- Random Ramblings is back this week, and I'd like to kick it off by shouting to the rooftops how excited I am about the impending release of the long-pined-for restored version of Robin Hardy's The Wicker Man. Director Hardy had long lamented the seemingly permanent loss of 14 minutes of the film's footage due to a ridiculous studio bungle. Now that it's finally been found 40 years later, I can't wait to see Hardy's true, original vision at last.
- I've spent years educated my kids on the joys of horror, but till now have kept things relatively confined to the PG/PG-13 realm. I recently broke that edict with a screening of the brilliant '70s zombie chestnut Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (a.k.a. The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue). I'm proud to report that Zombelina and Skeleton Jack (ages 11 and 9) are alive, well and untraumatized. Like Luke Skywalker, they've taken their first step into a larger world.
- Is it just me, or has True Blood been improving this season? For me, the show has always seemed so erratic, going from interesting to unbearable at regular intervals. But I have to say, this season so far has captured my attention and seems to be getting back to more of what made the show so intriguing in the first place.
- As you might have been able to tell by the recent vlog here in the Vault, and elsewhere in Jack's Movie Town, I'm seriously on a Pacific Rim high this summer. I've now seen the film three times, and it's successfully washed away the taste of the horrendous Man of Steel and the slightly disappointing Star Trek: Into Darkness. If you haven't seen it yet--SEE IT. Word of mouth is spreading, and it now looks like a sequel may actually happen.
- Did you know that Weird Tales magazine is back in publication? Shame on you if you didn't. The classic old school horror pulp, which boasted such authors as H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard among its contributors, has been back for a little while now, and I strongly encourage you to support it. We need solid outlets for new horror short fiction, and I can think of no better home for it than the legendary Weird Tales.
- I always love putting together the Cyber Horror Awards, because it gives me a chance to catch up on the best horror films of the past year that I may have missed. This time, I'm taking some time to discover Lovely Molly, Sinister and Mother's Day...
- For many years, I've admired the amazing Alamo Drafthouse from afar. A theater that combines good movies with good food and drink, and also has genuine knowledge of film history and respect for the moviegoing experience? Count me in. Color me ecstatic at this month's brand new opening of an Alamo Drafthouse in Yonkers, New York, a mere 20 miles or so from me. And among their first screenings will be Stanley Kubrick's The Shining! I'll be heading down there very soon, you can count on that...
- For all you supporters of my Bedlam at the Bijou series, I just wanted to let you know that our run at that venue has ended after a glorious and very fun year. However, fear not--because I'm looking to take the Bedlam brand on the road and continue the coolness at a new location in Connecticut. Stay tuned for more updates on where and when you can expect to see vintage horror double-features in the mighty B-Sol manner.
- Captain Cruella's Village Invasion is returning with an amazing FOURTH annual installment in the town of Saugerties, nestled in New York's idyllic Hudson Valley. It's the Northeast's premiere zombie crawl event, and this year looks to be bigger and better than ever. Check it out at the official Village Invasion website, or stay tuned to Cruella's Crypt for more news and information!
- While I'm bragging and boasting, I'd like to take this moment to give a mention to my Twitter and Instagram presences. For Vault updates and more, plus a coveted glimpse into my ever-fascinating life, feel free to follow me @B_Sol on Twitter, or @B_Sol13 on Instagram.
- First things first: The Walking Dead has very pleasantly surprised me this season thus far. As much as I love the concept, I don't really believe the show had hit its stride until now. Last week's episode in particular was just about the most harrowing dramatic television I've ever witnessed, and I don't mind telling you that I was seriously emotionally shaken. Not to mention some amazing acting all around! Kudos to the entire WD creative team, but just go easy on me for the next couple of episodes, OK? I'm a very sensitive boy.
- I know I'm not the first to say this, but The Cabin in the Woods was everything everyone said it was, and then some. What a creative and brilliantly executed horror film! A horror fan's wet dream, plus entertaining enough to bring new fans to the genre in the process. Horror had been in desperate need of a reinvention after nearly a decade of nihilistic torture porn aftereffects, and I think this was just the kind of deconstructionist fun that was called for. I can't remember the last time I was this downright amused by a horror movie.
