The Devil's Chair (2006)

The Devil's Chair follows the story of Nick west who after taking his girlfriend out for a crazy LSD induced night with in the walls of a deserted asylum, finds himself accused of her brutal murder and is shipped off to a mental hospital. Years later a doctor who is writing a book decides to take Nick back to the scene of the grisly murder along with some other students to find out the truth about what happened that night.

It's very rare that after I watch a horror movie these days that I'm totally blown away and speechless. But The Devil's Chair did just that too me, for anyone who has become jaded and heartbroken with what horror has become in the eyes of the mainstream, it will remind you of all the reasons you fell in love with the genre to begin with. This movie has it all a well written and acted script, beautiful special effects, and a ending that will leave you running the entire film over and over through your mind as if it's stuck on repeat for weeks to come.

It's really sad that a movie like this did not see a nationwide theater release as it would have been a very fun and intense experience on the big screen. And I believe audiences would of left very happy with what they paid too experience something that I'm sure a lot of today's mover goers don't have the pleasure of saying too often. If you have not seen this film it should be added to the top of your too watch list. Adam Mason does a wonderful job at keeping your attention and makes it all worth your while when it comes to the end leaving you satisfied and lost in a state that can only be described as pure horror bliss.

The special effects and overall setting in this movie is beautiful. The blood and gore are realistic and the kills are very intense. I was very impressed with the way this movie was filmed, at first when I was going into this movie I was expecting something along the lines of the quality you'd find in most B horror movies. But I was very wrong the special effects and overall visuals of this movie are on par with what you see Hollywood churning out these days.

But unlike Hollywood horror your also blessed with a mind blowing story that's backed up with very solid and believable acting. The dialog in this movie at times is very thought provoking and really makes you take into consideration what the main character is saying. I was highly impressed with the writing in this movie, something I don't get to say about to many horror movies these days.

In the end when all is said and done and I think back to the experience I had while watching this movie I believe it deserves the rating of 9 out of 10 and a spot on my list of important horror movies to see before you die.

9/10

- Ritualistic

Mutants (2009)

Two good zombie flicks in a row? Is that even mathematically possible? Leave it to the French to quench my bloodlust. After being pleasantly surprised by "La Horde" I decided to pop in another new French zombie film titled "Mutants." Low and behold, I was surprised once more.

"Mutants" opens with a furious, and bloody escape in an ambulance already in progress. We're introduced to our 2 main characters, Sonia, and Marco, and a french military woman whom I don't believe we are ever given a name for. Sonia, and Marco are paramedics(hence the ambulance) who are somehow put in the position to be on the run from a horde of zombies. Apparently, there's a short film that director David Morlet filmed as a way to sell Mutants as a feature. I personally haven't been able to see it, but I'm told that "Mutants" picks up right where the short leaves off. Low on gas, and injured, our main characters hold up in what appears to be an abandoned hospital, or something similar.

"Mutants" is a different type of film than "The Horde" was. Where the latter was more of an action/horror flick, the former sort of follows the old school romero'esque path of survival/horror. Also, it's titled "Mutants" for a reason. It appears that our zombies actually mutate, instead of just getting up and walking after they have died. If you pay attention, I think you'll notice some extra nostril holes on our undead, among other subtle differences. There is no difference in how the virus is spread, and they don't go into enough details to actually separate the mutants from zombies, so to me, it's still a zombie movie.

Some subtle uses of CG are noticeable, but they did such a good job of blending it in with the practical stuff that unless you're really looking for it, you won't notice. The cinematography in this film is outstanding. The opening scene alone is worth the price of the DVD, and there are several extremely clever camera gags throughout the entire film.

The gore is good, and plentiful in this movie, so if you like your zombie flicks violent, have no fear, Mutants is here! I really wish that mainstream horror directors in the states had half the balls as the directors from over seas. When was the last time you saw a good zombie movie at the theater? Unfortunately, unless you live in one of the 2 major cities in the states, it's almost impossible to catch these french flicks on the big screen. Be thankful for DVD, I guess. If you're starving for a zombie movie like I was after the past several let downs, Give Mutants a shot, I believe there's something to love for every genre fan.

8/10

The Horde (2009)

I've been looking forward to "La Horde" for the better part of a year now. I love modern french horror. Movies like Brotherhood of the Wolf, Haute Tension, Inside, and Martyrs puts to shame most American horror, so when I heard a modern french Zombie film was on it's way, I was immediately excited.

