DOOMSDAY

The day is here, it has finally come. 364 days of waiting, and over a month of planning, Halloween has arrived. It is hoped that all will enjoy a safe and Happy Halloween.

How will you be spending the day (and/or night)? As for this writer, a movie marathon accompanied by dozens of pieces of candy (and loads of caffeinated soda) is a long-running tradition for the holiday. Yes, it is a bit low-key; however, dressing up and going to a party is something that has not happened to this webmaster in a very long time. The same can be said about being made up. The days of spending three hours with paintbrushes, cotton, latex and wax teeth in front of a mirror are over (at least unless this former special effects makeup hobbyist is asked a favor of). An hour to remove the makeup? No, thanks anyway! That old Night of the Living Dead t-shirt will do just fine to get into the spirit!

A review for another creepy, yet rarely heard-of, horror film is forthcoming: The House of the Dead (1978).

Low-budget movies often turn out to be decent, or even classics. Bill Rebane has made many low-budget films that have become very popular among fans and collectors. The Cold (aka The Game, 1984) is an example of a film that works with very little, but can be entertaining nonetheless.

Three millionaires invite nine guests to a resort that has been closed for the winter. The millionaires challenge their guests to stay at the resort for a few days to face their fears; it is promised that one million dollars will go to the lone “survivor.” It is revealed that there will be many false scares, and that the millionaires will be out-of-sight for the duration - but will “be in touch.”

The game begins, and the contestants drop like flies. Some of the guests appear to have been murdered. Every time a contestant is about encounter trouble, a heavy fog flows into the room and follows them. The few remaining guests decide to do an investigation of their own when they realize that more may be on the line than the chance to win a million dollars…..

The low budget for this film is evident, but The Cold can be fairly entertaining if the viewer decides to simply not expect a Hollywood blockbuster. It has all of the elements to help recommend it as part of the “Halloween viewing” category: lots of fog, color spot-lighting, familiar sound effects and music, and a gritty 16mm film look. The Cold is not a difficult film to find, and is cheapest when purchased as part of the Chilling Classics 50 movie set released by Mill Creek.

Many of us achieve a certain state of mind according to our ideals when it concerns certain concepts, such as music, film, places, certain days, or even plain words. It may either represent itself in our thoughts in the form of a song, a memory…..or in this webmaster’s case, the creation of an image in one’s mind.

This is very true with the arrival of Halloween. Images of scarecrows, pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, bare trees against the moon and old cemeteries flood the mind. Scents may also materialize; pumpkin spice, pachouli, and the smell of wood burning are very common. The sounds of rattling chains, foreboding organ music, shrieking ghosts, cackling witches, mice and bats, and the whistling wind accompany those thoughts.

In this reviewer’s case, a particular image emerges just about every time someone utters the fantastic word “Halloween.” It was deemed necessary to get this image into a form where it can be seen with a pair of eyes, and defined more clearly than a faint firing of neurons. It has been digitally created, and made into a desktop by this webmaster - a gift to all who cherish the holiday that will be here in less than two days.

Happy Halloween

Confusion can be felt on every forum, message board and e-mail group when it comes to European zombie movie titles. Questions pop up like “isn’t Zombi 3 the one where that guy goes digging for artifacts and those zombies overrun a mansion?”…..or…..”Zombie 4 - isn’t that the Jess Franco movie that makes no sense?”

Over the years with a bit of research and collecting one would find out (since collecting these movies has become such a harrowing task):

Theatrical Releases:

A) Zombie: Dawn of the Dead - Argento’s version of the movie Dawn of the Dead; part of the original distribution deal, Argento edited and released George Romero’s gut muncher for the majority of the non-English speaking world.
B) Zombi 2 - Lucio Fulci’s Zombie; many times mistaken as an unofficial sequel to Romero’s film.
C) Zombi 3 - Fulci’s semi-sequel to his original Zombi 2; aside from the presence of zombies, there is no connection with Fulci’s first film; Fulci started the film, Bruno Mattei (Hell of the Living Dead) finished it after Fulci suffered health problems.
D) Zombie 3 - this is actually Nights of Terror aka Burial Ground. Promoted as a sequel to Fulci’s Zombie in Japan.