- Maybe it's not popular to say it (or maybe it is, what do I know?), but I was also very pleasantly surprised by the red-band Evil Dead remake trailer that's been making the rounds. You can count me in the camp of, "Why are they remaking this movie," but after seeing that, I'm on board. I'm not dead-set against any and all horror remakes--sometimes they turn out excellent, like The Thing, The Fly, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and even Dawn of the Dead. The original Evil Dead is a 30-year-old shoe-string budget student film, and while it is a great horror flick, I do not consider it sacred or anything. It's been more than a generation, why not let someone take a crack at it, especially with Sam Raimi's blessing? Count me in.
- And on the flipside of that, the last thing I expected was that I'd be looking forward to the Evil Dead remake, and NOT looking forward to the World War Z movie. What a turd of a trailer that was! Here I was, hoping for the last six years to get the ultimate big-budget zombie epic I'd been waiting for, and what it looks like we're getting is Brad Pitt running from zombie tidal waves. I mean seriously...what the heck is that? I'm not even sure what I'm looking at, but it sure as hell ain't zombies, and definitely not the creatures of Max Brooks' novel. Sadly, that one is looking like a giant disappointment.
- As I mentioned at the Vault of Horror Facebook page, I'm proud to announce that my BEDLAM AT THE BIJOU double feature series will indeed be continued through March! That's right, the Bijou Theatre in downtown Bridgeport is giving more opportunities to share my love of horror with the community at large. It will be my pleasure to be screening Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein and Young Frankenstein (12/27), The Mummy (1959) and Curse of the Werewolf (1/24), Theater of Blood and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (2/21) and The Giant Claw and Plan 9 from Outer Space (3/28). Plus as always, there will be special guests and giveaways galore! Check the official Bijou website, plus the VoH Facebook page for more info, and I hope to see you there!
- One of the films I'll be showing this Thursday at the Bijou is Nosferatu, whose 90th anniversary I've been celebrating all year--hope you've been enjoying it. I like to do that every year with a notable anniversary for a different horror film (Nightmare on Elm Street 25th in 2009, Psycho 50th in 2010, American Werewolf in London 30th in 2011). Right now I'm thinking of celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Exorcist next year. Sound like a good idea? Anything you'd rather see instead?
- Do you have a favorite one-shot Hammer film? I think I'd have to go with either The Gorgon or The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll if put to it.
- For those dying to know, my young progeny Skeleton Jack and Zombelina hosted another smashing Halloween party this year--I daresay the annual party has become one of the highlights of the social calendars of little ones in our community. I mean, what other Halloween party features a haunted walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood? Special thanks to Michael J. Bielawa, author of Wicked Bridgeport, for the terrific tour, and of course what better party planner could any Halloween gathering hope for than Captain Cruella herself??
- Speaking of Zombelina, she recently found herself in the bookstore with a gift certificate burning a hole in her pocket--and what did she choose to buy with it? Why, the first hardcover volume of the collected archives of Warren's Creepy Magazine, of course. Did you expect anything less?
- In closing, I'd like to thank Turner Classic Movies for carrying the torch of horror filmdom during the Halloween season. AMC's Fear Fest is a pale shadow of the former greatness of Monster Fest, and TCM has dutifully stepped in to fill the seasonal needs of horror fans everywhere. I love AMC, but after all, how many times do you really want to watch Jason X and Halloween 5 in a three-week period? All Hail TCM and their excellent, eclectic mix of selections! Long may they reign.
- So, The Possession. Very effective horror flick, in my estimation, and a much more sober and grave companion piece to Ghost House Pictures' other recent demonic possession release, Drag Me to Hell--that one a bold exercise in "horror whimsy", if there is such a thing. What is it with Sam Raimi and demonic possession--the guy is obsessed. Perhaps related to his religious upbringing as a conservative Jew?
- For those who enjoyed the series of Vaultcasts I did with Miguel Rodriguez of Monster Island Resort on the Godzilla series of films, stay tuned very soon for a brand new series. This time our focus is the Universal monster movies. The first one, an examination of the first three films in the Frankenstein series, was just recorded last night!
- NASA is having a student contest to name an asteroid orbiting in close proximity to Earth, so i decided to enter my kids. I explained to my son that most heavenly bodies are named for ancient gods. He then gave me his suggestion: Cthulhu. We're sending it.
- Over the years, the Vault has become an admittedly cluttered and busy place, and so to reduce the chaos and provide a more ordered and structured arrangement, I've taken advantage of the new features in Blogger and created separate pages to house information like upcoming events, links, quotes and more. I invite you to take a look at the menu bar below the top banner and have a look for yourself. Hope you like!