"The Horde" has some flaws at it's core. We're never really explained why our cops are storming this abandoned building in search of a "bloodbath" and if it was explained, it must have been lost in translation. Be that as it may, the pacing saves it. We follow a group of cops, who are apparently out for revenge. As they attempt to surprise their intended victims with a blast charge to the door, a shotgun blast interrupts their plans. Now, our cops are being held captive by our supposed villain. Before things get the opportunity to go down between the two groups, we're introduced to the zombies.

The film is a brisk watch, with the zombie action starting around the 20 minute mark, what little flaws that exist within the plot are never given a chance to materialize. Sure, we don't exactly understand why the cops wanted these guys dead so bad, but you don't care, because what's happening on screen is so exciting. The action is intense, and at times, downright insane. One of the craziest characters is Rene, some sort of war veteran, who we're first introduced to while he's chopping a pile of zombies to pieces with a giant axe. Rene is also responsible for the very few scenes of comic relief throughout the flick, as well as one of the bloodiest hallway bloodbath I've ever seen. While the entire film is pretty exciting, the last 10 minutes or so are so action packed that it's hard to consume all at once.

It appears that there was some minor usage of CG, alongside some practical effects. Unlike my usual reaction, it didn't bother me. It wasn't obscenely over-the top, and it was used tastefully. While there is loads of gun violence, there's also, oddly enough, a lot of hand to hand combat. This might sound silly, but I think it was effective, because we all know the only thing that stops a zombie is a head shot. So no matter how vicious of a beating our survivors lay on the undead, they just keep coming, and actually become more determined.

If you are a fan of french horror, and zombie films, you owe it to yourself to check "The Horde" out. After the supreme disappointment that was "Survival of the Dead" fans of the genre are due a good zombie film, and "The Horde" delivers. It's ten times the film that "Survival" even aspired to be. I don't mean to keep beating up on Romero's latest, but it's one of my biggest disappointments as of late, and I was glad to see a good zombie film for a change in "The Horde"

7/10

Someone's Knocking at the Door

3 words: Raped to Death Interested yet?

4 more words: Psychedelic & Positively Psychotic!!!!!

I LOVE it when independent horror filmmakers (In this case Chad Ferrin, director of Easter Bunny Kill Kill, The Ghouls, & Unspeakable; who climbed the Troma ranks) grace us with something that, not only puts Hollywood horror to shame, but kicks it's face in, and pisses in the pulpy cavity where its skull used to be.

The director, in an effort to obtain actors said, and I quote, "We're making a movie that fucks the facebook generation in the face". And by the love of whatever dark deity you worship he did just that.

Creepy villains, excellent acting (Noah Segan & Timothy Muskatell are always a pleasure), brilliant direction, mind-bending technique, a psychedelic rock 'n' roll soundtrack, and a set of weapons that will drop your jaw between your knees.

If you haven't already starting nailing the "add to cart" "save to queue" button, here's the plot: A group of drug-addled sex-smitten med. students come across a pair of serial killers who rape their victims to death with a giant mutant bozak (15 inches long, 4 inches in diameter), and a man-eating bajingo. Serial killers who have traveled from beyond the grave via astral projection due to an experimental drug. Sound up your alley?!

MORAL OF THE STORY:

When opportunity knocks.... bolt the door, & board the windows.

ALSO RECOMMENDED:

Easter Bunny Kill Kill, The Ghouls, Unspeakable, Bad Biology, Red Velvet, Teeth.

Horror is not dead: Indie horror flicks that you should own.

If you'll look back at the last few years, at horror that has been released theatrically, you'll see an alarming trend. For the most part, we're treated with bland Hollywood remakes, of recently released foreign horror, or rehashes of past American cult classics. Every now and then, a decent, original horror film slips through the cracks, and makes it to the big screen. Sadly, these rare films are usually not met with the same ticket sales as the next big rip-off. A well versed onlooker may think that Hollywood is trying to kill the horror genre, and succeeding. While the mainstream horror movie is all but dead, the indie horror scene is thriving, and needs your support.

Some of the most important horror films, not only of the past decade, but of all time have been independent from the Hollywood structure. Unfortunately, outside of festivals, these movies are usually dumped direct to DVD. What can you do to help, you ask? The first step is abstaining from flocking to the theater to see the 32nd Saw film, or this month's obscure remake of horror history. The best way to speak out is to use your wallet. Be choosy of the films you see at the cinema, if you have a choice that is. If you have a choice, between another remake, or something different, see something different instead. The next thing you can do is spend money on indie horror on DVD. For me, I've almost stopped going to the theater, as it's not worth it most times. I do, however have a massive DVD collection. A lot of which is indie horror. It's easy to keep up with if you read your favorite horror site(Which is hopefully us) add a few news feeds to your google home page, so that every time you open your browser, you see what's new in indie horror.