Video Releases:

A) Wizard Video released Fulci’s Zombie in 1981 and again in 1985 in a big display box; the 1985 release copy bears the onscreen title “Zombies 2″ (white titles/credits).

B) Magnum Entertainment released Fulci’s Zombie in 1989, with the onscreen title “Zombie;” this was the print used by the Jerry Gross distribution company and bears Jerry Gross’ name in the credits (orange titles/credits).

C) A company named EDDE Entertainment re-released some Wizard Video titles in the early 90’s and tacked the word “Zombie” to the beginning of them:

As we enter Halloween week, there is one more horror film recommendation that can be categorized as a “perfect” Halloween film choice: Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972). A relatively low-key film that has gained a great deal of popularity since the age of home video, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things stands apart from more prominent films of its time due to its accomplishments - despite its low budget.

A small theatrical group and their director, Alan, set sail at dusk to a remote cemetery island. According to their leader, the island has an evil and violent history.

Upon their arrival, they make their way through the cemetery, through the woods, and finally to a two-story cottage. Alan gleefully reveals all that he knows about the legends tied to the island as they set up the house as their home base.

After an ill-received practical joke (two actors costumed as ghoulish corpses engage the group by surprise; Alan coordinated the prank), the group participates in a demonic summation; more specifically, a request for the dead to rise from their graves. Alan attempts to perform the rite by the book (an ancient book of spells). When it seems that the spell was not effective (leaving Alan looking nothing more than arrogant and incompetent), Val, one of the skeptical actors, performs her own incantation via impromptu acting.

After being made to look like a fool, Alan decides to bring Orville, an unearthed corpse, back to the cottage for a “party.” Met with much resistance from the group, Alan begins to remind all that their jobs are at stake and forces some of them to act at his command (particularly Terry, who must “convince” Orville that she has talent).

As the group becomes increasingly upset with Alan’s antics and insensitive manipulation, the dead rise from their graves, hungry for human flesh…..

Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things was directed by Bob Clark, who was responsible for the Porky’s comedy film series and the modern holiday classic A Christmas Story. Directed under the name “Benjamin” Clark, this film stars Jeff Gillen as “Jeff,” who later went on to play the obnoxious mall Santa in A Christmas Story. Although the film was not a major motion picture (being released during the same era as horror classics such as The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Tales from the Crypt and The Exorcist), the low budget works in its favor. The zombie makeup designs look very realistic and have the advantage of pre-dating today’s over-the-top, high-tech special effects; less is more, and an honest “special effects” makeup design does the trick more effectively than a ton of latex and a wealth of CGI.

For those who are interested in atmosphere for their Halloween marathon, this film is resonating with it. The whole film is set at night, with heavy fog effects and mood-heavy synth music and use of echo sound effects. This film is widely available on DVD and VHS; however, the A/V quality of both region one DVDs leaves a lot to be desired. However, that should not get in the way of enjoying what is one of the more memorable horror films of the 1970s.

Less than a week to go. We will be finished covering our list of atmospheric movies and compilations for our Halloween marathon over the course of the week. But now, me must begin to assess the state of horror television as it currently exists…..

There was once a time where a horror fan would have to wait for a specific time of the week (or even read through the television listings guide) in order to catch their favorite movie. No VCRs, no DVD players, no video-on-demand, no streaming movies via Internet…..and NO HORROR CHANNELS.

In an era where all of these modern-day conveniences (all that were pretty much science fiction ideas in-and-of themselves) are all around us, horror fans are always clamoring for more. When we’re not getting the latest news on the web about the newest DVD releases, focusing on becoming the highest-bidder on that rare VHS version of Frankenstein ‘80 (or elusive Japanese LaserDisc set The Encyclopedia of Horror) or even watching a clip of George Romero or John Carpenter in an interview at some horror convention, we’ll be either watching a horror/science fiction movie on DVD or trying to get our fix with television.

