Dream Seekers Productions Short Correspondence

Peter Dukes is an indie filmmaker with 14 films under his belt These  films are only small but have attracted name talent and have been in the press worldwide.  You can find more information on him through the links below or just Google "Peter Dukes filmmaker".  
Short films are his specialty but as I write this he is developing two new horror features, both of which have name talent attached to them. Always on the look out  for new and exciting contacts in the media/press he contacted THN as we are right down their alley.  THN will be doing an in depth review of The Beast in the coming weeks so stay tuned and in the mean time check out these two links:

Their latest short film, LITTLE REAPER, is a short horror comedy about the grim reaper's difficult teenage daughter, and how she must take over her dad's duties for one day.  As you can guess chaos ensues.  This film recently premiered at the prestigious LA Shorts Fest and has received some good press/exposure so far.

http://youtu.be/9d9JD3gvrTw

THE BEAST a great film which received a lot of good press (despite being uber low budget, though i find creativity can counter effects decently) it stars the thoroughly nice and rising horror icon THN friend Bill Oberst Jr.  It's an old fashioned monster horror flick about a father who's son has been afflicted with the curse of the werewolf, i do love a good werewolf story. 

http://youtu.be/2dKecixJico

Hope you enjoy these and THN will be back with you soon

My New book and W.W.Z was surprisingly GOOD

So i was particularly shock when i went to view WWZ the other week with my friend, i found it very entertaining. I went in with trepidation but information to suspend anything i had read on the book by Max Brook's himself.
I'm happy i did because it turned out to be a thought provoking film with a lot of good points about it, i won't spoil none and i also still hated the fact that there was a literal tidal wave of undead. THEY WOULD CRUSHED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THOUSANDS ON TOP, rant over apart from that there was the tense moment at the end in a welsh CDC like facility.

Drawing me to my next topic, i've been away for quite some time now due to a certain reason, i've been writing my own zombie apocalypse novel!
That's right and it's based on me in my lovely hometown in wales i would love people to try it, it's amateur, it's indie, it's Ebook but intend to keep writing and hope this goes somewhere will be updating a little more frequently again now hoping to start some review back up in the next fortnight.
VTech Kidizoom Twist Camera Blue (Google Affiliate Ad)
Thanks for all my followers enjoys and Peace out The Horror Nation

links to my booky wook:

Feel like some zombie apocalypse goodness? well read my first book and drop me a review if you can, it's my first work and i know amateur but i have stories to tell and i want to write so give it a try http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Undead-Valleys-Aftermath-ebook/dp/B00DYZ2YVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374960378&sr=8-1&keywords=the+undead+valleys for UK http://www.amazon.com/The-Undead-Valleys-Aftermath-ebook/dp/B00DYZ2YVG/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1374960489&sr=8-17&keywords=the+undead+valleys for US and https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339464 for smashwords other formats like nook etc, its a fair price so give it a go, reviews are really appreciated

Interview with Author A.R. Wise, By Jeannie Ellis

Brilliant interview done by my co-worker Jeannie she's an up and coming horror blogger!

Hey Horror Nation! I was fortunate to get an Interview with A.R. Wise Author of Deadlocked and 314 Series. he just happens to be one of my favorite authors out there. If you're into Zombies or just creepy mind bending stories in General have a look. Enjoy the Interview 

Jeannie

I remember in reading the Deadlocked series you mentioned you used writing to get through a tough time in your life. How has it affected you, and the situation you were going through do you think it helped to express yourself?

 Absolutely. I've been writing ever since I was very, very young, but I always did it with the intention of making a career at it. As I look back on that, I think it was a mistake to think of writing as a career path. Not to say that it can't be, and not to say that I'm not overjoyed that I can now call myself a full time author, but rather because it's a creativity-stifling mindset. If you're only reason to write is to make money at it, then I think your work is going to suffer. Since writing Deadlocked, I've decided to try to accomplish something with each book. I try to challenge myself, and grow as a writer in some way or another. Sometimes I do it by tackling a challenging story structure (314 for instance), and other times I dig deep into personal feelings and work through them on paper (Deadlocked 3 comes to mind).

For me, and I suspect for a lot of other authors, writing represents a safe environment to push through some of your own emotions. Feeling depressed? Write a story about a depressed character and let them become your avatar. Explore the emotions, and take them to places you'd never dare go in real life. If you're lucky, other people will relate to your feelings, and perhaps even get strength from reading your story.

What was something you learned while creating your books that surprised you?

 The biggest surprise has got to be the reaction the books have received. I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but was constantly assaulted with negativity about how the publishing industry was in shambles and people just weren't reading anymore. Don't pay attention to any of that. The self publishing revolution is one of the most exciting things to happen to literature in decades. Readers are ravenous for fresh, new authors, and are willing to give your book a try. It was a pleasant surprise, and I learned to ignore all of the people that had anything negative to say about literature in this day and age. There has NEVER been a better time to be a new author.

In the deadlocked series you get into  Military,Virology, and firearm's Where do you usually go for your research into these things are they something you have previous knowledge of, or do you have professional resources that help you out?