Below, is a list of independent horror films that you should go out of your way to purchase. The list is in no particular order. Feel free to share your own indie must-haves in our comment section, or on our facebook group.

Splinter.

Splinter took me by surprise. For some reason, it slipped through my radar. I caught it on Time Warner On-Demand back before it was released to DVD. I wasn't expecting much, but it was around Halloween, and I was wanting a horror movie to watch. From start to finish, I was completely drawn-in to Splinter. It's unique take on the "Body Snatchers" style of horror left me in awe of this little indie that could. One thing that makes this movie stand out amongst other body snatcher style films is the setting, and the cinematography. It's very claustrophobic, set in mostly one, small location. Director Toby Wilkins, whom oddly went on to direct The Grudge 3(One of the better, but still bad Grudge films) could create some great indie horror classics, if given the proper support. Add to that, Shea Wigham's stellar performance, and that scores Splinter a spot as a must-own for any horror fan.




End of the Line.

End of the Line is a Canadian horror film from 2007. It went by pretty much unnoticed by all. The only way I can describe this film is that it's a religious slasher/survival horror type of movie. It's not religious as in it preaches a religious message, but the antagonists are a religious cult, that has vowed to rid the world of sinners. Much like Splinter, most of End of the Line is set in one location, a subway system. This adds a layer of claustrophobia to an already tense film. While the film does have a few flaws, for the most part it's a solid example of indie horror done right. It's tense, the pacing is tight, the kills are good, most of the special effects are practical, and the acting, for the most part suits the movie. If you live near one of the closing Movie Gallery, or Hollywood Video locations, every one of those stores I've been to has had a copy or two of this film for 5 bucks at the most. It's well worth that price, and is strongly recommended that you add this one to your collection. If you're constantly on the look out for hidden gems, End of the Line will not disappoint.



Alien Raiders.

Alien Raiders is cursed with such a ridiculous name, most people pass it up in fear of it being another terrible SyFy original. This is definitely not the case with this one. Don't let the silly name fool you, Alien Raiders is another solid example of a great, overlooked indie horror classic. Starring Carlos Bernard, better known as Tony, from TV' 24, Alien Raiders is another "Body Snatchers" style sci-fi/horror film. Set mostly in a small grocery store, the action never lets up. From start to finish, Alien Raiders is tense, and has plenty of well done ooey gooey stuff for the gorehounds out there. All effects appear to be practical, and handled well. The acting is more than apt, and the cinematography does a great job at making you squirm. It's a shame that this one flew by unnoticed, as it was one of the better Horror/Sci-Fi flicks of 2008, in my opinion of course. Don't let the terrible name distract you, I promise you there's a good time waiting for you in Alien Raiders.


Borderland.

Borderland is part of the Afterdark Horror Fest. Some of the films they showcase might not be wonderful, but AfterDark films is certainly on the front line in the fight for indie horror. Bordeland was one of the best of the 8 films that were part of the second annual horror fest. Starring Rider Strong, who's become a cult favorite since his role in Eli Roth's Cabin fever, Borderland involves a group of friends, who have taken a trip to Mexico before they all go their separate ways. Some dismiss Borderland as simple torture porn. Personally, I find that label to be silly, for any movie. We're shown here, the horrible things that humans do to other humans. There is no supernatural force in Borderland. It's just people, being cruel to people for personal gain. The pacing is one of the best things about the movie. It get's started quick, doesn't linger,and doesn't have the ever popular twist for the sake of twists that's become a staple of modern films of this nature. It's quick, and dirty, just the way I like it. If you missed this one, pick it up on the cheap, it's definitely worthy of being added to your collection.


Carriers.

Carriers is one that I almost skipped. One of my main prejudices when it comes to film is the PG-13 rating. More times than not, a horror film get's a PG-13, because the studio has given the film makers a strict guideline to adhere to. I feel this waters films down, and hinders the artistic vision of it's makers. Sometimes, of course, there are exceptions to the rule, and Carriers is one of them. The film is an excellent entry into the post apocalyptic "virus" style films. It's a zombie film without zombies. A virus has ravaged through the earth's population. We follow a group of survivors, as they make their way through the desolate roads in an attempt to find more supplies. One performance that surprised me, was Chris Pine as Brian. His performance alone raises this movie's score significantly. Don't let the PG-13 scare you, there was no holding back in Carriers. Violence, when necessary is not watered down. I'm frankly surprised they even let this one get away with the rating to begin with. If you like post apocalyptic features, Add Carriers to your library. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I've rambled on a little longer than I thought I would, so I'm going to break this up into a multi-part article. Here's 5 independent horror films that any fan of the genre should own. I'll give you some time to go DVD shopping, and be back again with 5 more.