What is a fan to do when they want 24 hours of horror, seven days a week? Let us explore the players in the field of channels that specialize in horror.

Depending on where you live, what cable/satellite/fiber-optic carrier you use or what opportunities you have to use the web, there are several outlets for 24-hour horror/science fiction. Sci-Fi Channel, Chiller, Monsters HD, FearNET, Zone Horror, Scream, ThrillerMax, OuterMax, Showtime Beyond, The Horror Channel…..there are many choices, but which ones stand out from their competition?

Next (in a series exploring the state of horror on television): Monsters HD

Looking for that typical “party tape” that people try to get for their Halloween party? There are many “trailer tapes” or clip compilations out there that may do the trick for Halloween, but what where can one find such a video that is hosted by a famous “horror host” who rips the laughter right out of a crowd? Enter the 1986 video release of Horrible Horror.

Horrible Horror, hosted by veteran horror host Zacherley, is nearly two hours in length and features clips and trailers from many classic horror and science fiction films, peppered with clips from movie serials.

After introducing himself, Zacherley explains that the lease to his castle has expired and he must move all of his possessions out. Between commanding his off-camera assistant, Igor, to “roll the film,” Zach demonstrates a few comedic experiments, including the electrocution of a few wind-up toys, probing a “brain” (a head of cauliflower) with a makeshift power tool and dissecting a “blob.”

Clips and trailers include The Alligator People, Killers from Space, Little Shop of Horrors, Carnival of Souls, Night of the Living Dead, She Demons, The Brainiac, The Vampire’s Coffin/The Robot Vs. The Aztec Mummy, The Blob, The Hideous Sun Demon, and dozens more.

Zacherley’s presence is the real treat, as it is not common to see him in “horror host” fashion. However, many of the clips and trailers bear the letters “GT” in the lower-right; Goodtimes Home Video was doing what many television stations have been doing for years - putting their “bug” at the bottom of the screen.

This video has become hard to find since it hasn’t been in retail stores for a long time, but is reasonably priced in online outlets. Want your Halloween party crowd to roar? Then this is the tape for you!

Returning to our Halloween horror movie “wine list,” here are two features rich with moonlight, fog and and ambient lighting…..

The Werewolf Vs. The Vampire Women (1970) is an early entry in a series of werewolf movies starring Paul Naschy (a stage name for screenwriter Jacinto Molina). Naschy stars as Waldemar Daninski, or “El Hombre Lobo,” the classic, tormented wolf-man character. Daninski is resurrected when a silver bullet is removed from his chest by the local coroner. He embarks on a brief killing spree and finds refuge in a deserted castle. However, Wandessa, the vampire queen becomes an even bigger problem for Waldemar than his own lycanthropy.

Fangs of the Living Dead (aka Malenka, 1969), directed by Amando de Ossorio (director of the “Blind Dead” films), deals with a wealthy European model who inherits an old castle. When she arrives, she is greeted by her uncle, the Count. It is revealed that the occupants of the castle (and her ancestors) are vampires. She is now torn between her fiancee (and her life in high society Europe) and her obligations to her ghoulish, new family…..

These films are both European masterpieces of gothic horror, but are relatively harmless. They are highly recommended not only because of their content, but also because of their wide availability and relatively low prices (they are perceived to be in the public domain; they can be purchased alone for as little as a dollar online or as part of a multi-movie set).

The Werewolf Vs. The Vampire Women, however is a cut version of The Werewolf Shadow, which features a bit more gore and exposition.

Next up: Horrible Horror!

Don’t look into The Devil’s eyes, you’ll get a headache.