 I remember reading, in multiple 'How To Get Published' type of books I used to devour, that you should only write what you know. It's a pretty common advise that gets thrown out there to aspiring authors. Well, I think it's total BS. Far better advise is this: Learn What You Write. In other words, never allow your ignorance on a subject to keep you from writing about it. Go study the subject, and then write about it. Sure, if you're goal is to write courtroom thrillers but have never cracked a law book in your life, you're going to have trouble telling a competent story. However, if you want to write a horror story about an aquatic monster, it wouldn't hurt to study up on the biology of denizens of the deep. So far, that's the way I approach writing. For instance, in Deadlocked 6 one of the characters is revealed to have extensive knowledge of building bombs out of household material. I'm no bomb expert, but it only took ten minutes of research to write the scene in a way that made the character come off as competent. That's all it really requires: convince the reader that what's being said is plausible, and they won't challenge you. To that point, if you ever choose to write about guns and the military, be prepared to get a few angry emails from gun fanatics about a wrong detail here or there! lol, Everyone's passionate about something.

How has your success changed your life has it been all positive as we know writing takes up a lot of time.

 100% positive. I work a lot, but that's a small price to pay. I currently work 7 days a week, for about 6 - 8 hours a day. My wife frequently reminds me that most people take time off, but we both realize that I'm pretty darn lucky to be doing what I love, making a living at it, and getting to stay at home. In my previous life as a corporate ladder climber, I worked 60 hours a week, and was often staying nights in hotels in various places across the nation. Since becoming a full time author, I have yet to sleep in a bed without my wife beside me - I have yet to wake up without a chance to hug my daughters. That's pretty awesome. 

In your downtime what do you enjoy doing any other hobbies or special interests?

 I used to be a bit of a fitness nut, and there's always been a hunger to get back to that lifestyle. I love the rush you get after a great strength training workout, but I let myself drift away from my previous daily workout regime. Lately I've been taking advantage of the fact that I don't have to clock in and out anywhere, and I'll leave my writing desk occasionally to go work out a little. 

And to complete the dichotomy, I'm also a pretty avid gamer. I love video games, and have since I was a little kid. Nothing is more soothing to me than sitting down to get absorbed in a great game. It's my escape mechanism.

What were the challenges  ( research,literary, psychological and logistical) in bringing it to life?

 Self doubt. If there's one demon I've never quashed, it's self doubt. Every book I've ever written has been a struggle to push past what I call the 'mid-book malaise'. It seems that whenever I get about halfway through a book, it all seems like utter crap to me. I think it could be better, and start to think of a million reasons I should scrap the book and start over. I used to follow that notion, which is why it took me 34 years to finally publish a book! I have stacks upon stacks of old books that I made it halfway through before stopping and starting over. I can't speak for other writers, but for me that is the worst thing to do. Whenever I get to that point now, where I'm certain the book is broken, I just keep writing. More often than not, when the book is finished, I realize that it's just fine, and that all my concerns were for not.

What do you do when and if you ever face the dreaded Writers block?

 Keep writing. Personally, I don't believe in writer's block, at least not for people that do this professionally. For the casual writer, most of the pages produced are done during those blessed moments of inspiration, but those moments can't be relied on, and you certainly shouldn't hope to build a career off them. Anyone looking at this as a career need to realize that they can't be saddled by the need for inspiration. When was the last time the mechanic changing the oil in your car told you he couldn't finish because he wasn't feeling inspired today? Can you imagine that? I don't buy into the idea that a writer can only produce work when they are visited by the muse, because the muse is a finicky girl, and likes to sleep a little too late some days. Best to get your butt out of bed and get to the computer to do your job - all that clickety-clacking on the keyboard will wake the muse up eventually.

In the deadlocked series is there a character you relate with? or maybe all of them and could you share why? 

I think the easiest to relate to for myself was David from the first book. However, I get fantastically bored with writers that fill their books with fictionalized versions of themselves. It's almost inescapable that authors will do that at some point, but it's a boring and grossly self-indulgent exercise. I prefer to fill my books with personalities that are vastly divergent from my own, and then work to understand them. That sort of thing is exciting to me. For instance, I have next to nothing in common with Hero from the Deadlocked series, yet he has become one of my very favorite people to write. I enjoy every page whenever he's the focus, and as the series has progressed I've had the pleasure of getting to know him, which is how I hope the readers feel as well.

AR Wise

Author of the Deadlocked series

Deadlocked 1 available for free on Amazon!

If you enjoyed the Deadlocked series, please take a minute to write a review on amazon. Every review helps spread the word.

Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection 2013 review

Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection 2013

Year: 2012

Stars: Sarah Louise Madison, Sabrina Dickens, S.J. Evans

Directed: James Plumb

Running Time: 86 mins

Ok from the moment I put this film on I have to admit I got a bit giddy as I’m welsh and I related with so much that went on in even just the first 5 minutes. Anyway on with the technical stuff first.

Written by James Plumb and Andrew Jones, it’s been made since 2012 but has only just got universal release as far as I can tell.

Also directed by James Plumb (the upcoming Silent night deadly night: the homecoming also under his belt) Andrew Jones production company helped make the film also.

Staring Sarah Louise Madison (A few bit parts on Dr Who and a part in upcoming Amityville Asylum film by same company) as Eve, also Sabrina Dickens (Nothing noteworthy as of yet but a lot of upcoming films) as Bonnie and S.J. Evans (un-credited parts on popular TV series and welsh soap Pobol Y Cwm, seems he’s trying his hand at directing lately as well) as Rhodes.

Well what can I say? I am Welsh myself and as I said I loved this, the first opening scenes the annoying chav kids, who sorry to spoil it meet their end which I delighted in.

So yes the filming style is gritty and varied and reminded me of the old style filming which is what I hope they were trying to achieve. Everything from the camera angles to the great pacing this film had added to the suspense.