Remember, it's indie horror that's keeping our genre alive, so when given the opportunity, throw some money into the jar. Like I said earlier, nothing speaks louder than the wallet, perhaps, if we pour more money into indie horror, than going each month to reward the current lack of creativity in Hollywood, we'll get a response.

Slices (2008)

I just want to start this review off saying one thing...I love anthology movies growing up watching Tales from the crypt, Monsters, Twilight Zone, and off course movies like creep show and although not horror the amazing stories series I have become a major anthology junkie. But sadly more than half of them completely suck the most recent good one I had seen before watching Slices was Trick R Treat. Now on to my review of the little hidden treasure known as Slices.

As you may of guessed from my little intro there Slices is a anthology of five short stories shown too you through the eyes of an insomniac who has found himself watching a marathon of a horror host television show dubbed "Tales of the macabre" which gave me flash backs to growing up with such people as Elvira and the great Joe Bob Briggs on my television screen introducing me to endless tales of gore and terror. The stories included in this anthology are very original and at the same time pay homage to different styles of horror. You get a little taste of everything from torture horror to classic 80's splatter it's a nice tasting treat for anyone who grew up in the 80's.

Out of the five I really only disliked one but for sake of not tainting your viewing of this movie I've decided to keep the one I didn't to myself I'd really like to hear some others takes on this five shorts, so please feel free to leave comments if you happen to give this film a go. Each of the stories are pretty solid and entertaining they kept my attention the entire two hours and thirty minutes. The make up for the most part was pretty good and graphic at times the only make up I thought was bad was in the fourth story the "monsters" I'll call them so as to not spoil anything look like the members of Cradle of filth, but other than that I came away pleased with the makeup and the gore displayed in this movie.

Overall when the credits rolled I found myself happy with the time I just spent with Slices I'm very picky when it comes to these types of movies and watch everyone I can get my hands on. This is a fun watch for any fan that enjoys good old fashion low budget horror you'll feel like your back in the 80's before it's over having flashbacks of your Megadeth jean jacket and skin tight pants *throws up the devil horns*.

6.5/10

- Ritualistic

Survival of the Dead: Has the world gone mad?

I've already reviewed George Romero's latest entry into his "Dead" saga, but I want to talk about it for a little bit. I've been seeing a lot of overly positive reviews pop up for this flick, including from Dread Central, one of the only mainstream horror sites I usually trust. I've watched the movie twice now, just to make sure I wasn't just in a bad mood during my first viewing, and I still feel the same.

I'm a huge fan of Romero, in fact, my favorite horror film of all time is Day of the Dead. I also think, that while clearly not his best work, that Land of the Dead has been given an unwarranted bad reputation. I feel the same, though not as strongly, about Diary of the Dead. I've actually seen a lot of people put Diary of the Dead on the bottom of a list from good to worst, placing Survival above it. This, to me, is insanity. Yes, Diary is not one of Romero's greatest films, but It's still better than 9/10ths of the other zombie films that have been released as of late. Survival was far too slapstick for me. There were scenes that felt like they were lifted right out of an episode of Road Runner. Zombies riding horses? It's meaning wasn't lost on me. I know that he's been building on to this "Zombies can learn" aspect since the early films, but this was just far too over the top for me.

One of the things that makes Romero's films stand out of the crowd has always been the spectacular special effects. I realize that Savini was responsible for most of this, but I'm sure he was guided by Romero's vision. Survival of the dead features some of the worst CG I've ever seen in a horror film. I realize he's gone back to his indie roots, and is making these films on a tight budget, but it seems like, being the horror icon that he is, he could phone in some favors and have some beautiful practical effects done for his film, for practically nothing. Hell, I know we(The Liberal Dead) would have done it for him for free, and thanked him for the experience. This is the one thing, that in my opinion, makes or breaks a film. There are a lot of flaws that I can forgive in a horror film, but bad special effects is not one of them, especially when you have so many options available to you. It boggles my mind, that as technology advances, effects in movies are beginning to look worse, instead of better. A guy in a rubber suit may sound ridiculous to you, but compare the special effects in a film like "Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer" to something like Survival of the Dead, or Wrong Turn 3, or any of the recently released horror sequels, all but ruined by shoddy FX.

