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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Interview with Indie Actor Bill Oberst Jr.

Interview With Bill Oberst Jr.

Bill Oberst Jr. is literally a work horse in the indie movie scene. He’s been able to churn out a large amount of work these past few years. As with any bunch of movies you get some gems and some not so good, I hope you don’t mind me saying that Bill.

One thing I have noticed in any of the films I have watched whether good or not so good is that Bill’s performances are always on track. I would say he is a shining star in the Indie Movie genre and having him play a role in a film is a good choice.

A few of his movies I have seen are Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies, Scary or Die, Gone Dark, Nude Nuns With Big Guns and A Haunting in Salem. There’s quite a few out soon that I can’t get hold of yet and also want to see.

So without further delay let’s get on with the interview.

Q: Hi Bill how’s life treating you these days?

A: Dan, greetings from Hollywood. I want to say first that I do not mind at all your saying that some of the movies I am in are good and some not so good. Being honest with the fans is #1 with me because the audience is my employer. So you tell it like it is! Secondly, I envy you because you get to live in Wales up on the hill there! I have family in the U.K. but have never visited Wales. I'd like to come and make a movie there. Any good ideas for horror scripts set in Wales? Ask your readers to send me some!

Q: Can you tell, for those of them that don’t know you well Bill, a bit about yourself and what you do?

A: I'm an actor - have been all my life. I spent 14 years making my living onstage on the east coast of the USA. 5 years ago I moved out to Los Angeles and switched to film and TV work. Since then I have done about 100 projects. Folks can see what I have done and am doing on IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2454994/

Q: Bill I’m not sure how accurate IMDb is but they have movies going back to 2007. I would say this makes you makes you a little bit of a late comer to the movie scene, is this right or have you just been over looked until then?

A: I was strictly a professional stage actor for 14 years until by a fluke, I ended up doing the lead role in a docudrama about the American Civil War General W.T. Sherman for The History Channel. It did well and an agent in Los Angeles signed me. So I decided to give film a go, although I had no experience in it at all. I did not come to the screen until I was already 40 years old, which has turned out to be a good thing for the roles I have ended up playing. I was never the romantic lead type, anyway. Even when I was 25 I'm afraid I was not much of a looker! And "Take This Lollipop" kind of solidified my image as the creepy-faced guy.

Q: Indie films seem to be your forte and you seem to be in high demand with a work schedule very full all the way through to 2014! Do you enjoy this work or can you just not say no?

A: I can say no and I do say no. Of course, in this business, that sometimes makes people want you more. It's a bit like dating; if one is too available there is less interest than if one is not. I'm not famous by any means, but I have gotten to the point where I do get scripts sent to me. That started happening after "Take This Lollipop" won the Emmy Award last summer. I do read everything I get and when a role is good for me, I get interested. I like to work. Acting is not only my means of support; it is my passion; so while I don't do just anything that comes along anymore, I don't like to pass up things that really appeal to me.

Q: One of my favourite roles I’ve seen you in is Abraham Lincoln Vs.Zombies. How was it making that film and playing such an iconic character (also did you get to keep that cool little mini scythe)?

A: Playing a badass Abraham Lincoln was a highlight of my career so far, Dan! I loved every minute of it. Lincoln was a boyhood hero of mine so I wanted to honor him by playing him straight even while he was swinging that scythe (which, sadly, I did not get to keep, perhaps because I broke two of them while filming and there was only one left!)

Q: A large repertoire of your films are thrillers and horrors. Is this your favourite area to work in?

A: It is. I am drawn to the darker cinematic genres and to the darker side of human nature. Even though I am a man of faith, a follower of Jesus and an optimist by nature, I'm still drawn to that dark side. It seems to be what I am meant to do and it feels right. I wouldn't play the darkness if I did not believe in the light. I think it is cathartic and healthy for all of us to live out bad human behavior in the safe confines of a story told well. All of the people I know who work in or love the horror genre are good, kind and gentle people in real life. I think there is a connection there.

Q: What current projects are you working on at the moment?

A: I have just wrapped a really fun horror film called "Ditch" (a teaser trailer is here.) I'm an axe murderer in that. Next week I start a role as a serial rapist/murderer with some bizarre physical deformities who gets more than he bargained for when he kidnaps a model's child in "The Fetish Set" (here's a shot of the pigeon-chest prosthetic I will be wearing for that role.) Then I prep for a role as the leader of the surviving humans in Todd E. Freeman's sequel to his hit "Cell Count" which is titled "Cell Count II: Blood Count" (here's an artist's conception of how that character will look.) Then a role as a backwoods cult leader in a found-footage horror film called "The Hunt" (a great script.) Later this year comes a lead role in director Mark Savage's "Circus of Dread," set in an underworld carnival where freak shows are taken to a new level (here's an early poster image for that one.) I'm co-writing the script for my red devil movie "Lord Bateman" with director Joe Hendrick (character concept here.) And I have about 7 more projects lined up for this year - all on my IMDb page at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2454994/  I like to work. 