The unfortunate thing is I think this may be lost on a lot of audiences this day and age who are used to straight to the action camera and jump scares, which saddens me as these old school things are what scared people when CGI wasn’t around. They would be like oh but it looks like bad editing or you can’t see the actors face now and then, was it intentional? Yes I personally think it was for the purposes of building tension and adding that old style vibe.

Being as unbiased as I can I am telling you the gritty bare facts about this and not just gushing that it’s a welsh production. So those are the things that initially absorbed me into the film.

Effects wise thanks to fast cams wounds are glimpsed quick to that any imperfections are not seen and I think is a great way to get away with basic make up effects these days rather than unreal dodgy CGI.

The lingering effects such as the first girls full on zombie make up are believable and very decent and again reminiscent of older style productions. Since I had a vintage horror film day with a friend only a few days ago I was instantly thrown into nostalgia for the way the Halloween film was set up and just the way the tension was in here.

So I think from that you can gather that the film was well set up with good intentions at the very least on with the film.

So after our initial Chav carnage we join Ben (Sule Rimi) trying to reach Barbara (yes a nod to the original NOTLD) taking the Wales back roads to avoid the shutdown motorways. A gripe I had here was when he was listening to the radio and changing stations the sound effect added on the channel hoping was a little tacked on, not the voices though thankfully may I add.

When he comes across a seemingly abandoned car, like the typical horror movie guy he stops but thankfully for a reason he is intent on syphoning its fuel for himself.

The next scene is the tension building type I was talking about lingering as he’s slowly reaching for the keys an eerie tune accompanying and it was great because it was not the thing you expect to make you jump that does at that point, makes you realise they really tried and used their creativeness here.

When he runs out of fuel and goes searching the film takes a strange twist that I really wasn’t prepared for, especially since I thought this was going to go almost the same way as the original except in a Welsh setting and probably not the controversial death at the end.

Now I really don’t want to give this fun twist away so I’m going to have to summarise the rest of the film as best I can. Here it is, it’s fun and as a bonus if your welsh you will enjoy two fold with our mannerisms on show.

Threes some shaky scenes and the acting can be a bit a dodgy at times but this is well made up for with great writing and some shining moments I enjoyed it, it’s not perfect but it’s a both a good homage and a good zombie film.

If you like gritty grainy old style flicks this is one for you and THN is proud to give it four stars out of five just because I’m sure some people won’t get it and a watch it recommendation.

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World War Z: My Views THN

MY views on WWZ, right i don't mind infected type zombies we know there's two types of zombies now and they are here to stay, my MAIN gripe about it though is the liberties they've taken with the book.
Max Brooks uses slow zombies for a start, this i'll give a little creative lenience too OK. now the book is just reports from people who fought in the war and first hand accounts.
The film is right there happening, again taken a liberty and ran with it as some people just recounting would be boring like a documentary with archive footage not very exciting for the masses is it.
Now i admit there some people who take a book/comic/etc and can really feel the essence of it and peel back layers yet still still hold true to it, these people i feel respect the genre and respect the book etc.
Like batman Christopher Nolan did an ace job he took batman changed it enough to appeal yet still had that essence there, yes some people didn't like it but it just shows the difference between the George Clooney staring one why he just tried to make it kidified because he obviously thought comics were for children so just add some good effects and spangly silver bits to the armor and hammy acting.
I'm sure you get what i'm getting at anyway.
My MAIN liberty taken is including this stupid fucking tidal wave of zombies, yes they wanted to do something new and scary and yes a tidal wave of zombies is fucking terrifying.
But not in this film, also from a scientific point of view and i know you may think asking for realism in a zombie film?
Well yes sorry that's the way my mind works it would have worked in another film i would have accepted it, but again Brooks writes about the z-poc in our world and in our world physics, a tidal wave of zombies like that?
I'm sorry but that = a lot of dead, dysfunctional crushed zombies left in the wake. IF the film shows this mind which it may actually do i will love it with the realism it is.
under any other name this might have for me been a pretty decent zombie flick to enjoy big screen as it stands i have a lot of fears and gripes that may be for nothing.
What i can say is i am looking forwards to it for both those reasons bring it on Mr Pitt

~ THN

Lake Placid The Final Chapter 2012 review

Lake Placid The Final Chapter 2012

Year: 2012

Stars: Elisabeth Röhm, Yancy Butler, Paul Nicholls

Directed: Don Michael Paul

Running Time: 86 mins

Directed by Don Michael Paul (Half Past Dead and Who’s Your Caddy, as well as lots of acting roles) on an unknown budget probably not a lot being a SyFy film. Staring Yancy Butler (remember Witchblade?) once more as Reba from the last movie. So on with the movie!

Betty White, yes that old golden girl owes a lot to the original Lake Placid. When the horror film about a large crocodile terrorizing a small town was released in 1999 Betty White was bouncing around in various forgettable television series’ that went nowhere. Then she took a role as the croc loving Delores Bickerman in 1999's Lake Placid alongside Oliver Platt and Bridget Fonda, we were then reminded just how fun and energetic also how in-on-the-joke the aging actress was.

Surprisingly that was 14 years ago doesn’t seem that long ago, though it was three sequels ago as this the fourth instalment, Lake Placid: The Final Chapter STDVD in 2013. Funded by the always high-standards of the Syfy Channel Lake Placid: The Final Chapter was a made for TV Movie starring Yancy Butler as I said reprising her role from Lake Placid 3. It also stared Elisabeth Röhm as Sheriff Giove and Poppy Lee Friar as her daughter with Nightmare on Elm Street's Robert Englund in the continuing struggles of the Lake Placid.