- After years of dutiful service, I've decided at long last to retire the ongoing feature known as "The Many Faces of..", mainly because I've run through just about everyone worth spotlighting! One more post (William Forsythe), and then I'll be rolling out something different: "Faces of Fear", a new department focusing on a different creature each time. Should be fun!
- Speaking of William Forsythe, you can color me tickled pink to see the cult fave actor join the cast of HBO's Boardwalk Empire during the second season, which I finally caught up on thanks to HBO On Demand. It certainly is a far cry from The Devil's Rejects, but I am loving Forsythe in the role of the cold-blooded kosher butcher Manny Horvitz. Wondering if there might be a potential horror franchise there. "He Answers to a Higher Authority: Satan". "Manny's--Where the Meat Is to Die For!" I could go on for hours.
- This is probably something best kept to my newly created "Other Appearances" page, but I'm proud to announce that the Ooze Cruise, the unique zombie cruise being promoted by Captain Cruella and me, is being featured in the current issue of Rue Morgue magazine (#126), which should now be on sale at most stores! Yet another magazine I grew up reading that I now get to appear in... Pretty cool.
- Speaking of the Captain and me, we had a ghoul-riffic time last weekend at the The Year of the Dead's 2013 Zombie Model Meet and Eat in Hartford! It was fun rubbing rotten shoulders with some like-minded undead enthusiasts, hearing some great music and doing a little horror networking. Best of all, it gave me the opportunity to take this deliciously ludicrous photo with the lovely ladies of the Year of the Dead calendar. It's a fine piece of work, and I encourage red-blooded would-be victims everywhere to pick a copy of their 2013 calendar now.
- I've been pining for a complete Lovecraft anthology for a long time now, and finally picked up a copy of the first-ever such edition just last week. H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction is one of those leather-bound volumes put out by Barnes & Noble, and at $20 for every single story Lovecraft ever wrote all in one place, it's the most unmissable deal this side of R'Lyeh. I took great pleasure in curling up on my couch the other night and delving into the Mountains of Madness, and I anticipate many more evenings spent with this gorgeous compendium of inspired weirdness.
- Halloween once again ominously approaches, and as I begin to browse the stores with my young ones, I come to one inevitable conclusion: Why the hell couldn't Halloween have been this cool when I was a kid??
- UPDATE: I invite all you Vault dwellers to head over to Kindertrauma and check out the interview I did there concerning my horror film interests and influences. And Kindertrauma is an alarmingly kick-ass site in general anyway, so you should check it out regardless.
- So they say the younger generation has no
interest in older films, and a recent post at John Morehead’s excellent blog Theofantastique seems to support this alarming development. However, while this
may be the rule, there are wonderful exceptions, and parenting plays a major
role here. It pleases me to report that my 10-year-old daughter Zombelina, without me present, took her mother to
the video store recently and asked to rent the 1945 horror anthology Dead of
Night, after having researched it on the internet. Warms my sepia-toned heart.
See, folks? If we do our jobs right, these kids are open to enjoying all the
classics we hold dear. As with anything else, they just need the proper
guidance.
- Speaking of the brood, I had the distinct
pleasure of introducing the little ones to Psycho for the first time last week
(don’t judge me). I can’t overstate how much of a thrill it is to watch a film
like that, whose original chills and twists are so thoroughly known to us,
through the eyes of people to whom it is literally 100% new. They never saw the
whole mother thing coming, and I didn’t spoil it. In my book, that’s one of the
joys of parenting right there.
- A trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is in
store for the Solomon clan this weekend—and knowing us, this means an
inordinate amount of time spent with mummies, Babylonian demon sculptures, and
portraits of martyred saints. Because that’s just how we roll.
- I’m tickled pink these days, thanks to a brand new app I’ve created for The Vault of Horror. You read that right—the Vault is now an app! Get all the latest posts, plus direct access to the VOH Facebook
page, contact info and more, in one very spiffy mobile location. Works like a
charm on smartphones, iPads or whatever other gizmos ya got. You can download
it at this location, or just scan the QR code thingy:
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Why did I
actually think, with a title like that, that the film could be good? Maybe I
thought it had to be better, that it couldn’t actually be as laughably awful as
the name would suggest. I’m here to report I was wrong. Unintentionally funny
from beginning to end, and borderline offensive at that. Still, it’s not every
day you get to see a movie in which a vampire throws horses at Abraham Lincoln.
