, I'm still not quite sure what everyone
was so up in arms about. Maybe I'm just desensitized or maybe I'm just a jaded
horror fanatic? That remains to be seen, but it seemed as though Greg Nicotero
and Howard Berger played down the effects, so they come off as almost 'rubber
suity'. I'd love to talk to them and find out if that was done so that people
could catch their breath? It's such an intense film, that it would make sense
to not make it too over the top. I mean, I've seen much more realistic effects
in other genre films, that look like they came straight out of a medical
dictionary. It doesn't make the horror any less horrifying. I'll use the
beheading as a case in point. The world is so full of viral beheading videos
that everyone has seen what a real decapitation looks like. Therefore, you
don't want to recreate that, so much as you want to recreate that feeling. That
was one of the few things that really bothered me in the film, only because I'm
one of the people who's seen a beheading video and I don't ever need to see one
again. Ironically, among all of the blood, guts, gore and icky stuff, one of
the most intense moments in the film is when Justine is swept down river and it
appears as though she may drown. Even more ironic is.... that she almost did
die in real life, during that sequence. Now THAT's terror. There's many tips of
the hat to 'Cannibal Holocaust' in this film. Primarily when two of our
characters find their way back to the plane crash site and find all of the
bodies of their already dead friends, impaled on spikes all around them. There
was also something else I noticed that I'm not sure if it was intentional or
just the way my screener was designed, but the lack of subtitles for the
cannibal tribe made it feel more like you were there, as you had no idea what
they were saying to each other. What could be worse than not being able to
communicate with someone who holds your life in their hands? Not being able to
bargain for your life or to plead for mercy. Not knowing if your time had come
or if they had other plans for you. It was a very effective, however subtle,
way to continually manipulate the viewer.
Before I finish up this buffet of blood, I have to mention
the use of children in this film. Not in the way they were in 'Cooties', where
there is violence being done to them. In 'The Green Inferno', the children add
another layer of discomfort to the entire scenario. Not because they are
terrifying, but because they are kids, who were raised as cannibals. To them,
all of this death and violence is normal. They clamor for the first bite of a
fresh kills, raw or cooked. They play with the victims, before they're killed.
They are even capable of murder, without a second thought. That's true
terror.
All in all, at the end of the day, 'The Green Inferno'
accomplishes everything it set out to do. It pays homage to the Italian
cannibal genre, that Eli Roth loves so much. It told a story with a message,
that is not only entertaining, but incredibly effective. If I had one complaint
about the entire film, it would be these two things: First, the ants scene. It
moved far too quickly and was very obviously CGI. It really needed to play out
at a much slower pace. Second, the post credits scene. I get what he was going
for, in terms of the films that came before, but it felt like an after
thought.... and not a good one. This doesn't need a sequel and it had much more
of an impact without it. It's as if it took the wind out of the fully billowed
sails. Despite those minor concerns, this film was all I'd hoped for. Even in a
genre that I'm not a fan of, I still found so many things to love about 'The
Green Inferno'. It had all the earmarks of Eli's earlier works, including so
many more new things to enjoy. From the start to the finish, this moves at a
fairly kinetic pace and only allows you a few fleeting moments to relax, before
hitting you upside the head again. It may not be Mr. Roth's best work, in my
opinion, but it's his most complete work to date and feels like he's come into
his own as a film maker. His passion for the genre kept shining through and
that may have been why it all worked so well. I'm giving 'The Green Inferno' 4
out of 5 stars and would recommend it to newbies in the cannibal genre, as well
as die hard fans of old. Also, make sure you stick around until the end of the
credits, as he has included a brief history of the Italian cannibal genre and
shows you where the inspiration for this film came from. It's a comprehensive
list, so take notes. He also dedicates it to his hero, Ruggero Deodato. When
this finally hits the streets, fire up the bar b q, make yourself a plate of
ribs and watch the story unfold. Perhaps, that's not the best idea.... unless
you have a strong stomach. Speaking of which, I'm feeling a bit peckish myself.
Anybody want to get together for dinner?
If you like what you see here, check out Eli Roth's:
'Hostel' or 'Cabin Fever' and also be sure to watch 'Cannibal Holocaust'. Every
Creep should have this film checked off their bucket list, at some point.
What do you get when you combine William Shatner and Michael Ironside? You get the movie 'Visiting Hours'. Are those two elements enough to make this an awesome movie? Nope. Not in the slightest.
I wish I could pour praises out on this attempt at a slasher film. I can't. I just can't do it. This movie is so incredibly god awful, that there's little to no redeeming value to watching it or even talking about it. I mean, from the first scene where we meet Michael Ironside's killer, Colt Hawker, I lost interest. He had tons of jewelry on, but his clothes were completely off. This was somehow his murder method, which was horrendous and weird. I'm not entirely sure what the writer and director were going for, but I really don't think they succeeded at all.
The basic premise revolves around Michael Ironside's character, obsessing over Lee Grant's journalist character. After being attacked by him and ending up in the hospital. She's stuck in her recovery room, while he continues his attempts to finish the job. William Shatner gets smarmy with everyone and then one of the main characters gets killed. I'll let you figure out which, because I don't want to relive this movie anymore than I have too. I'm still suffering PTSD from it.
Directed by Jean-Claude Lord, who's other biggest credit is for 'Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!'. That should tell you everything you need to know about him. Along with Mr. Lord, this hunk of junk was written by Brian Taggert, who wrote such horror classics as 'Poltergeist III' and 'The Omen VI: The Awakening'. The pedigree behind this movie is astonishing.... astonishingly bad. I have nothing good to say about this. Not even the costumes were realistic. Even Ed Wood had reviews that could boast that fact. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one at all costs. 1 out of 5 stars. (Or less, if that's possible?)
Instead of watching this, enjoy some actual classic slasher films from the 80's: 'The Burning', 'Madman' or 'The Prowler'
The Hellraiser Hell Box is probably the most sought after artifact from the Clive Barker film series. That is despite the pain we know it brings, probably because of the pleasures owning such an item would bring. Here are a few Hell Box creations to consider adding to your collection!
The above box Mezco proudly presents Hellraiser Lament Configuration Puzzle Cube!
Featuring artwork based on the designs of Philip Lemarchand, the
prop-sized cube puzzle rotates on both the X and Y axis with an almost
supernatural smoothness.So basically its a Rubix Cube with the ability to open the doorway to hell. Click the image to order yours!
Fuzzy dice are back! Recreated for the first time ever as a squeezable plush collectible, the
cubes feature artwork based on the designs of Philip Lemarchand. The
film-accurate designs are carefully imprinted on the velvety fabric
using a silkscreen process that captures the detail of the unearthly
designs.
The Hellraiser Puzzle Box "Lament Configuration Side A, F, and D" Original Horror Art Giclé Prin, the perfect wall adornment for own little piece of Hell.
The
Hellraiser Chess Board by Boards of War is available in 3 different sizes. "
Our Hellraiser Chess Board Design mimics Lemarchand's box or the famous
puzzle cube from the movie and the experience. Who knows...maybe the
board can also bring the cenobites just as Kirsty once summoned them
many years ago. This high definition graphic design will be printed on
our exclusive high-definition premium vinyl material with our modern
matte finish and comes attached to a durable, black plastic base."
Remember all the pictures are links to where you can purchase these items and every purchase helps the Creepercast!
A truly unique story about monsters in our modern age, as told through a bloody allegory of simple brutality.
5 out of 5 stars and the best horror film of 2011