This one’s plot is about as in depth as a 4^th instalment can make it, picking up exactly -where the classic-should-have-been-nominated for an award Lake Placid 3 left off, The Final Chapter has poacher Jim Bickerman (Englund) in rustler heaven when he arrives at the local lake that is seemingly populated by man-eating crocodiles.

In with the simple plot are plot are a female sheriff (Röhm) and her wide-eyed daughter (Friar) who both find themselves in harm's way as the large aquatic lizards munch their awful CGI way through a body count that would have Friday the 13^th roll around in its grave.

The Syfy Channel’s made-for-television films have a tendency to be like microwave meals. Quick and easy, Lake Placid: The Final Chapter is both. It is short running time 80 minutes long (86 with credits etc.) and it doesn't push any envelopes on its way to a 12 rated glory.

The kills are lacklustre created with such bad CGI that you might turn away from the screen not for the brutality, but for not having to watch ridiculously fake CGI blood splash so foolishly around edited body parts.

It's hard to say that this one is the worst Lake Placid of the series. But it is also hard to imagine that the idea has spawned three sequels, where none were really needed. I guess if people still buy them and they make a profit they’ll keep churning them out.

I’m not one to say let your kids watch horror though I was introduced to it at an early age of about 8 if you do have children on the appreciating age of more graphic and engrossing horror fare, than say supernatural (brilliant series) Lake Placid: The Final Chapter might be a worthy time waster for them for 80 minutes. For us adults though it’s a waste of 80 minutes 'A New Chapter' is bound to be on the books for this series.

As usual on THN I never spoil ending but I’ll just say it’s pretty typical of this genre so for at least trying really hard I’ll give this film 2 stars out of 5

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James Cook, Surviving the Dead book 3 release interview

Third Book Interview with James Cook

Friend and author James Cook has the third book in his Surviving the Dead series released imminently on May the 1^st 2013. In this short follow up interview I ask how he’s been and how it was writing the third instalment to his exciting series.

Q1. Hey James how have you been since the last interview it’s been a little while

A.

I’ve been doing very well. After the release of my second novel, and its subsequent success, I resigned from my job as an investment advisor and started writing full-time. That was back in August, and I spent the next seven-or-so months pounding away at my third novel, Warrior Within. It hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies, but I must admit that being a writer is the best job in the world. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

Q2. Can you give us a quick recap on the story arc?

A.

In the first novel, we’re introduced to the main character, Eric Riordan, and his long-time friend and former Marine Corps scout sniper, Gabriel Garrett. The story follows Eric through the Outbreak, and details his journey to a community of survivors in Alexis, North Carolina. He stays with them for a few months, has a brief romance with the leader’s daughter, and then eventually they are discovered by a roving Army patrol. The patrol informs them of the meltdown of a nearby nuclear power plant, and advises them to leave. Most of the survivors follow the Army to a safe zone at Fort Bragg, but Eric decides to strike out on his own and reunites with Gabriel.

In the second novel, Eric and Gabriel decide to journey west to Colorado where the remnant of the Federal Government and the military has established a fortified community in Colorado Springs. On the way, they encounter a family of fellow survivors, and agree to let them follow along. They get as far as Western Tennessee, where they are attacked by members of a rogue para-military group calling themselves the Free Legion. Three of the protagonists are wounded, Eric quite badly, and they barely manage to escape with their lives. A short time later, they make their way to a large survivor stronghold at Hollow Rock, Tennessee. After Eric is nursed back to health, he and Gabriel decide to help the people of Hollow Rock strike back at the Legion. The third novel is the story of that conflict.

Q3. So a third book to your series, so what can we expect character development wise?

A.

Character development is kind of my thing. Eric discovers more of his potential, for better or worse, and we learn more about Gabriel’s shadowy, violent past. The story focuses strongly on the changes wrought on the two men by the end of the world, and the consequences of their actions in the wake of that tragedy. I can’t really say anymore without giving away the story, so I’ll leave it at that.

Q4. Being the third part in a series you probably had ideas in your head for this either from the beginning or at least into writing the second novel, so how hard was it to write?

A.

Some of it was easy, and some of it was damned hard. There are scenes that I wrote in just a few short hours, and there are scenes that were like pulling teeth. Some of the scenes tackle harsh subject matter, and others are just damned brutal. There was one scene in particular—involving sexual abuse—that left me drained and gripped by a deep melancholy. I had to drive over to my favourite tavern and knock back a few cold ones after I wrote it. It was probably two days before I finally shook off that particular case of the blues. But that’s how writing is, if you want it to be good at it. Pain is like high-octane fuel for a writer, and some of my best writing is done when it hurts the most.

Q5. Are there any more parts on the cards or is the last one?

A.

Definitely more. This is an on-going series, not just a trilogy.

Q6. Any other works you are working on that we may see in the future?

A.

My next project is a stand-alone novel set in the Surviving the Dead universe, and after that I’ll start on a vampire hunter series that I have been planning for a long time. The series title will be Jeremiah Cain: Vampire Hunter,  and the first novel will be titled Burn Them All. After that, probably another Surviving the Dead novel, and then on to the first part in a fantasy trilogy that will be titled Gladiator of Corsryn.