Q: What have been some of the highlights of your job?

A: Oh my gosh - where do I start? I get to play for living, so it's all pretty much a highlight. I will tell you, though, the one role that was the most difficult for me and that I think I poured the most of my real-life personality into, was that of Father Simon in director Jourdan McClure's "Children Of Sorrow" (see the trailer here.) It was the first time I went off the grid for a role. We shot out in the desert. With Jourdan's support, I isolated myself and lived in character as much as possible. The film won the top awards last fall at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival and at the Shockfest Film Festival in Hollywood. I expect a distribution deal  will be announced for "Children Of Sorrow" soon. It's a disturbing film and was definitely a highlight for me as an actor so far.

Q: Some of your work requires some heavy make-up or other such things as prosthetics how are you with those?

A: Are you kidding me? I'm in heaven when I am in prosthetics and bizarre make-up! When I was a kid I was heavily into monster make-up...I took Dick Smith's course by mail and made my own latex appliances in my mom's oven; ran molds and everything. So  anytime I can work with an artist to create a unique character, I could care less about my own comfort. It is all about what is on the screen! I love my work so I try never to bitch about anything. Anytime I am on set, I'm lucky to be there and happy to be there.

Q: Like I said earlier you seem to be a very busy bee, is there anything you can tell us here at THN about your future?

A: I've just signed with a major talent agent, Gloria Hinojosa at Amsel, Eisenstadt and Frazier here in Los Angeles, who also represents Danny Trejo and Sid Haig, among other luminaries. I'm excited about that. This business is all about relationships, so I am grateful for the new connections that being associated with AEF will bring. 

Q: In my eyes in Indie films lately you and Stephen McHattie are two shining examples of people who despite the type of movies/budget/writing you’re acting in. You put 100% into the role; do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring actors out there?

A: Thank you for mentioning me in the same sentence as Stephen McHattie! I'm a big fan of his. My advice to anyone who says "I think it would be fun to be an actor" is "Don't." It is a very tough business and a very tough life. A lot of times it is not fun at all. On the other hand, to anyone who says "I think I was born to be an actor; it's all I have ever wanted to do and I have to do it to be who I am..." my advice is "Do it!" This is a profession for the poor bastards who can't do anything else and be happy. If that's you, come on into the pool! Get the best education you can, but realize that the only way to learn to act is to actually act and to be willing to fail. Fall flat on your ass and get back up and try to figure out what you did wrong and do it again. That's the business and that's the only way to live the dream. If you can make a fool out of yourself and deal with constant rejection and not bitch about it, you've got the stamina it takes to make it. Tenacity pays off in this game.

Q: You seem like a down to earth guy as well, some people can let this lifestyle get to their heads how do you keep yourself grounded?

A: I have a terrific family that does a pretty good job of keeping me in my place :) Also, I truly believe that having a faith in something bigger than one's self is important if you are going to be in a profession like this. Every Ash Wednesday, when we get the ashes put on our foreheads and I hear those words "Remember that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return," I think "Thank you God that I am dust and that You are God." It helps to keeps everything in perspective. Only love matters in the end.

Q: Bill how long can you see yourself in this business now?

A: Until I die. I don't know how to do anything else but act. I expect to happily drop dead in character on a set or a stage one day. Bela Lugosi was buried in his Dracula cape. Boris Karloff was on oxygen in his last films but he kept on working. Lon Chaney died from ingesting artificial snow on a movie job. I understand. Actors can never really retire because it is not an occupation - it's a vocation.

Q: Thank you very much for doing this interview Bill, as always I like to ask this comedy question at the end to see peoples responses, Do you have a zombie apocalypse plan for when the dead inevitably rise?

A: I do. I will argue with them until they eat me. That is my great fatal flaw; I believe that I can convince anyone of anything with logic, given enough time. Big mistake when it comes to zombies!!

Thanks from THN for this opportunity Bill it’s been another breakthrough to interview an actor for my blog, is there anything else you would like to add here, links, words of wisdom, a goodbye it’s up to you:

Dan, I'd like to invite people to say hello; leave a message on my IMDb page  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2454994/  or my Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/ActorBillOberstJr  and my Twitter  https://twitter.com/billoberstjr  I love sharing ideas with people who love horror like I do. The next great horror film idea will come, I am convinced, from somewhere out there in the world, not from Hollywood. So let's dream together. I thank you for this great opportunity to speak to your readers!

Bill was one of the most down to earth people i have talked too, his beliefs keep grounded and i hope they do forever. He is dedicated to his work which he intends to do for a long time to come, fine by me i say as i'll watch anything with him in.

As said he's interested in any work so if you want to contact him with any ideas i think he'd love that, i've already sent word to a welsh production company i am friends with for him, so who knows i may get to be on set one day and shake his hand in the flesh, thank you Bill!

Bill Oberst Jr.