Perhaps I expect too much from Romero. The man is a legend of the genre though, and I don't feel silly expecting more from him as a film maker. I know he has it in him, as his original trilogy are 3 of the most important films in horror history. To watch Day of the Dead, and then watch Survival of the Dead is painful. It's almost as if a completely different director made these two movies. I know people change as the years pass, but I have to believe that George Romero still has that brilliance inside of him. Much like some people believe in Jesus, I believe in Romero. I believe that one day, before he leaves this earth, he'll provide us with one last epic zombie film to end them all. Suffice it to say, Survival of the Dead is not this film. It's not even a decent watch. Romero has been in the horror headlines recently, announcing plans for at least 2 more "Dead" films to end the series, as well as a few other projects. Please George, Please. Take your time. You're getting up there in years, and unfortunately, you won't be with us for much longer. Instead of trying to pump out as many films as you can before you go, why not slow down, and create one last movie. Provide the world with the most epic zombie feature it has ever seen. Wouldn't you rather go out on a legendary note, than fade away with a few last ditch mediocre efforts?

The Red Skulls (2005)

After his best friend is killed by a rival gang Uri, Leader of the The Red Skulls decides to give up gang life before he ends up dead just like his friend. Meanwhile The Red Skulls plan their revenge for the death of a fallen member after Long time Red Skull Lester takes over as leader. After a raid on the rival gangs warehouse The Red Skulls discovered a weird red liquid in jars that when consumed turn the person into blood thirsty murders. Slipped into the gangs booze supplies by one of their own things take a turn for the ultra gory and violent in this entertaining and unique film by the Campbell brothers Andrew and Lucas.

The best way I can describe this movie is Troma meets Gangs of new york with a psychobilly twist and just a dash of The warriors for good measure. I really enjoyed this film it's not your average run of the mill horror flick it has a interesting enough story and moves at a good pace. The acting is nothing special but is made up tenfold with the beautiful practical special effects .

The Gore in this movie is amazing very graphic and raw specially for a low budget movie. The throat slashes in this movie really blew me away and the pure brutality of the last 30 minutes or so of the movie makes it well worth a watch. This movie won't be for everyone if you find yourself mostly only liking the mainstream horror hits then may be disappointed. But if you enjoy experiencing something different then The Red Skulls may well be a hidden treasure for you just as it was for myself.

For you Netflix subscribers The Red Skulls is also currently available via Instaview so if you're in the mood for some good old fashion violence and gore queue The Red Skulls and bask in the showers of crimson that this movie produces. And I should also mention it has a soundtrack that rivals return of the living dead in levels of pure fucking awesome.

7/10

- Ritualistic

The Dead Next Door (1989)

In The Dead Next Door the world has become over ran with zombies, in response the government has created a elite squad with one mission and one mission only to eliminate the zombie menace.

And at the same time defending themselves against a cult of zombie sympathizers that believe that its god's will that zombies take over the earth. When one of their own are bitten it becomes a race to find a cure and ride Akron Ohio of the horde of walking dead.

First off one of my favorite things about this movie when I was a kid and still today was all the horror references and trivia involved with it. In the early beginning of the film be on the lookout for a quick shot of Dawn of the dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Evil Dead, and Creepshow. Also some interesting facts about The Dead Next Door the great Bruce Campbell does unaccredited voice work and was also a audio post-production supervisor. Also producing under the name The Master Cylinder, Sam Raimi was also involved and also the namesake of one of the main characters. There's also characters with the last names Savini and Carpenter.

This movie is not filled with top notch acting or big budget special effects. But what it is filled with is beautiful make up effects and mind blowing zombie gore. This is a true zombie classic that any hardcore horror fan should take the time to experience. It's very Evil Dead like in the respect it's loaded with humorous one liners and a over the top silly plot mixed in with graphic gore. This is no where near a serious movie but it is loads of campy classic 80's horror fun. And once again for you readers with Netflix memberships this film is currently available via instaview so you have nothing to lose and a ton of enjoyment to gain.

8/10

- Ritualistic

Ed Gein : The Butcher of Plainfield (2007)

In Ed Gein : The Butcher of Plainfield the horror icon Kane Hodder takes the role of one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. A man who is the basis for such legendary cinema madmen as Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and let's not forget Leatherface. Gein a real life serial killer who went on a brutal wave of violence in the 1950's when police officers searched his home and found the following items. Human skulls mounted on his bed posts, various things made out of human skin such as lampshades, clothing, and a chair, also in the home police were shocked to find a box of preserved vulvas that Ed admitted to wearing.

I was scrolling through netflix instaview and noticed this little gem, being a huge TCM fan I try to watch every Ed Gein related media I can get my hands on. And as a bonus this one just happens to star the great Kane Hodder of Jason Vorhees and other horror fame. I've heard a lot of complaints about this film not following the facts. And for you who feel this way and think that is reason enough to dub this a bad movie I'd love an example of a based on a true story movie that follows the real life account fact to fact not changing one detail for the sake of making it cinema friendly.

