The Horror Gazette

[Mortis]

I figured I'd make one big thread for horror news instead of spamming the general forum with a bunch of different theads.

ZOMBIE HONEYMOON: Till undeath do you part

"Forget AMERICAN WEDDING—horror fans will want to attend the ZOMBIE HONEYMOON, an indie feature currently rolling in New Jersey. Christina Reilly, who is producing the movie with writer/director David Gebroe, tells Fango, “It’s about a couple who go on their honeymoon, only for the man to get attacked out on the beach. It’s later revealed that he was attacked by a zombie, and now he has become one too, unbeknownst to himself and the people around him.”

While that moniker and the basic storyline might suggest a spoof, Reilly asserts, “The only thing campy about the film is the title; it’s played as a very serious drama of how this couple copes with one of them becoming the undead. We’re treating it as more of an illness, a degenerative disease. The main actors are Tracy Coogan and Graham Sibley as the couple, and there’s a cop played by Neal Jones, who was in DEVIL’S ADVOCATE as the character Al Pacino morphs into at the end. The makeup FX are being done by Joe Macchia, who’s doing a great job.

“This was inspired by a true story,” Reilly reveals. “The director’s sister was married a few years ago, and her husband died tragically in a surfing accident. Dave wrote this script basically for her, and he made it a horror film because they were raised on genre movies—their mom would sneak them in when they were 7.” ZOMBIE HONEYMOON, which is shooting on 24p high-definition video, will be represented for distribution by Cinetic, a new company run by independent film veteran John Sloss."

http://fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=1301

[Mortis]

CONJURING UP GORE IN THREE DIMENSIONS

"Blood Feast II's imminent release on dvd seems to be just the tip of the crimson iceberg signaling a return of all things H.G. Lewis. The godfather of gore may not necessarily be taking another spin through the grindhouse, but his films are being prepared for some modern updates.

Trans-Pacific Media, in association with Sick-O-Scope Motion Pictures, is going to produce five - count 'em 5! - Lewis remakes. Financing hasn't been locked in stone...yet.

Each film will be shot for under a million and in 3-D. Yowza, you're gonna practically taste those guts. Jeremy Kastan of Sick-O-Scope also revealed that all the films will concurrently be filmed in 2-D as well.

First up in the remake grinder: Wizard of Gore. This'll be followed by Blood Feast (?!), She-Devil on Wheels, Color Me Blood Red, and Gruesome Twosome.

Kastan and his producing partners on Wizard of Gore last ventured into genre territory with The Attic Expeditions starring Jeffrey Combs. I'm sure when the actual financing comes in we'll be hearing more about these projects. Keep checking back with the Corner for updates."

http://www.creature-corner.com/news3/aug05lewisremakes.php3

[Mortis]

HELP THE UNDEAD

"For the past few months, there's a good chance you've heard a lot of rave reviews about the Australian zombie flick 'Undead' (review), and chances are you're dying to see it. If you live in the U.S., Lions Gate has got your back on that front, but what about those of you in the U.K.?

On the message boards for Sex Gore Mutants, the boards' moderator, Al Sex Gore, has posted a cry for help to get the film released in the U.K. Seems a distributor with a great global reputation for releasing good horror is very close to nabbing 'Undead' for a theatrical/DVD release, but aren't really sure the fans want it. Dare I ask; are they insane?

Adele, director of the Dead By Dawn film festival, has decided to take matters into her own hands, and is collecting e-mails from fans of the film and the genre to send to said distributor in the hopes they will realize how crazy they'd be to pass this one up. If you live in the UK, simply send your e-mail to her (here) and shout it from the mountains; We want good zombie films again!

They've only got until August 7th before the company makes a decision, so be quick about it!"

http://www.creature-corner.com/news3/aug05undead.php3

[MapleBob]

Re the story on the H. G. Lewis remakes:

Are they going to recreate things like the plastic on the floor of the restaurant where the girl comes apart in Wizard?

:fire: Arg! my head wants to explode!

