Toronto’s Blood in the Snow announces short film program

As seen on Fangoria.com.

The Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival is proud to announce its lineup for its BITS Short Showcase program playing Friday November 28th at 9:30 p.m. The lineup includes premieres of seven short films of the best Canadian genre shorts to be made this year. Last year’s prime time program was a huge hit selling out and adding a second screening.

For descriptions and trailers click here.

The remaining four features and the eight short films that will open all the features will be announced November 1st at Toronto’s HORROR-RAMA convention, with presentations running November 1st and 2nd.

Early bird festival passes ($65) and select individual tickets ($11) are on sale now here. For more, visit Blood in the Snow on Facebook.

Toronto After Dark Film Festival: 2014 REVIEW: WYRMWOOD

As seen in Toronto Film Scene.

Wyrmwood isn’t your typical zombie film, and that’s putting it lightly. There are things here that you’ve never seen before, and probably never even thought of, and the end result is a teeth grinding masterpiece. Touches of Mad MaxDead Alive, and Evil Dead blend with a bloody road trip through this insane film.

Everything about this film, including the soundtrack, is madness. Things begin in a rather serious way, as we witness the outbreaks first victims, and it never slows down from there. The movie becomes increasingly crazy, with a pounding score and camera angles that leave you disoriented. There’s also a very dark sense of humour that begins to show up halfway through.

This is the kind of movie where you find yourself wanting to cheer every minute.

Read full review and watch trailer here.

Canadian Sorority Slasher Flick THE SCAREHOUSE Premieres Just In Time For Halloween

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Coming off rave reviews of its Sneak Peek at Montreal HorrorFest last month, THE SCAREHOUSE hosts its theatrical World Premiere in Windsor, ON October 5, 2014. Tickets at Eventbrite.

Look for THE SCAREHOUSE on VOD and iTunes in CAN/US on October 21, 2014.

In THE SCAREHOUSE, “two friends open a Halloween fun house on Devil’s Night, an elaborate party for their former sorority sisters. As these six sisters arrive one by one, they are confronted by a troublesome past. When their hosts’ true intentions are revealed, everyone inside the Scarehouse will find out that, indeed, revenge is a bitch.”

Check out the official trailer:

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Last summer I asked lead actress Sarah Booth about the importance of the all-girl cast, what’s new for audiences in this film and all about the awesome kill scenes! Read the interview at http://bit.ly/tshinterview.

For immediate updates on THE SCAREHOUSE follow on Facebook and Twitter.

Official website at scarehousemovie.com

 

M is for Madame-Kali (2013) – Director: Jazz Virk

Title: M is for Madame-Kali
Year: 2013
Country: Canada/UK
Director: Jazz Virk
Writer: Jazz Virk
Producers: Dov Weiss, Jazz Virk, Swarit Jajal, Vandana Sidhu, James Antonio
Director of Photography: Nigel Akam

Plot Summary: A woman’s revenge is Kali Ma, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction.

Virk’s latest piece raises awareness about violence against women. The story is inspired by and is dedicated to Jyoti Singh Pandey, India’s ‘New Delhi gang rape victim’ who was brutally raped and murdered in 2012.

This short was submitted as part of the ABCs of Death 2 26th Director Search. Learn more here. A longer version of the film will be coming out in Winter/Spring 2014.

WILLOW CREEK (2013) – Director: Bobcat Goldthwait. Review By Greg Klymkiw.

As seen in THE FILM CORNER with Greg Klymkiw.

WILLOW CREEK, Review By Greg Klymkiw

It’s Official, Bobcat Goldthwait is one of America’s Best Living Directors & his new film is as hilariously brilliant as it is chilling and crap-your-pants terrifying as anything I’ve seen in years. The picture DEMANDS big-screen exposure!

Willow Creek (2013)
Dir. Bobcat Goldthwait
Starring: Alexie Gilmore,
Bryce Johnson

In the wilderness, in the dark, it’s sound that plays tricks upon your eyes – not what you can’t see, but what your imagination conjures with every rustle, crack, crunch, moan and shriek. When something outdoors whacks the side of your tent, reality sinks in, the palpability of fear turns raw, numbing and virtually life-draining.

There were, of course, the happier times – when you and the woman you loved embarked on the fun-fuelled journey of retracing the steps of Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin who, in the fall of 1967 shot a little less than 1000 frames of motion picture footage of an entity they encountered striding through the isolated Bluff Creek in North-Western California.

Your gal was humouring you, of course. She was indulging you. She was not, however, mocking you – she was genuinely enjoying this time of togetherness in the wilderness as you lovebirds took turns with the camera and sound equipment to detail the whole experience. You both sauntered into every cheesy tourist trap in the area, chatted amiably with numerous believers and non-believers alike and, of course, you both dined on scrumptious Bigfoot burgers at a local greasy spoon.