As indicated in the last post, people have barely broken the surface when it comes to horror films and pick a few of the most popular horror films for their Halloween viewing. Some are only exposed to the Hollywood blockbuster horror films that have been released to theaters in recent years. This reviewer became pretty aggravated when trying to explain to someone that the 2003 version of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a remake, and NOT a new concept. Keeping with our theme of “perfect” Halloween marathon picks, here are a couple of horror compilations worth seeking out:

Terror on Tape - Shot on video and hosted by a ghoulish Cameron Mitchell (Haunts, The Demon), this compilation was released by Comet Video/Continental in 1985 to promote their oversized-box video releases. Three patrons visit the Shoppe of Horrors to get recommendations for their Halloween viewing. Mitchell, the shop owner, is happy to supply the clips while feeding his pet monsters. Films covered in this compilation include Herschel Gordon Lewis gems Blood Feast, Color Me Blood Red and Two Thousand Maniacs; Frozen Scream, Umberto Lenzi’s City of the Walking Dead (aka Nightmare City), Exorcist rip-off Cathy’s Curse, Vampire Hookers, Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn (or quite simply, The Deadly Spawn), Romano Scavolini’s Nightmare (aka Nightmares in a Damaged Brain), The Slayer, Scalps, Madhouse Mansion and a host of others.

Terror in the Aisles - This 1984 film contains clips from memorable horror films such as John Carpenter’s The Thing, Alone in the Dark, When a Stranger Calls, Saturday the 14th, The Shining, An American Werewolf in London, Scanners, The Fury, Dressed to Kill, The Howling, Ms. 45, Alligator, The Omen, Halloween, The Exorcist and many more. It’s narrated by Nancy Allen (Dressed to Kill) and Donald Pleasance (Halloween), and made to sound like a study in psychology. The film is a bit mainstream, but worth a view (and a bit hard to find in recent years).

Next up: Part Three!

With the coming of one of the most popular holidays, many people in today’s polite society (who are not particularly horror fans, or are just getting into the genre) often wonder what movies are perfect for viewing on Halloween.

Being a horror movie collector (who is now entering his 20th year in collecting) and a viewer with a wide range of tastes, this dark webmaster can easily get irked when someone with very little exposure to the horror/science fiction genre names Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th (you know, the one where Jason, the axe murderer goes around in a hockey mask), and The Exorcist as movies that are the best movies for the darkest night of the year. To be fair, those movies have their own merits, and quite possibly hold a rank among the best horror films of all time. However, they are the tip of the iceberg, the “surface” of horror films (much like the “Iron Man” of the Black Sabbath catalogue) that is rarely broken by the masses.

The following is a list of films that may or may not be too popular, but do have a wonderful atmosphere when it comes to Halloween viewing. Viewers will find old castles with long, dark corridors that need to be lit with torches, evil histories and a few familiar names…..

Web of the Spider stars the immortal Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu: Phantom Der Nacht, 1979) as Edgar Allen Poe, arranging a wager between Alan Foster (played by Anthony Franciosa), a reporter, and Lord Blackwood. Mr. Foster must spend the night alone in Blackwood Castle. He must emerge from the estate at dawn in order to win the wager. However, Mr. Foster finds that he is not alone…..

Christopher Lee is back as the sinister Count Regula in Castle of the Walking Dead (aka The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism). The evil Count was sentenced and quartered for the murder of 12 maidens. Decades later, he has been resurrected by his servant in order to claim his 13th victim and complete a religious rite that will give him everlasting life. However, he is met with resistance by a band of people who are intended to be his final victims.

Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, 1931) and Jack Nicholson (The Shining, 1980) are the dramatic force behind The Terror, a film about an old castle, an aging baron, the resurrection of the dead, and witchcraft. Nicholson is a lost French soldier in the early 1800s who stumbles across a mysterious woman, an old witch, and the reclusive Baron Von Leppe (Karloff). Both the witch and Von Leppe deny the existence of Helene, the mysterious woman, but the French soldier is insistent on finding her. The deeper he digs into the past of the Baron and the harder he searches for Helene, the more entangled he gets in a web of horror and deceit.

These three films make for a great marathon with appropriate set/location lighting, sound effects, lots of fog and some familiar character actors. Stay tuned for the rest of the list of atmospheric haunts that may be just what you’re looking for to make your Halloween viewing a little different this year…..