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Talent Agent: Gloria Hinojosa, AEF Talent Agency

Management: Matt Chassin 



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American Mary Review

American Mary Review

Year: 2012

Stars: Katharine Isabelle, Antonio Cupo, Tristan Risk

Directed: Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska

Running Time: 103 mins

Written and directed by sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska, who only have minor acting and short film director/writer roles prior to this. Filmed in Canada and considering I can’t find any budget information probably on a shoestring, although it has bonuses that Canadian filming/money seems to come cheap.

Staring Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, the Being Human US version, and a multitude of other things) as Mary Mason as she starts to run out of money and falls into the world of underground surgery, ooh sounds gruesome.

It’s clear right from the start of this film just how bad Mary is in trouble with money but she’s a little too proud to let people know, like her friends and family. So much so she goes to take a job in a no sex dancing club.

After the slightly botched interview (Katherine may be a little older than Freddy vs. Jason now but my does she have a fine body) there’s some kind of fuck up and the owner knowing she’s a surgeon now employs her to perform surgery on a very badly hurt man for $5000.

I would for that money right away!

One of the annoying things about this film, filming wise is its quite dark at times brilliant for mood but some things I’d like to see a bit better.

She does it and is initially a wrought over the whole experience when she gets home. She soon gets a mysterious phone call, and then learns she’s lost her job as well.

The mysterious caller is Beatrice Johnson who turns up later is a very freaky looking woman who thinks she looks like Betty Boop. A friend of hers wants so *unconventional* surgery done that would be frowned upon in hospital, the lure of $10,000 is too much. The surgery that she wants done is well fucked up, the removal of some *extra skin* it’s not nice!

Problems just keep mounting for Mary despite the money, missed classes, an asshole for a teacher, and not taking the surgeries well. Add to that getting drugged and raped at parties it doesn’t go well for Mary in this movie, this snaps her mind.

The film depicts the heights and means that people will go to for modification; also the heights that some who are desperate and broke will go to as well. The actual surgery and effects are from what I can see and what I have seen pretty realistic.

After a bout of revenge and the opening of a secret body mod clinic the police later get involved looking for the missing person. Mary has clearly gone a little bonkers when she talks to the club owner who seems to have a strange infatuation in her.

Mary gets deeper and deeper into the modification world as the film goes on, quite horrifically. This film is gritty and the writing and acting is pretty good despite some iffy acting from some German sisters (THE SOSKA SISTERS).

One major flaw I had with this film is it was an 18 and there’s quite a lot of cut away at some gruesome surgery points. I know this may have been done to save on the budget but it can be annoying when you are waiting to see these horrible things talked about (in a movie that’s age rated to show it) done in detail and you don’t.

Don’t get me wrong its quite showing at times it’s just for me I wanted to see a little bit more, does that make me a little fucked up? Maybe but you have to be in this business. So the police get more involved after some more problems, you know how it goes.

Because of this I have marked this down from a 5 star film to a 4 star, as always here at THN I never spoil endings but American Mary is well worth your time.

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Slither 2006 Back Review

Slither 2006 Back Review

Year: 2006

Stars: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker

Directed: James Gunn

Running Time: 95 mins

Written and Directed by James Gunn (Wrote the 2002 Scooby Doo film and also wrote the storyline for the ace lollipop chainsaw game amongst other titles) on a budget of $15million. Staring everyone’s favourite actor Nathan Fillion (Need I say Firefly, Serenity or Castle? Oops I just did) he is Bill Pardy the sheriff in  town where in the style of the blob a meteorite falls, then in the style of a zombie film parasites infect peoples brains.

A lot like the older film of this kind night of the creeps.

There’s a lot more to it than that in this film when Starla Grants (Elizabeth banks husband stumble across the meteor and become infected with a parasite she ignores his odd behaviour and slight changes until it’s too late.

Having kidnaped a young woman and impregnated her with millions of little slug like parasites she eventually bursts when Bill Starla and a bunch searching for her husband come upon her. These slugs infect and turn people into mindless killers only intent on spreading more of them it’s up to Bill and Starla to stop them.

This movie is by far one of those tongues in cheek classics that everyone who loves one or more of the films it rips will love to sit and watch. Initially the films quite comedy with some good little light laughs but when the slugs burst forth and start infecting Willy nilly it can become quite a shocker as anyone from old people to young children are infected. This film has everything in it that a b-movie needs a monster, a stupid mayor and a lovelorn hero it does it all too great parody effect.

Acting wise with a pretty all-star cast including Merle from walking dead’s actor playing Starla’s husband there’s no stinkers here at all and its well written and well-acted whether it’s a a-star film or not, these are actors we can trust.

A just over $15million budget back in 2006 meant some pretty good effects and this film doesn’t let down there the make-up and CGI is better than a lot of films I’ve seen these days.

I think it does a good job parodying the films it intends to.

I have to say this film though not the best story wise does a good job keeping you interested through good acting and good writing for the material it had to work with. In anyone else’s hands or other actors this could have been a lot worse.

It keeps you smiling and well worth the 95 minutes you invested in watching it, the film comes to and explosive climax which as always on THN we won’t spoil for you. I give this film a decent 4 out of 5 stars and recommend you watch it if you haven’t.

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