- Long-time readers of the Vault know I’m a great
lover of ‘70s era Marvel horror comics, especially that ever-lovin’ muck
monster the Man-Thing. I’d like to highly recommend the brand-new miniseries
The Infernal Man-Thing. It’s based on an original script by the late, great ‘70s
Man-Thing scribe Steve Gerber—a direct sequel, in fact, to his Brian Lazarus
storyline from back in the day. Seems the folks at the House of Ideas took
Gerber’s script and handed it over to illustrator Kevin Nowlan to finally
finish after years of false starts. And while Nowlan’s unconventional work took
some getting used to for this Marvel traditionalist, the finished product is a
can’t miss for horror comic fans everywhere.
- Speaking of horror and comics, I have to say
that the Lizard, as adapted in the recent Amazing Spider-Man reboot, was one
hell of a frightening villain. A little more Abomination than Lizard for my
tastes, but hats off nevertheless for a chilling characterization brought to
life for the silver screen. If only he had kept the lab coat on…
- If you’re a fan of classic animation, as I am,
than you probably have a special reverence for the UPA shorts of the 1950s and
1960s. Some of these were truly groundbreaking pieces of work, and for us
horror lovers, included such gems as Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart.
Well, in case you haven’t heard, my favorite cable network TCM has made
available a collection of classic UPA shorts called “Jolly Frolics”. I know I’ll
be picking it up, to add to my vast collection of classic studio animation on
DVD (for the kids, of course…)
- I recently ran a poll to determine everyone’s
favorite cinematic Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and I was surprised to find that
Spencer Tracy won the race. For my money, he’s the least of the three classic
J/H’s. And don’t get me wrong, I love Mr. Tracy. But in my estimation, John Barrymore’s
original 1920 interpretation trumps all. With no monster makeup—nor any sound,
for that matter!—he makes us believe he has transformed, through the sheer
power of his formidable acting chops.
- Looking back now it’s hard to imagine, but this
October will indeed mark the 5th birthday of The Vault of Horror.
And in case you’re wondering (yes, you), I do have something special in the
works to celebrate. More than one something special, in fact. Stay tuned, Vault
dwellers.
So yes, it's been a while. The Vault of Horror has been on a bit of a short sabbatical. But that's over now. Partly, this was due to the mysterious implosion of the VoH's Facebook page, the truth of which we may never learn. Oh, well--life goes on, and I've built a BRAND NEW Vault of Horror Facebook page. So if you were a fan of the old one (or even if you weren't), please head over there and "like" it right now!
- Memorial Day weekend... barbecues, John Wayne, apple pie and all that good stuff. But for horror fans, we cannot forget the insane trifecta of birthdays that occur each year as well. For on that blessed day, May 27, three icons of our genre celebrate the anniversaries of their birth (well, the two living ones do, anyway.) In case you never knew, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Linnea Quigley all share the same birthday (albeit in different years, naturally). One wonders what the significance of that day might be. One also wonders what would've happened if they had switched some of their roles. I personally would've loved to see Mr. Price take on Linnea's graveyard dance from Return of the Living Dead...
Can I just say that a lot has happened in my self-imposed exile? I've seen a whole bunch of movies, and done something I haven't done in years--kept my opinions to myself. That's all going to change now, of course. For starters, I happened to see the Ghost Rider sequel, and I must admit, in spite of Nic Cage being the worst actor alive, it was WAY better than I ever expected it to be. Far better than the original, in fact. Now, if only someone would reboot the Man-Thing franchise, I'd be in horror comics fan heaven.
- Alright, I guess I should comment on all this supposed "zombie-like" activity happening everywhere. First a naked guy spends 18 minutes chewing another person's face off, and then some maniac rips out his own guts and throws them at the cops. Plus, the media has delighted in scouring the police blotters for similar stories so they can create some kind of silly conspiracy mania. The sad thing is, these things probably happen all the time, we just don't really hear about them. People--regular, boring ordinary human beings--are for more horrifying and potentially evil than any made-up creatures out of scary movies. And that's all this is. But if you needed me to tell you that, then I feel for you, buddy. Go stand in the shallow end of the gene pool--you're taking up valuable space.
The League of Tana Tea Drinkers, a fine association of horror bloggers of which I'm a founding member, now has a kickass presence on Facebook, so I figured I'd pass it along. If you're interested in checking out some of the greatest horror blogs out there, it's a great place to catch it all in one place.
- I find myself living right down the street from a movie theater these days (two, actually), and there's not a night that goes by that I'm not tempted to walk down there, especially when there's a decent horror flick showing. I recently missed catching The Raven, and now The Chernobyl Diaries is calling my name...
- I am the proud father of a 10-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy. The girl's favorite horror film is Drag Me to Hell, and the boy's favorite horror film is The Shining. And that's what happens when your Dad runs The Vault of Horror.
Prometheus is now mere days away... For my money, the horror event of the year. Granted, I haven't even seen it yet, but you have Ridley Scott returning to the Alien "universe"... and to explain the origin of the Space Jockey, no less. The Captain and I will be there with proverbial bells on. Care to join us?
- Speaking of the Captain and I, we've got some big things on the horizon. Firstly, there is the 3rd annual Village Invasion, which looks to be bigger and badder than ever thanks to an exciting partnership with one Neil Smoller, whose Village Apothecary is now officially sponsoring the event. Check Cruella's Crypt for more info on that.
- We've also got the first-ever Zombie Cruise shaping up for January! We're working with a major cruise line to make this happen, and once we've got all the details firmed up, we'll be passing the info along. But you can expect movies, zombie swag, and of course what would a Zombie Cruise be without a zombie crawl on deck?
In short, thanks to everyone who bore with me through this little break. Life has gotten a lot busier, and I can't guarantee I'll always be able to post as often as I used to in the old days. But you can rest assured that The Vault of Horror is back. And I'll keep giving you all I've got, Vault dwellers, as long as you keep coming back for more.
I'm very excited to announce that the fourth and final chapter of my long-running series of Godzilla discussions with Miguel Rodriguez of the Monster Island Resort podcast is now online, and you can view it here! That's right, I said view it. Miguel and I finally had an opportunity to meet in person last weekend, and recorded this to commemorate the event. A thrilling way to end the series, and I'd like to make it known here that we are now planning a series of podcasts on the Universal monster series--so stay tuned, Vault dwellers...
So I spent an evening with Captain Cruella and my folks watching both versions of The Blob, and now I can't get Burt Bacharach's kitschy Blob theme song out of my head. "Beware of the Blob!"
- I just realized that I did a whole 2012 horror movie preview and left out Tim Burton's Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp. Major lapse right there. So let me officially say right here and now that I am supremely psyched for it.
- I'm hoping to do a top 10 list very soon featuring my favorite haunted house movies. I have lots of ideas, needless to say. What might you include on such a list?
SyFy has this new show called Face Off, in which aspiring movie makeup effects people compete. On the season premiere, they were asked to "reinvent" the characters from The Wizard of Oz. So of course, they had to go all dark and twisted and give everything a horror spin. I can understand one team deciding to do this, but both? Yeesh, I love horror as much as the next guy, Lord knows--but there comes a time when you need to lighten up, people. It's The Wizard of Frakkin' Oz for crying out loud...
- Another Friday the 13th has come and gone. Once again I had to endure legions of my fellow horror fans going on and on about a series of films that I seem to be in the decided minority for not really liking at all. It has to be nostalgia, that's the only thing that could explain such mass delusion.
- The new Nosferatu at 90 series that I kicked off earlier this week seems to be getting a really great response. So nice to see such a classic still appreciated by so many. Thanks to everyone who checked it out. It will be a lot of fun exploring different aspects of the film over the course of its 90th anniversary year.
OK. Only one more Twilight movie to go. We can get through this together, people. All holding hands and supporting each other. It will all be over soon. Keep the faith, my friends.
- In other news, The Vault of Horror has been nominated in Dead Lantern's Splatcademy Awards for Best Horror Blog/Website for the second year running. I'm honored to be included alongside such incredible sites as Arrow in the Head, Horror-Movies.ca, Final Girl and Shock Till You Drop. Go and cast your vote now--The Vault took home the prize last year; will it be two in a row? The voting ends February 20, with winners announced February 27.
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Speaking of awards, the 4th Annual Cyber Horror Awards are already in motion, and I've recruited a stellar band of judges to help me determine the nominees for the best in horror film during 2011. I should have the list of nominees ready by early next month, so sit tight and keep checking the CHA website...
Has anyone ever noticed an unusual preponderance of mute female characters in Hammer films? I'm thinking the Brits must like their women silent. If anyone else has a better explanation, I'm all ears.
- 'Tis the season to watch Christmas movies, and as I lay here taking in the classic It's a Wonderful Life on NBC, I can't believe I never noticed before how closely it resembles a feature-length Twilight Zone episode...albeit with a much more upbeat finale.
- I've got to give a positive review to Troll Hunter, which I finally got the chance to see recently. A very interesting concept, although I take issue with the way in which the filmmakers felt the need to perpetuate the whole myth about trolls smelling the blood of Christian men, while scientifically debunking all other troll-related folklore. That seemed a bit incongruous. Still, all in all, an ingenious film I recommend highly.
I'm surprised that my recent Vault poll to determine the favorite Abbott & Costello horror comedy after A&C Meet Frankenstein resulted in A&C Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff as the winner. While I enjoy all their flicks, I just didn't think Bud & Lou were at their best in that one. Maybe it was because Karloff was such a minor player in the movie, but I personally find A&C Meet the Invisible Man, A&C Meet the Mummy, A&C Meet Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and Hold That Ghost! to all be superior.
- Speaking of my second favorite comedy duo (sorry, but Laurel & Hardy rule all), a recent viewing of A&C's horror comedies got me thinking... Can you imagine if the boys were around today, and making movies like Abbott & Costello Meet Jason, or Abbott & Costello Meet Pinhead? I can see it now... "We will tear your soul apart!" "Ohhhhh CH-CHICK!!!"
It truly was a blissful experience hosting the one and only Psycho at the Avon Theatre in Stamford with Captain Cruella. As I said that night, Hitchcock's masterpiece is not just a mere cult horror classic, but one of the finest motion pictures ever made, period. It's one of those movies that's a joy to watch from beginning to end. Now I just need to get the Universal 50th anniversary DVD release...
- I'd like to wish a belated happy 10th birthday to the VoH's cutest little correspondent, my dear little Zombelina. At her birthday party a couple weeks ago, I took it upon myself to entertain the pajama-clad fifth graders with a screening of the original House on Haunted Hill, my girl's favorite horror movie. Not a bad follow-up to last year's Brides of Dracula, wouldn't you say?
And speaking of pint-sized Vault of Horror contributors, I'm proud to say that my other progeny, Skeleton Jack, has at long last started up his very own blog, and I'd appreciate it if you went over and gave it a look. It's called Jack's Movie Town, and wouldn't you know it, his first two movie reviews are for horror flicks. I guess it's that whole apple/tree thing...
- Captain Cruella and I were recently asked to be the subjects of a most interesting and evocative cemetery photo shoot in the wiles of Staten Island. Through the talents of photographer Laura Pennace, we were transformed into a couple of star-crossed ghostly lovers. Best of all, it gave me a chance to play dress-up, which I always appreciate. Take a gander at the full photo shoot right here...
It's almost the end of the year, which means it's already time to start thinking about the Cyber Horror Awards. Can you believe it? The first-ever horror movie awards voted on by online critics is now proudly entering its fourth year, and I'll be recruiting some judges to help me with nominations shortly. Then it goes out to all you blogger folk to vote on the best of 2011. Stay tuned, as nominations will probably be announced some time in early February...
- Also on the horizon: If you're in the New York area for Halloween weekend, I'll be giving a talk on horror and religion at 92YTribeca on Friday night, October 28. Join me and Rabbi Dan Ain for some dinner and discussion on zombies, vampires and the Torah! More info to come...
Speaking of Halloween... yes, it's already well on the way once again. Amazing how that happens, isn't it? We're preparing this year by watching our fill of classic monster movies with the kiddies. We recently kicked things off with The Invisible Man, and there are plans to continue with Hammer's The Mummy and Creature from the Black Lagoon. How are you preparing?
- But wait, it's not just about classic flicks... Because we've got our very own mad monster party planned for Halloween weekend. Donuts on strings, ghost stories, costumes and all that good stuff. Pictures sure to follow. No promises, but I may even break out my long-awaited Rocky Balboa costume...
Joining me for the party preparation this year is Captain Cruella, whose already legendary Village Invasion looms once more. There will more info to come, but if you are unaware, it's New York's most anticipated zombie crawl, and this will be the second year running. For my part, I plan to be hosting a screening of The Evil Dead (yes, I know it's not a zombie movie, calm down, fanboy) at Sugartown Vintage Boutique right in the heart of Saugerties. It all happens Saturday night, October 22. Can't wait for this one...
Am I talking too much about myself this time out? Too bad. Because I am also proud to announce that John Kenneth Muir's soon-to-be-published book Horror Films of the 1990s will feature a whole bunch of entries by yours truly. I was invited by the illustrious Mr. Muir some time ago to contribute a whole slew of reviews of '90s horror flicks, and am thrilled to soon see them in print. I invite you to do the same.
- I recently had the honor of appearing remotely--through the miracle of Skype--at the Horror Realms convention in Pittsburgh, as part of a horror blogging panel that also including the Rondo Hatton Award-winning blogger Max Cheney (a.k.a. The Drunken Severed Head). Always a pleasure to discuss something so near and dear to my heart. I hope to eventually have video of the panel to post right here...
In case you haven't noticed, The Vault has recently undergone a bit of a makeover. Not that there was anything wrong with it (other than taking 48,765 hours to load), but the time had come to spruce things up a bit. Kind of like how they refitted the Enterprise before the first motion picture and added those fancy nacelles and everything. So anyway, please let me know what you think.
We recently had the chance to watch Madhouse on FEARNet. No, not the Madhouse with Vincent Price and Peter Cushing. The Madhouse with Lance Henriksen and Natasha Lyonne. Yeah...I felt the same way.
- My recent viewing of The Human Centipede 2 (more to come on that at a later date) got me thinking about how awesome it would be if someone made a movie called The Centipedal Human, about a guy who stitches together a bunch of centipedes in the shape of a person. Huh..? Huh..? Awesome, right? Shut up, you know it would be.
- If you haven't done so recently, or if you never have at all, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the classic Brian Froud/Alan Lee coffee table book, Faeries. I recently took it out from my local library, and I continue to marvel at the rich, evocative illustrations, and how they've influenced so many filmmakers in later years, from Peter Jackson to Guillermo Del Toro and beyond. Beautiful stuff.
And finally, as always, we invite you to come down to the Avon Theatre in Stamford, CT, to take in some of the films in their Cult Classics series, hosted by the Captain and myself. Most recently, we were proud to present John Carpenter's They Live!, which was prefaced by a bit of audio from an interview I did with Roddy Piper himself a few years ago. Plus, there was bubblegum for all! There are plenty of upcoming screenings to choose from, including PSYCHO on December 1! So don't be fruity like Norman's mom--be there.
So Frank Darabont has walked out on The Walking Dead. After six episodes. Forgive me if I've been scarred, but didn't original Walking Dead artist Tony Moore walk away from the comic book after just six issues? And, in my opinion, the book was never the same again. I'm sincerely hoping the same thing isn't going to happen to the show, but I'm finding it very hard to be optimistic...
- At long last, after years of pining under the yoke of Optimum, I have switched to Comcast cable, which means that I now have FearNet. It may not be as glorious as my beloved Monsters HD, but it's still very enjoyable, and I've already managed to take in Fright Night for the first time in years. Actually, I've watched it twice in the past few days. Plus a really boring ghost movie starring Mia Farrow called The Haunting of Julia. Never heard of it before, and I can see why.
Speaking of Fright Night, how odd is it that the movie starred Amanda Bearse and William Ragsdale--who, just a couple of years later, would both find themselves starring in separate sitcoms on the fledgling Fox Network? Ragsdale was the star of the nearly forgotten Herman's Head, while Bearse would of course play the notorious Marcy Darcy on Married with Children. Always found that to be an amusing coincidence...
- Took in Rabid at the Avon Theatre last week, and it still amazes me how far David Cronenberg has come in his directorial career. Some people may call him a sellout for going from fare like Rabid and The Brood to movies like Eastern Promises. I simply call it the mark of a great director.
Caught my son trying to bite my daughter on the neck today. They were trying to find out if it would hurt. I tried to explain that it was very different without sharp fangs involved. Oh well...at least they're learning all the important stuff.
- OK, Star Wars fanatics--and I'm one, don't get me wrong--explain this to me: What's so awful about being slowly digested in the belly of the Sarlacc over a thousand years, when you'd surely suffocate and die within a matter of minutes anyway? Been wondering about that one since 1983.
- True to my word, I've stuck with True Blood after that god-awful Season 4 opener, and I have to say that it has improved. Not quite back to the heights of last season, but it's holding my attention. There are simply too many supernatural creatures running around, and the less said about the fairies, the better. Still, I'm digging the witch storyline, and the Bill/Eric switcheroo is an interesting twist. My love-hate relationship with the series continues.
It just so happens that I currently find myself working for a company whose late founder was the brother of a well-known genre filmmaker. Without naming any names--that ol' Google search can be a real S.O.B.--he was the director behind such pictures as Attack of the 50-Foot Woman and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. In fact, I suspect The Vault may have even helped me land the job, but you didn't hear that from me. Small world, is it not?
I recently landed an interview with legendary horror host Zacherley, which I've been sitting on for some weeks now, just waiting for the right moment to spring it on you, dear Vault dwellers. The one and only Cool Ghoul went in-depth on his storied career, and his opinions of horror past and present. It's a great listen, trust me on that--so keep a lookout for it in the days to come.
- Less than two days remaining until the long-awaited screening of Troll 2 at the Avon. This is promising to be a big one, and I'll even have my own oft-discussed progeny, Zombelina & Skeleton Jack, on-hand to help give away trivia prizes. Do try to join us, as Captain Cruella is even now in the midst of crafting a special Troll 2 goblin replica as a giveaway...
So... True Blood. I've had a love-hate relationship with the show since day one. I thought last season was great, but wasn't really feeling season 2. And I have to say, last week's season premiere left me significantly less than thrilled. I hear that the second episode was a major improvement... I haven't seen it yet, and I will report back when I do. I'll be patient with it, since I've invested so much time in it. But it better win me back soon...
- I'm anxiously anticipated the remake of my favorite horror TV movie ever, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. It's set to be released at the end of the summer, and I have to say, it looks like it will be pretty damn good. Sorry to see that Guillermo del Toro bowed out as director (as he did with The Hobbit, damn it...), but at least he's still very much involved with the project. Those little buggers in the fireplace freaked me out as a kid--I can only imagine what they will be like this time.
I'd like to recommend an especially amazing anthology I acquired a while back. It's Vintage Crime's The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published. Boy, does this tome ever live up to its name, with stories ranging from the pre-Dracula days all the way up to the present, by everyone from Bram Stoker, D.H. Lawrence and H.P. Lovecraft to Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. Oh yeah, and there's a preface by Neil Gaiman and foreword by Kim Newman. It's pretty impressive, and is also inspiring me to pick up Vintage Crime's Big Book of Adventure Stories, featuring some damn fine pulp reprints.
- Is it too early to start thinking about Halloween? I know for me it isn't. I'm already contemplating what I'm going to be this year (I may finally be dusting off that Rocky Balboa robe and trunks I've been sitting on for a few years now.) I can tell you that Zombelina and Skeleton Jack will be taking on traditional colonial garb this year. And of course, Captain Cruella will be Captain Cruella, just in time for the second annual Village Invasion. What costume plans do you have?
- Let's jump from Halloween to Christmas, shall we? Wondering what might be on the Vault Keeper's list to Santa? Well, there are quite a few horror-related items I've had my eye on for some time now, including: John Carpenter's The Thing on DVD (no, I don't own it), Universal's Wolf Man Legacy DVD set, the recent deluxe release of Psycho, Season 1 of The Walking Dead of course, and the Karloff/Lugosi Legends of Horror collection, just to name a few movie selections. And for my bookshelf? The Stoker Award-winning Final Exits, The Zen of Zombie, my pal Paul Bibeau's acclaimed book Sundays with Vlad, and the most excellent recent book on the Return of the Living Dead series, just to name a few...
My recent encounters with restless spirits at the apparently haunted Sterling Opera House in Derby, CT has got me thinking... How many of you really and truly believe in ghosts? Do you think I'm wacked after reading the first part of my report from the scene? How do you explain such phenomena? The intersection between horror and the paranormal has long fascinated me, and I'd like to get your take on the subject.
- If you could add another monster cereal to General Mills' classic collection, what would it be? Honey Hunchbacks? Zombie Bites? Kong Crunch, perhaps?
- I'm very pleased to announce that last year's post on Catholic themes in Italian zombie cinema has been accepted for publication in an academic volume on the subject of theology and the undead. I'll have more information on this as it progresses, as I'll need to rework and expand the piece before it can be included. But I'm excited and honored that my work will be spotlighted in this way, as that particular post is one of which I am especially proud.
You can call it Kevin Geeks Out About Evil Children. This coming Thursday, starting at 8pm at 92YTribeca in NYC, Friend of the Vault Kevin Maher will be presenting a double-feature of Don't Go to Sleep and The Children, two classics of the "scary kid" subgenre. The Captain and I would love to be a part of that, as we support all that Mr. Maher does...but alas, we will be elsewhere that evening...
- Where we'll be is the Avon Theatre in Stamford, CT--and if you're unable to make it to 92YTribeca, then by all means come down to that historic little theater for a screening of the awesome '70s nature-gone-amuck flick, Alligator! As always, we'll be doing trivia giveaways, and introducing the film. It should be a blast, and we're looking forward to hopefully seeing some of you Vault dwellers there.