Now with that said and out of the way I enjoyed this film from start to end it reminded me of my childhood and how much fun the 80's slasher genre was. If this film would of been released in that era instead of 2007 it would of seen a theatre release it would also of been a great drive in movie experience. While it does nothing new for the genre it does do a good job at sticking to the old' classic slasher formula of extreme violence and over the top blood and gore delivered in a fashion that can only be described as brutal and unforgiving. The makeup effects in this movie are beautiful a true symphony of screams and blood soaked bodies.

The story may not be 100% accurate but that's no reason to over look this movie. If this film would of had a title that had nothing to do with Ed Gein a lot of the people belittling it due to this fact would probably watched it and came away loving it especially fans of the Friday the 13th series and children of the 80's splatter generation. If you can find a copy of this I recommend you give it a shot and once again for all you Netflix subscribers out there you've nothing to lose as it is currently available for instaviewing I have a feeling it will feel familiar and comfortable for all you long time horror fiends.

7/10

- Ritualistic

Hanger (2009)

Ryan Nicholson's films are some of the most polarizing experiences in motion picture that I've ever seen. For some, they're cinematic gold, taking us back in time to the sleazy 80s. For others, they're annoying, and disgusting. I fall into the former category. While I admit, the first time I saw Live Feed, it didn't leave that much of a lasting impression on me, but it's one of those movies that gets better with each time you watch. The first time I saw Gutterballs, though, I knew I was in for a slobbering love affair with this director. Hanger one-ups Gutterballs with the gross-out factor ten fold. It's vile, and disgusting, and I loved every dirty minute of it.

Hanger is a classic example of a rape/revenge film, only instead of forced sex, our victim, a pregnant prostitute named Rose played by Debbie Rochon, is held down by her cliche pimp, played by Ronald Patrick Thompson, while he forcefully removes her baby with a coat hanger. This sequence is played out in very graphic detail, so if this is something that will bother you, it's best to steer clear of this one. While this act of violence leaves Rose dead, surprisingly, her baby survives. Flash forward 20 or so odd years later, and we're introduced to Hanger, a cruelly named homeless man, with a horribly disfigured face, due to his abrupt delivery via coat hanger. An unnamed man, known only as "The John" due to his love for the ladies of the night, takes Hanger in, gives him a place to stay, a place to work, and tells him to practice killing, because they're about to go on a revenge spree. John was a regular customer for Hanger's mom, and he's fairly convinced that he is Hanger's father. When this toxic father/son duo reunite, the world of prostitution is about to be brought down to it's knees, and ass raped in the name of vengeance.

I can't stress this enough, "Hanger" is not for those with a weak stomach, there are scenes that made me gag a little, and I'm a hardened veteran of trash cinema. There is something in this movie to offend anyone, so just remember, I warned you. The film is not without it's flaws. There are some serious pacing issues, including a 10 minute long graphic female masturbation scene. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed every second of it, but it pretty much brings the film to a complete halt. Some of the performances are pretty ridiculous, but it's forgivable, as you can tell it was done on purpose. Putting in a particularly over the top cameo performance is Lloyd Kaufman, who plays a transvestite prostitute that gets brutalized from trying to come to Rose's aid. The star of the show here is Dan Ellis. Ellis plays the perfect "man with no name" character. I've even mentioned to Nicholson that he needs to direct a spaghetti style western, casting Ellis as the lead. After seeing him in "Hanger" you'll understand why this makes sense.

If you were a fan of "Gutterballs" you may, or may not enjoy "Hanger." I've seen both reactions, and it's hard to gauge. While the charm of "Gutterballs" is still present, it's buried under layers of grit, and grime. If you're obsessed with some of the nastier grindhouse classics, you're in for a dirty little treat. Dump your popcorn out in a bowl so that the empty bag can be used as a barf bag, some of you may need it.

7/10

Sympathy (2007)

I want to start with a disclaimer before we get into things. Sympathy is not going to be for all audiences. It is a very low budget movie, and it shows. If you're looking for a glossy Hollywood thriller, with cookie cutter characters, and a nauseatingly happy ending, you're going to want to put this one back on the shelf. If your trousers become a little shorter at the thought of discovering an unnoticed masterpiece amongst the plethora of blah, you might want to pay attention.

Sympathy, in it's entirety, takes place in one hotel room. After a bank robbery that we're not witnessed to, Trip, played by Steven Pritchard, has taken Sara, played by Marina Shtelen hostage. Trip cuffs Sara to the bed while he maps out a path to Canada, where he intends to catch a plane. After a quick trip out, trip returns to an unexpected visitor, and so the insanity begins. I have to say, even though it's fairly obvious that the film was made on a near nonexistent budget, I enjoyed the look that they accomplished. Sure, it looks cheap, but it looks grainy, and it manages to feel like the exploitation flicks that it's partially paying homage to.

If you had asked me about the acting 15 minutes into the movie, I would have told you that it was just so-so. As the movie progresses, you get a sense for what they're aiming for, and the acting makes sense, and by the end, I was actually pretty impressed. For a cast and crew of virtual unknowns, it's quite an achievement. Particularly well in her role, was Marina Stelen as Sara. At first she's annoying, then the character grows on you, and by the end, you're completely sucked in by her performance.

The camera work is nothing short of amazing. Even though they're limited to one hole-in-the-wall hotel room, they manage to capture the madness from every conceivable angle, and more. One particularly appealing techniques on display here is the split screen, made famous by the television series 24, only instead of showing you what two seperate people are doing at the same time, we're treated with multiple angles of the same scene. Multiple angles of struggling, squirming, and bleeding. It's something that wasn't necessary to advance the story, but serves extremely well at leaving a lasting impression.

Sympathy is the perfect blend of a Hitchcockian thriller, and a straight up exploitation film. It does a perfect job at keeping you guessing, while serving up a few moments of pure splatter. If this is what first time director Andrew Moorman was going for, he's definitely hit his mark. Sympathy, as you can tell by the title of this review, is a film from 2007, but it didn't get picked up for distribution until this year. Thankfully, Vicious Circle, and Breaking Glass Pictures took a chance on this one, otherwise it might have never seen the light of day. My hope is that somebody from some big name studio will see Sympathy, and give Moorman a budget. I think, if given the proper resources, he has the potential to become a next gen master of horror.

8 severed thumbs out of 10

Important films in Horror history: Roots, bloody roots.

I see a lot of people doing top 10 best lists, but it's always been impossible for me. So I've decided to do a series of articles outlining the most important horror films I've ever seen. This isn't a ranking of films, but an examination of what's formed a life long obsession. Feel free to provide any feedback, or share your own list of films you feel have impacted you as a genre fan.

Friday the 13th.

Sure, Friday the 13th isn't an Oscar worthy film, but at the time of it's release, it really felt fresh, especially for mainstream cinema. I was born in 1978, so I was only around 3 or 4 when my Aunt sat me down to watch this piece of horror history. I have vivid memories of my first horror experience, mostly from the (at the time) shocking ending sequence. I can't quite remember if it was on VHS or Betamax that I was given my first slice of horror pie, regardless, I was hooked from that moment on.

A Nightmare On Elm Street.

For most of my childhood, I was absolutely addicted to the Nightmare On Elm Street series. My grandmother has a picture of me, at around 10 or 11 years old, and I'm passed out asleep on her couch, my chest covered with Nightmare on Elm Street VHS tapes. I remember being a kid, going to school dressed as Freddy Kruger for our Halloween costume party. Everyone else was dressed in normal, Saturday morning cartoon fare, and me, full mask, and Freddy Glove. The original Nightmare on Elm Street scared me to tears when I was young. I was afraid to go to sleep. Actually, I don't know if I was afraid to go to sleep, or if I didn't want to because I wanted to continue to watch Freddy, hack and slash teenagers all night long. I've always had a sick sense of humor, even when really young, so Freddy was a natural attraction for me. I'm sure my wife won't agree with it, but I plan on sharing this gem of a film with my son, as soon as he's old enough to enjoy it.

The Last House On The Left.

The Last House On The Left is one of the first films that literally made me sick to my stomach. Even at a young age, I could tell there was something very different about Last House On The Left. There was no supernatural explanation for the terrible things we were witnessing. It was just people, raping, killing, and humiliating other people. It was the first time I realized that the true evil was within ourselves. I think, at the time, the scene where they forced the girl to urinate on herself bothered me more than them ripping her intestines out and playing with them with such disregard for human life. It was clear that the antagonists in this film were aroused by human suffering. Not so much the murder of their victims, as much as knowing they have so much power over them, that they'll literally do anything they tell them to, in order to make a plea for their lives. These are powerful things for a child to feel, even if Last House is a flawed film, it definitely left a lasting impression on me, and I credit it a lot for opening my horror horizons. Hollywood's latest fare was no longer all I was interested in at this point, I would be hitting up my video store for any and all films of this nature that I could get my hands on. For that reason, this film holds a very special place in my heart.

Day of the Dead.

