GEORGE A. ROMERO'S SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD will play in limited theatrical release at the end of this month. A list of which cities and theaters it will play at is easy enough to find online. If you get the opportunity to see it on a big screen, that's the way to go. If, like me, you don't live somewhere that booked the film, it's available On Demand now, via your cable outlet or as a download from Amazon.

The first review I read of this film, maybe six months ago, predicted this would be Romero's most divisive film yet. Boy, they weren't kidding! I've read rave reviews from the likes of Chris Alexander, Fangoria's new editor in chief, and Michael Marano, one of the smartest film critics I ... (more…)

"It's time for Freddy!"

Sorry, couldn't resist... and this will be the last A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET post on Fear Zone. I don't have it out for this latest remake, but I can't say I'm looking forward to it, either.

That isn't Jackie Earle Haley you're looking at as Robert Englund's replacement, but a detailed doll--er, action figure. Double click on the image to get a better look at the Gloved One. I admire the approach of going for a realistic burn victim look, but to me this looks just a little too much like one of the aliens in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. I guess you'll just have to see the film and tell me how the real deal looks!

Happy Thanksgiving. (more…)

One of the great things about running Fear Zone these last couple of years, and writing my book CHEAP SCARES! Low Budget Horror Filmmakers Share Their Secrets, is that I've been motivated to see innovative movies I might not have caught otherwise. Chief among these have been the Glass Eye Pix, produced in part by Larry Fessenden (HABIT, WEDIGO, THE LAST WINTER). Under his Scareflix banner, Fessenden has "presented" Ti West's THE ROOST and TRIGGERMAN; Glenn McQuaid's I SELL THE DEAD, and James Felix McKenney's THE OFF SEASON and AUTOMATONS. The Scareflix are very low budget films (shot on film), but are distinctive for their originality and indie sensibilities. At a time when horror fans ... (more…)

Stephen Romano artwork for SCM

SLIME CITY MASSACRE will have its World Premiere at the 2010 Beloit International Film Festival, which runs February 18th - 21st in Wisconsin. The official announcement:

Gregory Lamberson, internationally celebrated creator of horror films, will add a special twist and a welcome scream to the 2010 Beloit International Film Festival when he returns to Beloit as the honorary chair of the fifth annual BIFF, Feb. 18-21, 2010. Creator of the horror cult classic SLIME CITY, which marked its 20th anniversary at BIFF in 2008, Lamberson will be on hand for the world debut of the recently completed sequel, SLIME CITY MASSACRE.

In a letter accepting the invitation to ... (more…)

I've anxiously awaited seeing I SELL THE DEAD, the latest film from Larry Fessenden's Glass Eye Pix company, since I first saw its trailer. The film has been playing the film festival circuit all year, just completed a VOD run, and will be available on DVD soon. The initial trailer I saw reminded me of a Hammer horror, but after seeing the film, written, directed and edited by Glenn McQuaid, who has created special effects for past Glass Eye productions, I think a more accurate comparison would be Roger Corman's more humorous period piece, THE RAVEN. Despite the prevalent comedy, the film still serves up a fair amount of chills and is a welcome treat for horror fans.

At its heart, I SELL ... (more…)

Robert C. Sabin as Zachary in SLIME CITY MASSACRE

Robert Craig Sabin sent along word that he and his partner, B.K. Willerford, are developing THE ACCOMPLICE, one of three extremely slick and entertaining short films they produced for their 5-Minute Horror website, as a feature film. The official announcement follows. On a side note, 5-Minute Horror is also worth checking out for the shorts made by other filmmakers, test reel FX, and and a funny series featuring Sabin and a green screen.

Cult horror website 5 Minute Horror, maker of the short films "Tasty" and "Supersex," has completed its first feature script, based on their popular webisode short "The Accomplice." The full script, ... (more…)

OH NO! IT'S SAW VI!

I've seen every installment of the SAW series, and I'd say the hardest part about watching these movies is trying to convince yourself that what you're seeing is actually new. After awhile, these movies tend to all blur together and seem interchangeable. Between the flashbacks to scenes from previous movies, to newly filmed flashbacks to scenes we hadn't seen before (mainly revolving around John Kramer (Tobin Bell) the "real" Jigsaw back when he was alive), and then the same torture devices we've seen in other SAW movies popping up again (how many times can they use that contraption that is like a bear trap for people's heads?), it can get confusing without a score card.

... (more…)

What are we to conclude from the box office for U.S. horror films the last few months? In short order, THE FINAL DESTINATION creamed ROB ZOMBIE'S HALLOWEEN 2, the much hyped JENNIFER'S BODY bombed, ZOMBIELAND debuted in the #1 position, and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY - in limited release - annihilated THE STEPFATHER remake.

First of all, let's award the dunce cap to the rocket scientists at Weinstein Co. that released ZOMBIE'S H2 in late August rather than, duh, October, the month of the holiday for which it is named. Yes, ROB ZOMBIE'S HALLOWEEN did well this same time two years ago, but there was anticipation for that film. Despite its strong box office take, general audiences and horror fans ... (more…)

David Cronenberg will reportedly helm the latest remake of THE FLY. Cronenberg's 1986 version of the 1958 original may have been the best received horror remake ever, so why visit that well again? Supposedly, the possibilities of what CGI can do intrigued him enough to revisit material many fans already consider classic. Cronenberg will develop, write and direct this version for 20th Century Fox. (more…)

Neve Campbell has signed on to join Courtney Cox and David Arquette in SCREAM 4, to be scripted by series creator Kevin WIlliamson?

Was there ever any doubt that the lady needs a paycheck?

Wes Craven is in talks to direct.

Is there any doubt that Wes will do the deed?

I'm not a fan of SCREAM, though I understand this is a generational thing. I lived through and loved the slasher films of the 1970s and 1980s, so I found SCREAM pretty anemic and not half as clever as people younger than me did. I admit to being reasonably entertained by SCREAM 2 - especially the scene with the characters running around campus snatching cell phones from people - but I think SCREAM 3 was one of the worst sequels ... (more…)