Yup, Bigfoot – the legendary being sometimes known as Sasquatch or Yeti – a tall, broad, hairy, ape-like figure who captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of indigenous populations and beyond – especially when the Patterson-Gimlin footage took the world by storm. And now, here you both are in Willow Creek, California, following the footsteps of those long-dead amateur filmmakers.

All of us have been watching, with considerable pleasure, your romantic antics throughout the day. When night falls, we’ve joined you in your tent and soon, the happy times fade away and we’re all wishing we had some receptacle to avoid soiling our panties. You’re probably wishing the same thing, because in no time at all, you’re going to have the crap scared out of you.

We have, of course, entered the world of Bobcat Goldthwait’s Willow Creek. Goldthwait is one of the funniest men alive – a standup comedian of the highest order and a terrific comic actor, oft-recognized for his appearances in numerous movies (including the Police Academy series). He’s voiced a myriad of cartoon characters and directed Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show and subsequent concert flick.

In addition to these achievements, Goldthwait has solidified himself as one of the most original, exciting and provocative contemporary American film directors working today. His darkly humoured, satirical and (some might contend) completely over-the-top films are infused with a unique voice that’s all his own. They’ve made me laugh longer and harder than most anything I’ve seen during the past two decades or so. Even more astounding, is that his films – his first depicting the life of an alcoholic birthday party clown, one involving dog fellatio, another about an accidental teen strangulation during masturbation and yet another which delivered a violent revenge fantasy for Liberals – are ALL films that have a deep current of humanity running through them. His films are as deeply observational and genuinely moving as they are nastily funny and often jaw-droppingly shocking.

Willow Creek is a corker! It forces you to emit cascades of urine from laughing so hard and then wrenches wads of steaming excrement out of your bowels as it scares you completely and utterly out of your wits. It’s a “found footage” film, but I almost hesitate to use the almost-dirty-word term to describe it, because Goldthwait, unlike far too many boneheads, hardly resorts to the sloppy tropes of the now-tiresome genre.

He’s remained extremely true and consistent to the conceit and in so doing, used it as an effective storytelling tool to generate an honest-to-goodness modern masterwork of horror. His attractive leads are nothing less than engaging (lead actor Johnson reveals a scrumptious posterior for the ladies and, of course, gentlemen of the proper persuasion). Goldthwait’s clever mixture of real locals and actors is perfection and the movie barrels along with a perfect pace to allow you to get to know and love the protagonists, laugh with them, laugh with the locals (not at them and finally to plunge you into the film’s shuddering, shocking and horrific final third. The movie both creeps you out and forces you to jump out of your seat more than once.

Goldthwait is the real thing. If you haven’t seen his movies up to this point, you must. As for Willow Creek, I urge everyone to see the film on a big screen with a real audience. Sure, the movie will work fine at home in a dark room with your best girlie snuggled at your side on the comfy couch, but – WOW! – this is a genuine BIG SCREEN EVENT. Try to see it that way, first!

The Seasoning House – Director: Paul Hyett (2012)

Met with mixed reviews … The Seasoning House.

The movie follows Angel, a young girl that is forced to work in a house that specializes in supplying young prostitutes to various military personnel. Initially planned to be put to work as a prostitute, Angel instead becomes the assistant to Viktor, who runs the brothel. During the day she is given the duty of cleaning the prostitutes up after their often violent encounters with various men, but at night wanders the walls and crawlspaces of the house. It’s when she befriends newcomer Vanya and witnesses the aftermath of the regular and brutal rapes that Vanya is subjected to that Angel begins to plan revenge, especially after the squad of soldiers responsible for her abduction and the murder of her family arrives.

Per Wiki: The film had extremely mixed reviews. The horror press loved the film and got very positive receptions at many festivals around the world and was selected as opening film at Film4’s Frightfest 2012. However, not surprisingly the UK mainstream press hated it. Empire magazine gave the film three stars calling it ‘stylistically bold and brutally compelling’, it also had rave reviews from HeyUguys who said ‘Beautiful, exhilarating and exhausting’. Radio Times also said ‘Highly effective suspense shocker, this hard-hitter is influenced by Alfred Hitchcock and Roman Polanski’. FearNet said ‘Aggressively entertaining, a stark and ferocious new revenge thriller, both unflinching and compelling’, Dreadcentral also said ‘The Seasoning House is a lyrical, bleak, and deeply wounding exploration of brutality and inhumanity that cries out to be seen’. Brutal as Hell exclaimed ‘In many ways The Seasoning House reminded me of the recent wave of French horror: visceral and unrestrained, but with a fierce intelligence at work behind the camera’. The Seasoning House won the critics award at Fantasporto, Portugal, the critics award at Mile High Horror Festival at Denver, Colorado and best actress for Rosie Day at Fantaspoa, Brazil.