Finally James is there anything extra you would like to say to your fans here:

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Being a writer has been a life-long dream for me, and now I am finally living it. Gratitude is a weak, petty word to express how I feel to everyone who has supported me by buying and enjoying my work. I promise that I will never take this gift for granted, and that I will continue to write fast-paced, entertaining fiction for decades to come.

(Lord willin’, and the creek don’t rise.)

Thanks for another interview for my blog James look forwards to any future projects you are working on, which sound like there are many to come too. Personally can’t wait for that Gladiator series I like a good fantasy novel lots in the future for you then.

THN.

Zombieland 2013: The Series Se1 Ep01: Pilot

Zombieland: The Series Se1 Ep01: Pilot

We get a great introduction to Tallahassee and his semi origins, in a funny scene while in the background the world goes to shit. I did feel in the first few minutes here it was trying too hard to be funny thankfully this wasn’t a constant theme.

Back too two months after the original we have a quick catch up on the characters Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock. A few seemed to be ret-conned like the relationship between Columbus and Wichita until a bit later we get a silly break up explanation to what happened, we also get no inkling of Tallahassee’s son yet in this episode.

It had some decent acting and was well written also some minor serious bits, there was also some fun culture references like terminator. One thing I noticed all the characters seemed like over the top caricatures of the original films characters, this wasn’t a down point though.

A new character is introduced Detroit she provides information to the team through what seems to be a radio in the car. She sets up the story for the series, possibly that is they decide to look for a bastion of civilisation.

The make-up and effects were typical but fine for a TV series, over all the episode was a decent one and lots of funny moments though nothing majorly side splitting.

All in all a good start to the series and something I could see myself watching

A definite 4/5 stars for the first episode

The Revenant 2009, Back Review

The Revenant 2009, Back Review

Year: 2009

Stars: David Anders, Chris Wylde, Louise Griffiths

Directed: D. Kerry Prior

Running Time: 117 mins

Directed by D. Kerry Prior (Lots of work other than directing, like special effects etc. before and after this film) for an unknown sum of cash.

It’s a tongue in cheek undead film starring David Anders (hundreds of TV series episodes to many to list but among other heroes and Vampire Diaries) as Bart Gregory, Chris Wylde (lots of single episodes on popular TV programs) as Joey Luebner and Louise Griffiths (The Mudman and Hardflip) as Janet.

When Bart is killed in an ambush in Iraq his body is shipped back for a grieving family to bury, the fiancée taking it hard apparently. Later in a bar talking about how preachy the sermon giver was Janet goes outside followed by Joey, spilling her heart they get it on.

Back in the graveyard Bart frees him-self from the coffin confines and breaks into the graveyards mortuary and cleans him-self up, when turning on a light her realises something’s wrong and freaks out when he finds out his mouth is sewn shut.

I pissed myself laughing within the first minute of when he goes to see Joey and the dialogue between them.

After some gross stuff in the flat they go to hospital thinking it’s some condition, it is he’s dead, this film just made me laugh from one minute to the next. With people being uncomfortable around him due to his looks and smell. This film really made me reminiscent of the old style tongue in cheek horrors such as Return of the Living Dead and Reanimator.

It continues until Bart seemingly dies a second time when they get back to the flat, in the morning their wicker friend comes over to examine his corpse and suggests when they come to the conclusion he’s undead to stake him and behead him.

This film had a lot of little pop culture references like that in there and it was just fun to fish for them as I watched. Night time comes back around and Bart magically rises again asking if he slept under the watchful gaze of Joey who tells him no he was dead, then proceeds to cook him breakfast.

The film details him dealing with the condition through most of the rest of it from blood to vomiting to trying to figure out what he is either a zombie or a vampire.

When stealing blood doesn’t work out so much, in a weird twist of fate they are attacked by a thug and dealing with the morality of actually eating a guy. Suffice to say he does, the rest of movie was mostly in the same vein with his ex-girlfriend finding out and him whacking any thug that crosses their paths with him becoming a vigilante of sorts. Joey himself getting killed later in the process of trying to save Bart, yet he somehow comes back from the dead too. Of course it all starts going pear shaped towards the end, but as always here on THN that’s where I’ll leave it for you guys to find out for yourself if you so choose.

What I will say is the ending was a little bleak after such a comedic film.

The Revenant was an enjoyable watch that I would recommend to anyone to have a go, I couldn’t find any major faults with this film I will give it a maximum 5/5 THN score

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Stitches 2013 Review

Stitches 2013 Review

Year: 2013

Stars: Ross Noble, Tommy Knight, Eoghan McQuinn

Directed: Conor McMahon

Running Time: 86 mins

Directed by Conor McMahon (Directed Dead meat and The Disturbed a few years prior to this and has done shorts/TV series) on a grant of 600,000 euros, kindly donated from the Irish film board.

This ghastly clown story stars Ross Noble (He’s a British stand-up comedian and many panel shows) as the clown Stitches, Tommy Knight (from Sarah Jayne Adventures and Dr Who cameos) as Tom and Eoghan McQuinn (Nothing, His first film) as Richie.

This film starts off as it means to go on, lewd but in a good way with Richard “stitches” Grindle bonking his girlfriend. It is very slapstick at the start but what you expect from a movie with a clown in it?

Despite the beginning it tries to be pretty light hearted even with the kids being little brats, that is until a prank goes horribly wrong and they end up murdering/accidently killing (suppose it how you take it) the poor guy who is just trying to entertain them and make a living.

From here I noticed the film does not have shitty CGI effects and tries to go the route of decent make up effects, which it does quite well. So anyway the boy who is the initial cause of the death of stitches obviously feels bad about what he’s done.

When he sneaks to the graveyard (although the funeral seems to be like the next day they don’t happen that quick especially with a case like that I’m sure) to put the clowns squirt flower on his grave he witnesses some other clowns doing some ritual.

This was great as they manage to sombrely walk along chanting hohoho, hehehe he gets caught by them and scolded then suddenly he wakes up older in bed. Was fun to see a slight nod to the nightmare on elm street series here as we see the drug hypnocil, this was the drug used in there to stop dreams so was a nice little nod.

This film deals with all the school stuff kids go through these days; well even when I was in there. From idiot kids, bullies, budding love and friendships with odd teachers thrown into the mix, awkward smoking as well not everyone has a perfect ride in school.

Tom keeps having delusions at first of seeing stitches that he just dismisses as that, it’s a good third of the way into the film that we see him again proper and things start happening.

When an impromptu party is thrown at Tom’s house when his mum is out of town, Stitches rises from his grave to exact revenge.

Unfortunately despite some decent acting and good writing the film does just degenerate into slasher territory here, all the while dealing with teenage awkwardness.

Don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad film and I enjoyed it, but it’s just a tried and tested formula that works when done right.

Thankfully Stitches does it right with amusing ways a clown could kill you and it’s a good 80+ minutes of fun with very gruesome kills and some satirical highlights thrown in. Such as historical research into clown cults and the first ones to die are the dickheads, you know the usual stuff.

So after the initial bout of non-believers and the then realisation that oh there is something wrong by the survivors the film culminates in a decent ending that as you know I never spoil here on THN I give stitches a good 4/5 stars for just being a lot of fun to watch.

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Remains 2011, Review

Remains 2011, Review

Year: 2011

Stars: Miko Hughes, Lance Reddick, Grant Bowler

Directed: Colin Theys

Running Time: 88 mins

Directed Colin Theys (Dead souls and Banshee!) for a low little budget of $750,000 and shot in Reno where a group of survivors are hid in a casino when the world is turned into a zombie wonderland. The film stars Miko Hughes (New Nightmare and Pet Sematary) as Jensen, our fave fringite Lance Reddick (Fringe and The Wire) as Ramsey and Grant Bowler (Killer Elite) as Tom.

A reasonably enjoyable zombie Apoc film, it feels comic booky, gritty characters and all. When peace day is announced and a new nuclear oven is made to destroy all radioactive material you just know something is going to go wrong somewhere.

When some people in Las Vegas get locked away from super nuke that happens they seem to be the only ones left. A plausible explanation for the event the only problem is seems some people get infected while others don't that’s the only niggle I had with this film it's inconsistency with infection.

The beat off the dead in the casino they work in and proceed once two other survivors have joined their ranks to live off the food and supplies there in.

This gave me the first jump scare that actually made ne leap a bit, the old loud noise wake up thing caught me right off guard here I must have been distracted!

Supplies start running low but salvation seems to come in the shape of the army, who lead by Ramsey actually raid the casino for the remaining supplies. I say the infection thing was a niggle there was a little annoyance here in the scuffle they weren't going to leave them and yes some of the soldiers may have been a little ill, but I would have preferred for an amicable solution there than what happened.

Anyway Tori seems to be showing some mental cracks about here, they make a last attempt to escape which ends slightly comedic there’s only her and Tom left. Until Cindy one of the army people and Ramsey's daughter returns a little later after the army has been overrun by smarter faster zombies in the desert.

With C4 they remove the earlier obstacle of a garage door; well a truly cracked up Tori does at least and gets her attacked in the process.

When Cindy and Tom are leaving, yes I know it’s not something I do, spoil endings I’m trying not to here, so all I say we're treated to a red cowboy booted even more advance zombie. So that was that and I really enjoyed it as a decent zombie film though nothing super special happened in it good writing and some surprisingly decent actors and acting made it comfortable to watch. 

Was done on a little budget but they got some cream for what they invested in the film, this is only made obvious by the lack of locations and set pieces nothing else fails from make up to acting. 

All in all a good bit of humor and not a bad way to spend an hour and a half.

THN gives Remains a healthy 4/5 stars                   

                  

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Review: Dead Girl (2008)

Dead Girl 2008, Back Review

Year: 2008

Stars: Shiloh Fernandez, Noah Segan, Candice Accola

Directed: Marcel Sarmiento, Gadi Harel

Running Time:  101 mins

Directed by Marcel Sarmiento (ABC’s of death segment D, and Heavy Petting) and Gadi Harel (operation midnight climax) on an unknown but probably small budget way back in 2008. The movie stars Shiloh Fernandez (Red Riding Hood and the upcoming Evil Dead remake) as Rickie, Noah Segan (Looper and Cabin Fever 2) as JT and Candice Accola (Juno and Vampire Diaries) as Joann.

Rickie and JT are two of the school they attend outcasts; you know the ones with no real click. This film started a little a bad the writing seemed a little sloppy and the actors gave a few poor lines of dialogue.

I was then a little weary of it but soon after this little slip up it all seemed to slot into place, so JT and Rickie decide to bunk off school and deal with some teen angst. Which at its core is what this movie is two boys, who become three, with the addition of wheeler later dealing with their lives and growing up?

Why set it under a zombie heading I don't know but it adds a distinct twist I tell you that. So exploring a disused mental asylum they come across after being chased by what looks like Satan’s puppy a pristine corpse.

Yeah a dead girl (hehehe) who suddenly starts breathing Rickie freaks out JT like most boys at the sight of an undead monstrosity wants to poke it with sticks. So when boys I can tell you from experience come across a new toy a few things go through their heads.

1. Can I fuck it?

2. Can it get me a fuck?

3. Is it any fun?

Usually in that order, Rickie just ants free her and JT gets pissed they have a fight and Rickie goes. JT seems to get obsessed with the girl and finds out she can't die. Since Rickie seems disinterested as he still has his heart set on old flame who goes out with one of the *jocks*

Yeah like I said typical teen angst with an undead girl thrown into the mix to make the film just that little bit fucked up. Especially when JT and Wheeler start fucking her, it gets a little stranger, right?

I strangely enjoyed this film which seems to have some undertones of growing up and moving on embedded in it. JT doesn't seem to be able to live in the here and now and wants everything to stay as it is. He deals with change bad.

Whereas Rickie is growing past that stage, one particular moment is funny in this when they get the jocks to come down and one gets his dick is bitten (the one Rickie's ex is with) they realise that getting bitten passes on the undeadness.

Well dead girl doesn't heal and starts going a little rotten so JT and Wheeler try to get a big woman they fancy into their car to get her bitten so they can have a new dead shag toy.

This doesn't go well and they get beaten up by her was funny.

This film just reminded how difficult it can be for some guys to accept change and do we really in the end anyway?

I didn’t have a super difficult time growing up I wasn't a jock I was a little nerdy love my games videos and reading etc., but I had size and just natural strength on my side in fact I protected a lot of the littler weaker kind from abuse.

So I felt just a little in tune with the experience, apart from the fucking a dead thing I mean come on every guy has his limitations.

So Rickie’s ex comes across the guys after their mishap asking what’s happened to her boyfriend and gets herself kidnapped. One last little titbit Rickie never fucks the dead girl and is even nice and tries to help her at times. That is where I stop THN as you know I don’t spoil endings, even if they are a little predictable if you'd watched the movie closely.

Give it a watch it's a little sick at times but it’s a well written teen angst film mixed in with the strangeness too.

3 stars out 5 but with a high recommendation to watch.

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Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: Review

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: Review

Year: 2012

Stars: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper

Directed: Timur Bekmambetov

Running Time: 105 mins

Abraham Lincoln the 16^th president of the United States foils vampire’s plans to take over the US. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Day/Night Watch) on a cool budget of $69,000,000, also staring Benjamin Walker (Nothing amazing other than Flags of our Fathers and Coach) as the Presidential vampire slayer.

So at the beginning of the film we join 9 year old Lincoln who sticking up for his black friend gets his folks into trouble. Due to this he then witness his mother being fed on by vampire Jack Barts (Marton Csokas, many films such as aeon flux, Alice in Wonderland, xXx) she then dies by the morning with Lincoln beside her.

9 years later after his father has also passed Abe tries to kill Barts with a flintlock, thinking he’s done the deed he throws the gun away and turns to see the body has vanished. Attacked by Barts he is saved by a person whom he met in a bar earlier.

Up to this point in the film I was pretty engrossed with some good story and acting and some well developing characters, even being British myself we all know about Abe Lincoln’s story so it was interesting to watch this take on his earlier life.

This I’m sure comes from a spate of books that were released within the past few years such as sense and sensibility and sea monsters, pride and prejudice and zombies taking a classic tale and putting a cool little horror spin on it.

Out of the three I have read above this one definitely works as a film more than the others it’s believable that Abe who was real at least compared to the others could have led this life prior to becoming a president.

He was saved by Henry Sturges (Dominic Cooper, Devils double and captain America) who explains that vampires are quite real and are around everywhere. Abe unsuccessfully asks for his assistance in killing the vampires but Henry does after he’s agreed to some terms train him as a hunter.

Then we get a montage! Yes training and Abe doing some unbelievable feats of human strength and agility in the name of killing vampires.

Heading out into the world Abe almost instantly breaks some of the rules that a hunter should live by falling in love etc. This movie was a good one it ends as you all know Abe’s story ends. So it’s hard for me not to spoil the ending like I do at THN.

What I will do is not spoil the movie further for you suffice to say it was a good all round fun fest think matrix 1800’s style with some typical elements. IT stays pretty true to the book as close as you can come and a reasonable for a mainstream movie. This film garners a 4 out of 5 stars and a recommendation to watch from me. All I can say is I can’t wait for Queen Victoria Demon hunter peace out THN.

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Happy Easter

I'm away for the weekend with family folks hope you all have a wonderfully horrid Easter!
Will be back with more news reviews and interviews from next week until then sleep tight!

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Grave Encounters 2: Review

Grave Encounters 2: Review

Year: 2012

Stars: Richard Harmon, Shawn C. Phillips, Jennica Fulton

Directed: John Poliquin

Running Time: 95 mins

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This is the second instalment of Grave Encounters. This one only written by the Vicious Brothers and directed by John Poliquin ( Pretty much his first major directing role) on an unknown budget this time. Richard Harmon (lots of TV series such as continuum and some minor acting roles to his name) stars as Alex Wright a film student obsessed with the viral trailer for the first movie. Him a few friends investigate and end up going to the same hospital in the original film.

The beginning of this movie shows a bunch of bloggers/podcasters reviewing the original film in the style of fake found footage films like Paranormal Activity, some like it some don’t.