[mcchrist]

Each film will be shot for under a million and in 3-D. Yowza, you're gonna practically taste those guts. Jeremy Kastan of Sick-O-Scope also revealed that all the films will concurrently be filmed in 2-D as well.

In regards of the story: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek1: :eek1: :eek1:

I have no idea what to say, seriously.

[Mortis]

ELI WANTS YOU TO GET SHAVED

"We've all been hearing how out and out disturbing and grotesque 'Cabin Fever' is by the lucky few that have seen it. Unfortunately, the trailers put together by Lions Gate haven't really given us an idea of just how nasty it will be, but it's director, Eli Roth, has.

He's taken some footage from the film, the much-touted "shaving scene", and put it together in a quick little trailer available exclusively on the iFilm website. I've watched it, and I can attest that it's quite nasty, certainly not for the squeamish.

But don't take my words for it, check it out here to see for yourself. 'Cabin Fever' opens everywhere September 12th."

http://www.creature-corner.com/news3/aug05cabinfever.php3

[Mortis]

DEAD END

"Starring Ray ('Jeepers Creepers II') Wise, Alexandra ('How To Deal') Holden, Lin ('Detroit Rock City') Shaye, Mick ('The Contract') Cain

Directed by Jean-Baptiste Andrea & Fabrice Canepa

It really does amaze me how some movies just come out of nowhere, from the ether as it were, and just completely knock your ass down. Being so involved in the latest horror news, it's bizarre how a movie as powerful and nearly flawless as 'Dead End' could sneak under what I believe is a pretty powerful radar. But it did, and thank God for that.

Ray Wise stars as Frank, a father taking his family out to their mother's (Shaye) house for Christmas and decides, after 20 years of taking the same route, to take some back roads instead of the interstate. After a minor mishap behind the wheel, his family learns of his decision (since they were all asleep at the time), and the true dynamic of this very dysfunctional group starts to show it's face.

Oh, and a lot of very fucked up things start happening on the road, as well.

When Mr. Wise presented this movie to us at Fantasia, he described it as such; "I play a father that tries to take a shortcut on a Christmas outing". That's pretty much it, and that's all I'm going to let you know about as far as the plot is concerned, because this is truly one of those films that the less you know about it, the better.

Best known for his role as Leland Palmer on 'Twin Peaks', Wise demonstrates his true capacity as an actor in the role of Frank, a man who is none to pleased with his marriage and most likely life in general. He displays a range that I don't think we've ever seen from him before, but if this movie gets out I really hope he begins to get more and more job offers because he richly deserves them. Lin Shaye, as the wife/mother that is just trying to make their family "normal", turns in another excellent performance that also displays a wide variety of skills when it comes to being in touch with the human psyche. These two steal the show, and when you have a film that is essential five characters in a very confined space, it's important to have two (at the very least) that bring a level of talent and professionalism to the table.

One of more powerful accomplishments of 'Dead End' is it's blend of real white-knuckle fear with actual living, breathing humor. You know how when you read things about how horror movies always incorporate jokes to ease the tension, but the reality is it usually serves to cheapen the overall film? Not here, friends. The humor is just as well done as the horror, and there is an abundance of both throughout. Yes, some moments of tension are broken up by a joke here or there, but when something truly terrifying or heartbreaking occurs, the filmmakers choose to linger on it long enough so that it sinks in that they are not fucking around with you. They really want to freak you out, and they managed to do so to me many times throughout.

On it's surface, 'Dead End' is a horror film, yes. But when you look at it for all it's layers, all the horrible family dirt that is dragged up during this long drive to grandmother's house, it really is a story about family. It's about the kind of damage secrets can do when they're kept hidden for too long, and that maybe some skeletons are better left inside the closet. While this concept may turn you off to the film after what I've described thus far trust me, it only helps to make the characters' peril that much more beliveable and finger chewing. That's right, beyond nail-biting...FINGER chewing. It's always been said that it's easier to be scared for a character if you feel you know him or her well, and the filmmakers very much believed that to be the case.