Fantasia 2013: Antisocial Trailer Arrives

Title: Antisocial
Year: 2013
Country: Canada
Director: Cody Calahan
Writer: Cody Calahan, Chad Archibald
Producer: Marina Cordoni, Christopher Giroux, Ira Levy, Peter Williamson, Chad Archibald, Cody Calahan
Production Company: Black Fawn Films, Breakthrough Entertainment

Polt Summary:

Five university friends gather at a house party to ring in the New Year. Unbeknownst to them, an epidemic has erupted outside, causing outbreaks around the world. With nowhere else to turn, they barricade themselves indoors with only their phones, laptops, and other tech devices. They use their devices to research the possible cause of this outbreak. Information and video footage over flow their computers as they descend further into the cause and the ensuing chaos. As the virus spreads, the mood in the house changes from fear to paranoia. Who is safe? Who can they trust? Reality becomes blurred as they slowly discover the source of the virus causing the sickness…and there is no going back.

Read more, including review, at Dread Central.

Watch trailer here: http://twitchfilm.com/2013/07/watch-the-exclusive-first-trailer-for-cody-calahans-antisocial.html

 

Six Horror Movies with Amazing Beginnings by Evan Dickson as seen on bloodydisgusting.com

 

By Posted by EvanDickson on July 25, 2013 on Bloody Disgusting.

Last year I wrote a piece called 5 Horror Films With Amazing Endings. You guys wound up digging it so I did 5 MORE Horror Movies With Amazing Endings, along with 5 Horror Movies With Horrible Endings and 5 MORE Horror Movies With Horrible Endings!

So, having pretty much tapped out the ENDING thing for now, I figured I’d take a look at some BEGINNINGS. Some of these movies start strong and end strong but others, more often than not, never fully achieve on the promise of their initial 15 or so minutes.

Head below to check ‘em out!

DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004)

Dawn Of The Dead Beginning 7 23 13 6 Horror Movies With Amazing Beginnings!!!
You knew this one was going to be on here didn’t you? While the James Gunn scripted/Zack Snyder (still his best) directed film is pretty damn good all the way through, most people would agree that it’s first 10 minutes or so are a true tour de force. From the economic, yet efficient, character introductions to Sarah Polley’s reactions to the chaos breaking out around her. This, and the opening credits, are a masterstroke.

FRIDAY THE 13TH (2009)

Friday The 13Th Beginning 7 23 13 6 Horror Movies With Amazing Beginnings!!!
You guys know by now that I dig this whole movie, but the first 20 minutes especially shine. There’s just something great about the quick dispatch of teens who could potentially have been our protagonists, right up until that great shot of Jason charging towards the camera smashes us into the main story.

SCREAM

Scream Beginning 7 23 13 6 Horror Movies With Amazing Beginnings!!!
While Scream is pretty much a classic at this point, I’m not sure if it ever beats the opening Drew Barrymore sequence. It’s lighter on laughs than the rest of the film, but makes up for it with a sadistic level of suspense that the remaining 100 minutes have a hard time recapturing (those 100 minutes are still pretty great though).

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD

Return of The Living Dead Beginning 7 23 13 6 Horror Movies With Amazing Beginnings!!!
It’s remarkable how efficiently Dan O’Bannon sets up his universe – just a hair to the left of the Romero films – and establishes the tine of his utterly unique piece. The humor, the horror, that body in the bag twitching in the freezer – it’s all there.

SINISTER

Sinister Beginning 7 23 13 6 Horror Movies With Amazing Beginnings!!!
Not so much an opening sequence as an opening shot, whatever your opinion may be of Scott Derrickson’s Sinister – there’s no denying the power of this image.

GHOST SHIP

Ghost Ship Banner 10 02 12 6 Horror Movies With Amazing Beginnings!!!
Our contributor Wolfman wrote at length about this, and he’s d*amn right. The scene that possibly BEST demonstrates this article, it’s all downhill from here. Enjoy!

Twisted Twins Video Interview by Rue Morgue

On this episode, Jen & Sylvia Soska discuss how the collaborative process works between them and how they cast their films. They also offer advice on how to develop and finance an independent horror film.

Plus – we get a major scoop on the actor they’re trying to wrangle into their NEXT feature film project.

Vol. 1

Vol. 2

Like Rue Morgue on Facebook

American Mary Official Trailer #1 (2013) – Horror Movie HD

The Loved Ones (2009) – Director: Sean Byrne

Title: The Loved Ones
Year: 2009
Country: Australia
Director: Sean Byrne
Writer: Sean Byrne
Producer: Christopher Mapp, Bryce Menzies, Matthew Street, David Whealy       Production Company: Screen Australia, Omnilab Media, Ambience Entertainment, Film Victoria

Plot Summary:

When Brent turns down his classmate Lola’s invitation to the prom, she concocts a wildly violent plan for revenge.

Watch trailer: