NEW Short: The Prospector's Curse

“There’s Blood in them there hills!”

I got wind of a new Horror short coming soon called The Prospectors Curse. The film has now wrapped and is in post production. We are awaiting news of release and availability but what stands this out from many, many other horror shorts at the moment? Well, one thing was the involvement of Familiars’ very own Robert Nolan. If this offering is half as good as the atmospheric masterpiece that was Familiar then we can expect very good things.

Written and Directed by Josh Heisie and produced by Bruno Marino, The Prospectors Curse seems to be a very apt and descriptive title. Set during the Klondike Gold rush of the 1890’s, Theodore “Tubby” Ellsworth and Jack smith are two criminals on the run, lost in the untamed wilderness. When they stumble across a mutilated Prospector, dying on Indian ground, they promise to give him a Christian burial. The fugitives break their oath and steal the old man’s gold…but that night, the Prospector’s corpse returns to make them pay!

Horror Shorts are certainly a great way for directors to get their visions out there and in recent years they have grown in both credibility and quality. The Prospectors Curse sounds like it could contains all the hallmarks to make it a very enjoyable Random Horror film. More news to follow and as soon as I get my hands on a copy of the film, I will post a review. See below for more Production information.

Check out the Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Prospectors-Curse/141337662650150

For up to date information and some great behind the scenes shots!


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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Prospector’s Curse

A western-themed horror film entitled “The Prospector’s Curse” has wrapped production near the remote town of Ponty Pool, Ontario.  Set during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890’s, the darkly comedic short is Written and Directed by Josh Heisie (‘Mail Order Bride’), Produced by Bruno Marino (‘Anything Goes’) and is currently in Post Production in Toronto, Canada.

The talent lineup for “The Prospector’s Curse” includes David Roberts (‘Curious and Unusual Deaths’), Johnny Quinn (‘Mind’s Eye: The Series’), Amanda Ives (‘I Hate Toronto: A Love Story’) and Robert Nolan (‘Worm’).

Rounding out the creative team are Director of Photography Michael Jari Davidson (‘SICK’), and Special Effects Makeup Artist Carlos Henriques (‘Red: Werewolf Hunter’) of The Butcher Shop.

Tagline

There’s blood in them there hills!

Logline

The vengeful corpse of an old prospector haunts two gold thieves as they struggle for salvation.

Synopsis

Theodore “Tubby” Ellsworth and Jack smith are two criminals on the run, lost in the untamed wilderness.  When they stumble across a mutilated Prospector, dying on Indian ground, they promise to give him a Christian burial.  The fugitives break their oath and steal the old man’s gold…but that night, the Prospector’s corpse returns to make them pay!

Related Web Pages

Facebook Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Prospectors-Curse/141337662650150

Josh Heisie                            http://www.joshheisie.com/

Bruno Marino                        http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3012041/

Michael Jari Davidson            http://www.michaeljaridavidson.com/

Carlos Henriques                   http://www.thebutchershop.ca/

Dave Roberts                        http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3734080/

Johnny Quinn                        http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4144359/

Robert Nolan                         http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634349/

Amanda Ives                         http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424849/

Movie Review: Zombie Women of Satan (2009)

Where do I start? All logic and thoughts of previous films that I have seen and enjoyed must go out of the proverbial window at this point. When talking about a film like this, nothing can be taken seriously. Zombie Women of Satan.... Even the name takes the piss out of itself! One thing that is immediately apparent is, you will either love or despise this film. There is no room for middle ground or “maybe if I watch it again”. Let me tell you, if you don’t like it on first viewing, you will probably like it even less after a second!

Having said all that, I loved it! Maybe it’s the fact that every word is said with a tongue constantly lodged within the cheek of those speaking or maybe it is just the good old familiar Geordie accents on display. For anyone scratching their heads at this point! Geordies are from Newcastle Upon-Tyne in the North East of England and if there is one thing to be said of Geordies, they sure know how to have a good time!

A group of extreme comedy performers led by Pervo the Clown must battle for survival after a scientists’ bizarre experiments are unleashed upon his estate! I know, what a name, Pervo the clown! Pervo is played brilliantly by Co-Director & Writer Warren Speed. He is perhaps one of the funniest protagonists to ever grace a Horror/Comedy flick, and I have seen a lot! He is perfectly complimented by his right hand man, Johnny Dee Hellfire played by Seymour Leon Mace and the rest of this rag tag group of extreme performers. Zeus, Harmony Starr and Damage, played by Peter Bonner, Kate Soulsby and Joe Nicholson respectively.

The group arrive for an interview along with singer Skye Brannigan at an internet TV studio. Unbeknownst to them, the studio is on the Zander estate! A large colony/cult presided over by Tycho Zander. His father, Henry, sisters Blue and Red and his mother all share the estate with Tycho’s girls. An almost brain washed group of girls with no names. Henry, played by Bill fellows is performing some kind of experiments with the girls. After something goes slightly wrong, the girls of the colony are all infected with a virus and begin to terrorize the survivors!

Ok, so all seems fairly innocent so far. Looks like a normal Zombie movie... Or does it? Did I mention that most of the girls are topless? No, oh well they are. This leads to some rather amusing chase scenes and some great comedy timing from Pervo the clown! Although the film does have a storyline to follow, it was all secondary really to the comedy of the protagonists. A few uneasy moments, including Zeus the dwarf having an extremely untimely shit in the woods while watching his back for zombies and a rather uncomfortable scene involving Tycho and a) his mother and b) a zombie strapped to a table! Neither of which detract from the film but still, worth mentioning!

Despite the make-up for the zombies not being quite up there with Dawn of the Dead or 28 Days Later, the actual situation was extremely well acted. What would a comedy performance act do when confronted with topless zombies, ta da!

Before I took the plunge and watched it for myself, as always, I got a general feel for the film by looking at some user reviews. Let me please point out at this stage that I never let myself be influenced by any review, I merely use it as a gage for what is to come. What I saw was a lot of negativity, disliking the whole film and criticising its comedy timing! Personally, I think they were a bit harsh. Ok, it’s totally stupid, makes no sense and has very little in the way of structured storyline but don’t take it too seriously, it doesn’t take itself seriously so why do you?

I thought the comedy timing was perfect, the action was very good and the acting was pretty good too. Not to mention the production value, which was excellent! It also has its share of gore which does lend itself very nicely to the overall film. As I said in the beginning, everything you thought you knew about films goes out the window when watching one of this calibre including rating. On that note, I would highly recommend Zombie Women of Satan to anyone who doesn’t take their films seriously (Like some of the user reviewers on IMDB!) and to anyone who likes a laugh! Maybe its because I can smell the stink of Newcastle from my house or the fact that I just like Random Films a bit too much. Whatever the case, ZWOS was a film that I thoroughly enjoyed and would watch again. Please don’t take my rating too seriously!!!

Released: 2009

My Rating: 7

Movie Review: Short - Familiar (2012)

A few months back, I briefly wrote about an upcoming Horror Short from Fatal Pictures called Familiar, starring Robert Nolan. Directed by Richard Powell and Produced by Zach Green. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to watch it for myself and subsequently write a review on it. So here it is...

John Dodd is a pushing middle aged man who can finally see light at the end of his tunnel. With his daughter getting ready to go off to college, he can dream of a free future. A future that is well within reach until his wife drops a bombshell, she is pregnant!

Although John comes across as a very average person, what we hear from his monologue portrays a totally different kind of man. A man who seems locked in with his true feelings and thoughts of almost pure evil, thoughts which plague him to breaking point. The latest news of pregnancy only serves to exacerbate his feelings of hatred and resentment towards his wife. After his actions have taken us beyond slack jawed gawping to downright disgust, a growth appears on his body and something begins to change. Maybe John isn’t as evil as initially thought. When he confronts his demon he is presented with something far beyond his comprehension!

Familiar tables some very interesting concepts, with all that we see on the exterior, what is really going on inside? A question most people would not generally ask themselves but interesting nonetheless. Robert Nolan plays John, whose inner most thoughts are manifested ever so subtly in his facial expressions. Astrida Auza plays Charlotte, John’s wife and Cathryn Hostick rounds off the cast as Jordan, their daughter.

The overall feel of the film is hauntingly disturbing and wholly poignant. As I mentioned earlier, some aspects of this film will have you sat in disbelief at what John brings himself to do. The culmination of which will have you squirming in your seat!

An eclectic mix of emotions conjures up thoughts of Basket Case and Alien, A bizarre mix but that is what will help Familiar stand out on its own. Familiar is excellently directed, a direction which proves that with the right light and angle you can achieve the desired result and you don’t need to throw CGI at the viewer to get an awe-factor!

As overall creepiness goes, Familiar is in a league of its own, at points it’s almost uncomfortable to watch. With a lot of the film resting solely on Robert Nolan and close up shots as his thoughts permeate his consciousness. As far as horror short’s go, you will not see a better one this year! An overwhelming feeling of “More Please” was all I was left with at the conclusion of this 24 minute masterpiece, with Nolan’s performance shining bright throughout. I was overly impressed and honoured to be given the opportunity to watch this film. Very well done to all involved and I hope to see more from the Fatal Pictures team in the future!

Released: 2012

My Rating: 8

Movie Review: Rage (2010)

Being fairly new to the reviewing game, I was anxious to see what would be revealed from the first ever screener I had been sent. That screener came in the form of Christopher R. Witherspoon’s Rage. Written and Directed by Witherspoon, it appears to have an impressive level of pedigree. Judging by the numerous accolades attached to this film from various festivals, Rage has definitely impressed! 

A bit of background info informed me that Witherspoon has been involved at various levels in some impressive titles including Re-Animator, a personal favourite of mine. Despite having never heard of Witherspoon or of his previous attempt in the Directors chair, 2004’s drama “Middle Man”. After reading a lot of glowing reviews for Rage, I was definitely looking forward to giving it a whirl.

Rage tells the story of a seemingly average day in the life of Dennis Twist. He is happily married and appears to have his life sorted. A loving wife, a good job and a nice house in the suburbs of Portland but it isn’t long before the cracks begin to appear. It is on a routine excursion to the city that one small act which everyone has done at least once turns his day very sour indeed. After appearing to acquire a parking space at the expense of a mysterious, leather clad, Tinted helmet wearing Biker.

Michael Myers with a Crotch Rocket is probably the best way to describe the Biker! Reminiscent of a “Slab” from Doctor Who or something from the Zovirax adverts, said Biker begins a trail of retribution fit only for someone who had committed the most heinous of crimes! His almost infuriating excessiveness is unrelenting throughout the whole film. With an almost super-human feel to him, can “The Biker” ever be stopped?!
 

What Witherspoon succeeds brilliantly in doing, is creating an extremely thrilling suspense ride perfectly complimented by a cast comprising of Rick Crawford (Dennis), Audrey Walker (Crystal) and Witherspoon himself donning the helmet to portray The Biker. Crawford’s character seems to take a nose dive towards the end, which ironically is the part of the film I wanted his adrenaline to be at peak capacity but hey ho. Walker eventually providing a very reasonable contrast to Crawford as Crystal musters up most of the bottle from the protagonists’ point of view.

As for the script, we forego most of the unrealistic absurdity that befouls so many low budget horror films. What we are given is an almost true to life account of daily conversations, albeit slightly underplayed by a few members of the cast, a slightly laboured delivery which left a lot to be desired. Sadly, or not depending on how you look at it, the realism dissipates towards the end as mindless gore prevails and we are treated to our first sight of blood! Personally, this was a welcome change of pace. Although the films' suspense was greatly enjoyed, all endings should have a bit of gore for the sake of gore! If, of course, it is tastefully done! Although it does take a great deal to shock me (Cannibal Holocaust is a good film to watch to desensitise yourself) the misses had to vacate the room for a certain bedroom scene! I will leave it at that!

Rage perfectly demonstrates what can be achieved with hard work, a carefully selected cast and a keen eye for a good shot which Witherspoon posses in spades. Some shots are so well done that you could be forgiven for assuming this was not a low budget horror flick. His attention to detail gives the overall appearance of Rage an extra professional touch and the depiction of the Biker set on the backdrop of the city makes the whole experience much more real. Not set in an abandoned hospital or in the middle of the woods somewhere, this is where people work and live but The Biker maintains his aggression with little to no regard for his own obedience of the law!

With huge influences and even a glittering reference, Steven Spielberg's Duel plays a big part in the production and direction of this film. However, it must be said that Jurassic Park is by no means a bad Spielberg film! That’s all I will say about that (You will have to watch the film to understand) but anyway, back to Rage.

 

With only a small number of shortcomings, Rage progresses extremely well, mixing in great scenery with amazing imagery. A very able cast go about their business with consummate ease and a script to match. Although The Biker’s ultimate motives seem somewhat trivial, his extreme reign of terror takes the film from sharp suspense to revenge gore without losing any of its atmosphere. If you get a chance to see this film, you should take it. Hopefully with a bit more of a push, Rage will be picked up and could find a general release sometime soon!

Year: 2010

My Rating: 8

 

Movie Review: Harpoon: Reykjavik Whale Watchinhg Massacre (2009)

This film was released in its native Iceland way back in 2009 under the title The Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre, my copy came with the word Harpoon splashed across the cover! After a tiny bit of research, Wikipedia informed me that the original advertisements displayed the tagline, “should only be seen if you have a sense of humour”, this almost put me off wanting to watch it but; on I charged with the knowledge that Iceland must be capable of putting together a decent film, if their number one cultural export, the quirky and brilliant Björk is anything to go by, this should be very Random indeed!

The name Gunnar Hansen is proudly displayed above the title. As a result of this I was expecting good things, despite what I had read on Wiki! What I saw, other than Hansen’s lack of overall screen time was quite possibly one of the best Random Horror Films I have ever seen!

Let me begin by saying that anyone that is opposed to whaling or finds any kind of cruelty to animals offensive, should fast forward the opening credits for your own good! Having said that, if any of the above makes you queasy, you probably shouldn’t be watching any Horror film!

Right, warning out of the way... The story follows several groups of people from all cultures and creeds boarding a whale watching boat in the nippy waters of Iceland. The Poseiden, captained by Gunnar “Leatherface” Hansen picks up the group of people and heads off for open water. The groups are made up of Asians, Germans, Americans, various locals and a Frenchman. Things take a sharp turn for the worst when an intoxicated Frenchman (Slightly stereotypical) causes havoc on the deck! What results can only be described as Random! The group of tourists soon find themselves in their worst nightmare as they must battle a family of disgruntled whalers aboard their own decommissioned whaling boat!

Harpoon sails along very nicely, not falling into the same pitfalls that befoul so many of the recent efforts from the States, mainly re-makes I must add! It’s as gruesome and hardcore as a film can be while maintaining that all important enjoyment factor. Some of the torture scenes are quite close to crossing that fine line but some good tongue-in-cheek moments balance those scenes very well.

The first thing that one notices about Harpoon is the abundance of atmosphere it manages to carry. It is amazing how claustrophobic the deck of a boat can be even with all that fresh air around you, there’s still no where to go! The characterisation builds with great gusto and although our empathy for some is higher than others, there is no denying that we get to know all the characters and their own individuality. Something that is of great difficulty for most film-makers is made to look so easy by Julius Kemp and his cast of unknowns. Of the cast, a few notable remarks must be made for Terence Anderson and Pihla Viitala. Anderson plays the apparent hero, Leon while Viitala plays the unfortunate victim of most of the torture, Annette. A very unnerving and eerie moment in the film sees Annette singing the Björk song, “It’s Oh So Quiet” over the boats speaker system. As haunting as it is, it is made even more poignant by events taking place elsewhere as the rendition progresses! A very moving and victorious scene which sets the pace for the remainder of the movie!

Harpoon can find comparisons from all over the Horror world. The obvious one comes from that which gave the Icelandic Hansen his notoriety and fame, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, not only in title and star but also in atmosphere and shock value. Another, which could quite possibly be an even bigger factor to the storyline, is the influence it takes from George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. As one of the main protagonists, Leon can be directly compared to Night’s Ben in that he has whether by choice or not, become the hero and attempts to save everyone from their horrific fate!

With twists and turn at every corner and revelations throughout, Harpoon was fast becoming one of the best films I have seen in a long time. The “Horror” is perhaps not as in your face and obvious as a lot of films but as an overall project, this one definitely shines bright. Without giving too much away, the ending has so many levels, I just wasn’t expecting any of it. I will say one last thing though, the fate of one character in particular pays great homage to another classic Horror film. I will let you see for yourself!

As I said before, Harpoon was one of the best Random Horror films I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I am already looking forward to the second viewing just to make sure it wasn’t a Random dream! I would thoroughly recommend this film to any fan of the genre and anyone who is not a massive fan should watch it too. The question it raises though is, why isn’t Iceland putting out more films like this one? Here’s to hoping!

Year Released: 2009

My Rating: 8.5

Movie Review: The Task (2011)

The first thing I will say about The Task is that the DVD case is not so much misleading but it doesn’t really give you the jist of the film. I have to admit, when I picked it up to put it in the player, I was expecting a crazed killer with a clown mask. Not that I was disappointed with the actual film. In fact, I was quite impressed. For the most part, The Task plays with some very interesting concepts. So it can be more than forgiven for its vague and somewhat misleading cover.

The Task is billed as an After Dark Original (Production Company) which boasts titles like An American Haunting and Penny Dreadful among others so it is from good stock, Penny Dreadful being an original and highly enjoyable little horror film (Watch this space for review).

Well made and for the most part and well acted out. Extremely high production values and good use of effects and camera work. The script is fairly loose and doesn’t really build the level of characterisation it was aiming for but none the less an enjoyable experience. Anyone familiar with my previous posts may recall Hell Asylum. The two share a similar storyline, both pit unsuspecting contestants in a reality TV style game show with an ultimate cash prize for those able to last the night. While Hell Asylum showed great potential and was set in an abandoned insane asylum, The Task takes its story elsewhere.

The six contestants are plucked from the streets by masked men and taken bound and blindfolded to the prison. Upon arrival they are all given the low down and fed the warm up story of the sadistic and deranged ex warden who supposedly haunts the wings. Anyone not wanting to compete is told they are free to leave and all others are told to enter!

With shades of the House on Haunted Hill i.e. the venue in question is under surveillance and rigged to make the overall televisual experience more convincing. What they don’t count on is an apparent rogue extra who seems hell bent on writing his own script.

As I alluded to, the acting is not terrible. Despite being an unknown (to me) cast, they deal with the script very well. Special mention must be given to Marc Pickering who plays the “token gay guy” Randall. His performance is certainly worthy of further roles as is that of Irish born actress Antonia Campbell-Hughes who plays the seemingly fearless Angel.

The Task goes along its own task very well. With some original ideas and some great atmosphere, The Task is definitely worth a watch. The thrills may be in short supply in comparison to other Horror films of similar directions but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. One thing to watch out for though, is the disappearing blood. After one of the victims is cut open and blood is literally pouring out him, we expect to see a blood soaked floor but low and behold, no blood! It’s a miracle! Anyway, small things...! I am looking forward to seeing the next After Dark Original that crosses my palms!

Year Released: 2011

My rating: 6

Movie Review: Boo (2005)

What can we say about another group of college kids stupid enough to spend Halloween night in a haunted hospital? I’ll tell you, why on Earth did I watch it twice?

Boo follows an unfortunate group of kids who decide to try and scare their girlfriends by rigging the local cliché, I mean abandoned haunted hospital with thrills and spills. What they don’t know is that the place really is haunted! Jessie, Kevin, Freddy and Marie make their way to the hospital which has been set up for the scares by Emmett. When they get there, Emmett and his dog have vanished. As they proceed through the house unaware of the ill-fated Emmetts misfortune, they discover more than they bargained for! Don't go to the Third floor!

Right, Storyline basics out of the way, Boo delivers very little in any department. Unfortunately, it extends so far that I think it even confuses itself. Absolutely no storyline to get involved in, zero characterisation and a script that makes little to no sense! As a viewer, I was sat wondering what was going on. First of all, we have the main characters, who have gone into the hospital for a bit of Halloween fun but we also have Allan, who has decided to sneak in to look for his sister Meg, who has been missing for two weeks (Part of the storyline that unfolds rather than rears itself in the beginning. The latter would have helped to build a bit of suspense but hey ho, I’m not a director) Anyway, Allan is joined soon after by Arlo, a former actor known for playing Dynamite Jones! Arlo now plies his trade as a cop and used to work with Allan’s father, apparently. Another part of the storyline which was raced over but if they had taken a little more time would have helped to build some level of characterisation!

As far as the acting goes, none stand out. And I mean NONE. They all believe the script about as much as I did and they delivered it with even less conviction! Wooden from the get go and I feel no empathy for any of them. The script itself is trying to be something it’s not. It may have worked well in a good “thinker” but not in a low budget horror flick like this one!

Through all the dust and debris, the only glittering beacon of hope can be found in the apparitions. Not all of them but the ones in the darkness and the shadows. When a flicker of torch light glances past a dark corner and we see the little girl ghost for example. That was very well done. Some however look like they are electronically charged or something but for the most part, the special effects are reasonably good. This leads me to believe that with a better script, fewer “main” characters and about 45 minutes cut off the running time Boo would have been a good film. As it is, I will not be watching it for a third time but it stands as a great example of why low budget horror movies should stick to what they do best! Deliver all the above without the involvement of complicated storyline and dialogue!

Released: 2005

My Rating: 3

A cold night in Y2K

It was a cold, dark night in North Yorkshire when I stumbled into my local none descript video rental shop to browse the latest releases. Back when it was cheaper to rent movies than it was to buy, DVD's were the latest (expensive) offering and as such, the VHS enjoyed a twilight period thanks to a massive reduction in prices.

It was during this very period that I found myself handing over £3.99 in exchange for the rental of The Blair Witch Project for 2 nights. I made my way home, turned all the lights off and got myself comfortable.

Having seen The Blair Witch Project previously at the cinema, I was fully prepared for the following 82 minutes but that didn't sway my initial opinion. It was as good the second time, if not better. I have found that this film seems to get better with each viewing. From the eerily simple opening to its breathtaking ending, it always delivers. The main things that get me though are the little sounds... The ones you couldn't hear in the cinema, or on that poor quality VHS. Sounds which can only be truly heard and therefore appreciated when heard through full 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound!

As the film progresses, the three unfortunate filmmakers' feeling of  utter panic is perfectly translated and even though at this stage, everyone knows that it was all a publicity stunt, we still feel empathy for Heather, Mike and Josh. Three brilliant performances from three unknown faces. Sheer brilliance on the film makers’ part and the publicity was beyond anything we had seen before. Love it or hate it, no one can deny the timeless effect and originality that The Blair Witch Project brought to the table.

Maybe Cannibal Holocaust was a forefather to The Blair Witch but where that one failed, Blair Witch succeeded. Unfortunately for every film that followed, using the internet in the same way was out of the question. The world would need a new kind of originality to surpass the efforts of this film!

So now that we are clear on that, I will continue... Once the camera had fallen and Heather had stopped screaming. The rolling of the film was the only sound left before..... Silence. As is always the case, I sat. Rooted to my seat. Even as the credits scrolled up the screen, I couldn't bring myself to reach over and illuminate the room by switching the "big light" on. So I sat. Waited, in the hope that when the credits had finished, the VHS would kindly rewind itself ready for me to return to the video shop.

A flicker, light... Beyond the final credits was some kind of life. What followed was 7 minutes that would stay imprinted in my mind from this day until the day I rediscovered it while trawling through You Tube.

Horsehair. A brilliant surreal black comedy which after a tiny bit of research (and reading what they wrote on their You Tube description) I can tell you was made in Scotland in 1998 and had a decent run on the festival circuit. Directed by Duncan Nicoll and starring Alastair Mackenzie, Horsehair is follows the fortunes of Mick as he begins finding strange strands of hair in places you wouldn't expect. Very dark, funny and creepy all at the same time. Horsehair came as a welcome bright spot after the darkness of credits.

It seems so funny now that things in this day and age have come to a point where I can say; to see what I saw over a decade ago and watch something which I thought was lost when the VHS died, check out Horsehair below. Hopefully you will enjoy it.

Upcoming Movie: Familiar

Another good looking Horror Short to sink our teeth into. This one is brought to us by the guys over at Fatal Pictures. Their previous offerings, Consumption (2008) and Worm (2010) fill us with confidence that this fledgling production company can keep the quality coming. Let's hope that a feature is on the cards in the not too distant future.

FATAL PICTURES is proud to announce "FAMILIAR", a new Horror short starring Robert Nolan, Astrida Auza and Cathryn Hostick as the seemingly idyllic yet ultimately doomed Dodd Family.

Written/Directed by Richard Powell, Produced by Zach Green (FATAL PICTURES) Cinematography & Co Producer Michael Jari Davidson shot on RED Digital Cinema. Special FX for the film provided by Ryan Louagie, Carlos Henriques & Steven Dawley (The Butcher Shop)."

Through a series of tragic events a middle aged man grows to suspect the negative impulses plaguing his mind may not be his own!

For more on Fatal Pictures visit their website: www.fatalpictures.com
Follow them on Twitter: @FatalPictures

Watch this space for review....

Movie Review: Hell Asylum (2001)

Make of it what you will but there has to be something in the fact that this film received a second viewing! Having purchased it from my local bargain DVD shop some years ago for a huge £1.99, I found myself giving it further scrutiny. My belief is that you can never fully appreciate any film until you have seen it for a second or sometimes even a third time. However that logic can go out the window with some of the films I watch.

However you look at it, Hell Asylum was in my eyes at least good enough to warrant this immense honour. I suppose it was the sight of Joe Estevez in the opening scene that triggers something in your mind that says “It can’t be that bad, that’s Martin Sheen’s little bro!” A quick visit to IMDB finds my staring at a long list of “random” horror films. It is his known for films that include Soultaker, Beach Babes from Beyond, San Franpsycho and Death Row which really puts pain to my statement! But... There is a silver lining. My Estevez is on screen for approximately 5 minutes, right at the beginning and right at the end. What happens in the middle is actually really good!

The film centre’s around a new reality TV show called The Chill Challenge in which five girls enter a supposedly haunted house and whoever can last the whole night wins $1Million. The five girls in question consist of Stacy, the wuss, Rainbow, the Goth chick, Amber, who appears to be fairly normal, Marti, a fitness freak and Paige who loves herself a little too much. Funnily though Paige’s real name is Paige Turner! (It made me laugh)

The character build up is very good. A reality TV style introduction gives us all the information we need to know about the characters. Not drawn out and boring, just straight to the point and insightful. I am not quite sure about the producer Max’s back story for the haunted house. It says the house was built in 1850 and turned into a sanatorium at the turn of the century, firstly not very original (thoughts of The Haunting and House on Haunted Hill) and secondly that house looks like a hospital from the 1950’s rather than 1850’s but I will give them the benefit of the doubt this time!

The term over the top take on new meaning with some of the acting in this film but some performances do help claw back some credibility, most notably Sunny Lombardo (Rainbow). With the exception of Debra Mayer (Paige Turner) the cast are not too bad. Sorry to say that Mayer’s performance is bordering on dire which considering she is the first billed begs the question, why?

The special effects in Hell Asylum range in their quality. Some very good imagery leads to some poor anatomical effects. I am not quite sure what was being pulled out of the dead people, maybe Spaghetti or something but plenty of blood to try and hide the whole thing does seem to work. Some poor “whooshing” sound effects and the music sometimes drowned out the dialogue but the music used was quite good.

The overall production value is quite shoddy, understandably the headset mounted “cam” shots are supposed to be quite poor to be realistic but they should have spent a little bit more on equipment and bit less on casting Martin Sheen’s brother!

Although Hell Asylum weaves its way through a fairly unoriginal story, it is definitely one of my little gems and well deserving of its second viewing. If you approach your films the same way I do, I would definitely recommend to anyone as one to watch and hopefully you will enjoy it too.

Released: 2002

My Rating: 6