In a time when studios are trying for bigger and bigger budgets and stars to try and scare American audiences, a small film like 'Dead End' sneaks in and manages to floor pretty much everyone that's seen it. When it premiered at the Brussels Fantasy Film Festival, it won the Public Prize hands down after scaring almost every audience member, and it's premiere at Fantasia accomplished pretty much the same. The only real gripe I had with the film was the ending, but when you have so many strange, inexplicable occurrences, it's hard to end the film in a way that will please all audiences. Besides, it's not about the last, say, five minutes, it's about the preceding 80 that will hopefully remind you what it's like to be scared by a good story, excellent characters, and a very simple premise."

http://www.creature-corner.com/reviews/deadend.php3

[Mortis]

'Win a Chance to be in 'Halloween 9'

"Want to be in Halloween 9 as an extra? Now here's your chance! Head on over to Halloweenmovies.com for details on how to enter. Basically you need to make a three minute video and submit it. Halloween 9 is currently in the scripting process."

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/index.php?Show=320&Template=newsfull

http://www.halloweenmovies.com/tony/H9_Contest/main.html

[Mortis]

EXCLUSIVE: FREDDY VS. JASON VS....ASH?

"On the eve of the release of New Line's "Freddy Vs. Jason," it should come as no surprise to discover that the grinding wheels of development are already hard at work on concepts for the next film in the inevitable "Freddy & Jason" franchise.

Reliable sources have revealed that one of the current ideas being tossed around includes a scenario where Freddy and Jason would team-up against a common enemy: Bruce Campbell as Ash from the "Evil Dead" films. As crazy as it might sound, this concept has apparently been met with a great deal of enthusiasm in the upper-echelons of New Line Cinema. (Not to mention the degrees of separation: "FvsJ" producer Sean S. Cunningham directed Campbell in last years "Terminal Invasion" for the SciFi Channel.)

While it's impossible to predict what sort of "unknowns" might prevent this concept from seeing the light of day (like, say, the rights holders of the "Evil Dead" series or Campbell himself saying no) it's interesting to know that New Line is at least considering what could turn out to be many a fanboy's dream team-up "plus one" for the not-to-distant future...

...stranger things have happened. Just remember, you heard it here first."

http://www.creature-corner.com/news3/aug11fvsj.php3

[Mortis]

SET VISIT: TOBE HOOPER'S THE TOOLBOX MURDERS PART 2

http://www.creature-corner.com/columns/toolboxsetvisit2.php3

[MapleBob]

Originally posted by Mortis
EXCLUSIVE: FREDDY VS. JASON VS....ASH?



More proof, posted elsewhere on this forum, of my theory that the Universe ended sometime ago and as it gets smaller and smaller it feeds on itself at a more frenzied rate.

Dance while you still can, people. The dance floor isn't getting more crowed, it's just getting smaller.

[Mortis]

MORE INFO FROM THE DEAD

"As much as I hate to acknowledge the film is even happening, it's inevitable that we're going to have to continue talking about the 'Dawn of the Dead' remake until the film is finally released. Kind of like 'Halloween 9' was for me, I guess it's just a necessary evil.

More information has surfaced from the area of Wet 'N Wild radio, whom we showed you a while ago had some cool behind-the-scenes pics from the movie. Apparently the script penned by 'Scooby Doo' writer James Gunn (review) is not really being used all that much. Some of the more key elements that made the script stink up whatever room it was in have been discarded, and the films' setting has been officially announced (by the director to said scooper) as Milwaukee, WI, a city I'm pretty sure is already overrun with the living dead as it is.

Our scooper also tells us he's learned all the zombies will be real makeup effects, not the 'Resident Evil' trick of CGI-ing half of someone's head away, unless there is a massive group shot of the dead in which case they'll be using CG. That's good to hear, but again we have to take it all with a grain of salt. More rumors and strange things keeps surfacing on a daily basis concerning this remake, more so than any other movie I can remember since 'The Ring' Americanization.

One thing we do know is there is someone damn close to the set getting all these pics, so the likeliness of some of this information's legitimacy is slightly higher for that. Check out more pics like the one above right here."

http://www.creature-corner.com/news3/aug12dod.php3

[steve_p]

Thanks for the news.