The movie proper starts on October 31^st 2011 in a party there’s your typical youngsters either getting high or getting drunk or getting on girls. From the onset it’s clear this isn’t in the same leg of the first film.

The last blogger to speak is one of the party goers he’s late due to reviewing the film, seemingly at least. He’s seemingly pissed of there’s no modern day Wes Cravens or John Carpenters and voices his opinion loudly.

Like I said this movie doesn’t have the same oomph factor that the first instilled in me as I began to watch it, no innovative little winks are anything its back to a teen slasher even with the pothead that is exactly what the kid is protesting about irony hey?

A YouTube stalker sends Alex a video and some cryptic clues a bit later which he follows to places and learns where the film was filmed and heads to the location. The movie also has intersections of a film Alex is making through out there which Alex isn’t too pleased with. When all the clues are followed they incite his film maker side and he realises that a brilliant film to make would be one based on the original Grave Encounters film.

Anyway effects wise it’s pretty much the same as the first, the film isn’t bad for its genre it just didn’t have the same feel as the first or characters you could understand. To me at least like I said they say about cliché and then they make a teen slasher flick?

There are some good points like later on in the film where after they lose some of their friends they meet Lance Preston from the first movie. The movie picks up a little from here and is well acted by the guy playing Lance.

So that’s about all I’m going to say on this film I’ll give it a reasonable 3 out of 5 stars just because it does follow, breakthrough on my blog of a real footage film actually making me enjoy it.

Give it a go see what you think THN.

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Grave Encounters 2011: Back Review

Grave Encounters 2011: Back Review

Year: 2011

Stars: Ben Wilkinson, Sean Rogerson, Ashleigh Gryzko

Directed: The Vicious Brothers

Running Time: 92 mins

1^st movie written and directed by the vicious brothers for $1million, they have only this and writing credits for the sequel to it. The film’s stars are Ben Wilkinson (lots of TV series and made for TV movies) as Jerry Hartfield, Sean Rogerson (Lots of TV Series and a few minor roles in films) as Lance Preston. The two of them are part of a team filming for a series called “Grave Encounters” who are ghost hunters.

They decide to film an episode inside Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital, locking them inside for our enjoyment.

First off you know I’m not a fan of found footage films but you get a good one now and then, as of writing this I’ve only watched a small amount of the film but I enjoyed the beginning it was like a real program depicting a ghost hunting team.

It seems real like the guy at the beginning says it is, and the way it’s filmed could really make you believe that too. That’s all down to some good acting and writing I see on this film truly a breakthrough for the Vicious brothers if they decide to make something a bit more mainstream I’d love to see it.

So they get shown around the asylum by the caretaker to begin with and they are impressed by what they see and the information they are given on each location. Really like the way this film explained everything as well so you were proper clued in on the whole ride.

It’s a little cheesy at times but on this film it just adds to its authenticity of being *real footage* if more did this I’d like watching them a lot more I think.

Lance we find out is sceptical about ghost hauntings but he would love to actually see something real, seems a lot of the shows stuff is set up, something I think a lot of the real shows out there do as well unfortunately.

So they get locked in later on in the night with night vision cameras and try to find some supernatural phenomena just the way the popular TV programs do these days. The first thing to happen is the before mentioned opening window opens on its own with some camera fuzz. This film also has some genuinely creepy moments as well which was another bonus in a film like this so many just aren’t.

It does unfortunately follow the standard footage film role as it gets progressively more things happening before the inevitable end. You know here at THN I don’t spoil endings of films with these found footage things though you know the ending your just on the ride before you reach your destination.

So as for having some innovating items and being so well written and acted I actually enjoyed this film, unfortunately it still follows the same formula as other films of this genre, so I’ll give it a 4 star recommendation based on all that.

Paranormal Activity 4 Review

Paranormal Activity 4 Review

Year: 2012

Stars: Stephen Dunham, Katie Featherston, Matt Shively

Directed: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Running Time: 88 mins

Let’s see what this flogged horse has in store for us. Henry Joost (directed PA3 and that Catfish documentary) and Ariel Schulman (Also PA3 and Catfish) bring us part 4 on a budget of $5million.

Set in 2011 that’s right it’s 5 years after the last one, Alex (Kathryn Newton, Bad Teacher and TV series Gary Unmarried) experiences some strange goings on when some new neighbours move into town a woman and her son.

We get a quick recap at the beginning of what happened with Katie and Hunter. We join the new movies protagonists on Halloween collecting candies. The older girl and boy (Ben) off camera go to a party afterwards.

You know the way these movies work it’s a slow build up to something big a reveal usually or some way to elongate the story. This one is no different just with a completely unrelated cast to any of the previous movies.

What it does have is it lets you know what happened to Katie and Hunter since the original, well at least what they’re doing now, they live in a new suburb and Hunter is one of them odd children people are either freaked out by or feel sorry for. As Alex delves deeper into their life more and more strange happenings occur. There are some interesting uses of items/implements in this movie compared to others that made me smile.

The ending is pretty much the same as the others in that it all comes to a death filled crescendo, you know I don’t spoil endings here at THN so I’ll halt there.

The effects are reasonable and on par with the others, so are the acting and writing these movies aren’t bad. It’s like the saw series it’s just there and their people fodder if they keep watching they’ll keep getting made.

You all know here at THN that I’m not a huge fan of real footage or shaky cam things that aside this movie as part of the PA series is standard and if you like the others you’ll like this one.

So for that reason I give this a 3 star mark based on the rest of the series.

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