In addition to the usual reviews and comments you would find on a horror movie blog, this is also a document of the wonderfully vast horror movie section of the video store I worked at in my youth.
A new segment started up in G4's Attack Of The Show this week. Body Count is a piece where Joe Lynch (director of Wrong Turn 2) features cool genre titles on DVD. Check it out.
I assume this is replacing their Asian Underground bit, which had been going for several months now. That was good, but this is even better. I can't wait to see what goodies Joe pulls out in the future.
I Can Smell You.
A new image of the upcoming French flick The Pack surfaced online this week on Bloody Disgusting. I don't mind telling you that this looks pretty bad ass.
What do you think?
New Moon.
A trailer for Moon is up now. This is a science fiction film that was on my periphery since it played Sundance, but this trailer was the first time I actually sat down and took a gander at it. This movie looks pretty sweet. With this and Pandorum, it appears we might have some solid Sci-Fi (or is it SyFy now?) coming our way. Check the trailer below.
Lastly, there's something I want to mention. Check back all this week because I'm going to be doing a special feature for the next seven days. It's my way of ceremoniously bringing in Spring. See you then.
Sorry about being a day late on this post, but a hangover and a malfunctioning DVR (and by malfunctioning, I mean forgot to record it) led to me not seeing the Harper's Island premiere until last night.
So, Harper's Island. It's not bad. Yes, it is Ten Little Indians with a huge infusion of Dawson's Creek and other shows of that ilk that I don't watch, but I do have to admit the whole "primetime event" vibe of this thing is too tantalizing to pass up. I suppose that it was CBS is hoping for. And even if it isn't the bee knees, it's only thirteen episodes right? There are certainly no shortage of lovely ladies and even a few sprinkles of gore that I wasn't expecting from a network show. With the murder mystery hook and its Northwestern locale the comparisons to Twin Peaks are inevitable, but Harper's Island lacks several of the elements that made that show such a phenomenon. Regardless, I applaud CBS for giving something like this a go because do we need something other than Lost to talk about around the proverbial water cooler. As for theories, I'd say it's a little early in the game for that considering we really haven't met all the players yet. I could have sworn I saw Bill Pullman in the promo, but maybe I was imagining things.
Okay Harper's Island, you have my attention. Impress me.
Hey there. I wanted to briefly drop in and give your eyes something to feast on this morning. I found a collection of cool images on a site called Smashingmagazine.com and I was especially struck by this one by misslyka in particular.
I dunno, I look at that and I see a story just waiting to be told. Click here for the rest of the pics.
Also, I found this great set of HD photos taken of Hellingly Asylum in Sussex, England by Flickr user romanywg.
I'm exhausted. Yesterday I was at Kurt's (from Row Three) for his Alien Quadrilogy marathon, and then Serena Whitney's (of Killerfilm) for her Killer Hooker Movie Nite. Earlier today, ball hockey. Tomorrow, the dance of screaming muscle pain. Anyway, better late than never, right?
I'm about as lukewarm on this, as I was the trailer, but I still have faith.
Retro Space.
Dirtyrobot recently sent me a link to this clever little bit from The Minus World. It featured current video game titles getting the NES treatment.
Hmmmm. Strategic dismemberment in 8 bits. That seems somehow appropriate, don't you think? Click here for the full series of covers.
Finalllllly!
Red Shirt Pictures announced this week they are releasing the classic 1986 sci-fi/horror flick Night Of The Creeps on DVD. This was a long time coming. I'm looking forward to this a lot, especially because RSP did such a great job with the release Fred Dekker's other eighties institution Monster Squad in '07. We're on a good roll right now. First, Four Flies On Grey Velvet earlier this year, not NOTC. Now, if we could just get Paperhouse and Deadly Eyes in some sort of disc form, that would be golden.
For three weeks now, Resident Evil 5 has been out in the world infecting the masses. I just finished it on Monday night, so that’s why I’ve been silent about it until today. Normally, I’d have been done sooner, but the busy schedules of myself and my co-op partner only intersect for about six hours a week.
It has been thirteen years since I first played the original Resident Evil. Many installments, headshots and ink ribbons later, this video game series has become my all-time favourite. Each new game release has been an event and I’ve played them all - well, all except for the ones caught up in retarded Nintendo exclusivity deal. Then in 2005, a much needed shake-up came to glorious fruition with the release of Resident Evil 4. That game was a revelation for me. I couldn’t believe Capcom had managed to top Code Veronica – which I ADORED. RE4 was a gaming milestone and rightfully ended up on many Game Of The Year lists. So, here we are four years later at the release of Resident Evil 5.
And the verdict is…
It’s awesome sauce.
It is fair to say that in many ways, this fifth installment is a shinier Resident Evil 4, but with one very important evolution; the co-operative gamplay. That is really what makes Resident Evil 5 a winner. The Resident Evil series has experimented with co-op before – with the Outbreak games – but they never really worked quite right. They were more of a glimmering portent for the fantastic things to come. RE5 was my buddy Phil and I’s first real experience with co-op gameplay and we were both floored. It’s very hard to describe the innumerable scenarios that were enhanced because there were two of us. Needless to say, there was much “Yeah… so this is awesome” in between “Behind you!” and “I fucking PRESSED it, fuck!”
After playing RE5, I am really surprised about some of the hate online, so I’ll respond to the naysayers. A lot of people seem to be up in arms about the controls. I had no issues, it having only taken me the length of the demo to get used to them again. I can appreciate gamers suggesting a new control scheme is overdue, but to say these controls are ‘broken’ seems absurd to me. I don’t remember anyone having a problem with these same controls when Resident Evil 4 came out. That was four years ago, you say? Okay, if you want an even more recent example, as its controls are very similar, Dead Space. No complaints then either. And if I have to hear one more person bitch about not being able to walk and shoot at the same time… Is this REALLY a deal breaker for you?! Now, the biggest gripe is about the friendly A.I. I obviously can’t comment on this because I played it as it was MEANT to be played – with a living, breathing partner! I don’t want to sound like I am making excuses though, so I’m willing to relent. If the A.I. is as shitty as some say, then Capcom dropped the ball on that one. It was wrong of them to make a far inferior single player product. On the other hand; this can be easily remedied. Grab a partner! As for the enemy A.I, they seemed to be able to get the drop on us several times, so that should at least say something.
Okay, back to the good stuff. Resident Evil games have a reputation for bloated and convoluted storylines and this installment is no different. And even though I could see where the story was going fairly early on, I dug it a lot. Talk about tying up loose ends! This one, more than any other, really felt like we were inside an action flick. I love the game design of the last few Resident Evil games. It somehow gives you JUST enough ammo to complete your mission. When all was said and done, my partner and I had six bullets left between us. And on top of all this, the game is GORGEOUS. The African locale was an inspired choice and really brought the series into an environment that had yet to be explored.
This was an amazing experience… and it’s not over! We still have Mercenaries mode, tons of unlockables and upcoming DLC to keep us busy. Resident Evil 5 may not be as mind-blowing a jump as Resident Evil 4 was, but the inclusion of flawless co-op gameplay makes it a completely different beast altogether and a total must-play for all fans of the series.
I was riding in my friend’s car last night. We were on our way to SportChek because – against my better judgment – I joined a ball hockey league with some friends and we were getting some equipment. But that’s another story altogether. Anyway, I’m in the back and this object wedged in the seat in front of me caught my eye.
Is that? I thought. Can it be?
When we got to our destination, I brought it out of the car and opened it, while my friend looked on in puzzlement.
“It IS.” I said. -“What?” “It’s an Umbrella umbrella.” -“Uh… yep.”
I then realized he had no idea what I was talking about – and really, why would he? – so I explained it to him as best I could.
“Can I have this?” I asked. -“I guess.” “Your wife won’t miss it?” -“Probably. Tell ya what, buy me dinner and we’re square.” “Deal.”
What makes this especially serendipitous is I had just spent the bulk of the day writing my review for Resident Evil 5. Then something like this falls in my lap that evening? It’s so weird!