Day of the Dead is my favorite zombie movie. No other film matches it in my mind. It is the benchmark for which I compare all new entries into the sub genre. I feel it has the perfect tone, impeccable pacing, and some of the most beautiful practical effects in horror history. I rented Day of the Dead on VHS when I was a kid, simply because I liked the artwork on the cover. It forever changed my expectations of zombie films, and created a new obsession with brutally graphic special effects.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I love The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's raw, and unnerving. It manages to disgust you, without actually showing much on screen gore. It's the ultimate drive-in movie. Unfortunately, I missed out on seeing this film the way it was intended, but seeing it for the first time on VHS was powerful enough for me. I find the grittiness of this film extremely appealing. TCM created an entirely new sub genre of horror. To this day it's used as a template, and sometimes well. There would be no Wrong Turn without the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

That's it for now. Just a quick list of the films that molded my taste in horror films. I plan on doing further lists of important films, and the reason that they left an impression on me throughout different stages of my life. Till next time, let the blood flow.

Stoic (2009)

After a game of poker takes a turn for the dark side, three inmates find themselves trying to cover up the brutal beating and torture of the fourth inmate in their cell. Stoic, starring Edward Furlong, Shaun Sipos, Sam Levinson, and Steffen Mennekes leads you through the horrible acts, using flashbacks and interview style Q&A with the inmates involved. Stoic is also based on the true story of an inmate from a German juvenile detention center, who was brutalized by fellow cellies.

I had huge doubts going into this movie knowing that it was directed by Uwe Boll, Who's only movies I had been exposed to before this were video game related. The fact that I happen to be a big Edward Furlong fan caused me to give this flick a try. After all, If I was able to sit through the third crow film, I can survive anything. This movie takes every fear a man has about going into the prison system, and rolls it up into one nonstop ride of fear, and uneasiness. The worse case scenario of jail is unfolded in front of you in a very graphic and unforgiving manor. You can really feel the tension rise to higher and higher levels as things continue to spiral further out of control with each passing minute. It's very rare a movie ever makes me truly feel sorry for a victim, because I'm always able to tell myself it's just a movie, it's all in good fun. Stoic does a really impressive job at making you feel for the young man being tortured for no real reason at all.

Now, the things that bothered me about this film, first of all, when in prison, guards check on cells on a pretty frequent time frame, it seemed like a lot of time passed in this movie with no guard in site, beyond when they got food. Of course, that can be overlooked, but there is one scene in the film which I won't spoil just for the sake that some of you may go watch this after reading this, but let's just say huge shenanigans called on the red button incident with no one double checking on the claim made.

With that said I'm shocked, and kind of disturbed to say I enjoyed an Uwe boll movie, and not just because Edward furlong was involved. I was very impressed with the raw, and realistic nature of the film for the most part, and also its ability to make you feel something. I recommend you give it a watch, especially you Netflix users out there, as it is currently viewable via instaqueue.

- Ritualistic

7/10

Interview with Son Of Ghoul

LD: First off I would like to thank you for taking time out of your schedule to answer these questions for our readers. For those who may not be familiar with your work, care to share a little bit about who son of ghoul is and what it is that you do ?

SOG: Son Of Ghoul is Northeast Ohio's longest running costumed horror host. June 13th the show enters its 24th year on the air featuring classic B horror movies with SOG skits and segments. My show is broadcast every Saturday night at 7 P.M. on RTV Ch29 WAOH and RTV Ch35 WAX in Northeast Ohio.

LD: I'm sure everyone in the industry has that moment where they were like "I want to be involved in horror" What made you want to work in the horror industry ?

SOG: For me it all started in 1963 when Ghoulardi (Ernie Anderson) was on television in Cleveland hosting bad movies. He was a great part of everybody's horror hosting efforts here in Ohio. I grew up watching all the other great TV hosts we had here in Ohio. I think Cleveland Television had more Kids Hosts and Horror Hosts from the late 50's to present day than the rest of the country did.

LD: You've seen endless numbers of horror films, what are your thoughts on all these classics being remade with Hollywood actors and big budgets ?

SOG: Today's remakes are more technical for sure but sometime lack the charm of the original films and actors. I'm old school.

LD: I'm sure over the years you've met some interesting horror icons. If you had to choose one, who would be the biggest "wow" moment for you personally from a fan of the genre's point of view ?

SOG: The biggest icons I've met had nothing to do with horror. It was Paul McCartney and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In any genre that's two big wows. In horror it was Ben Chapman (The Creature From The Black Lagoon) he was a good friend and we had great times hanging out together at horror conventions. He was a riot and a great story teller. I miss him a lot.

LD: Before we go do You have any upcoming appearances you'd like to let our readers know about? Or anything else you'd to share with us?

SOG: I will be at many conventions throughout the year so log on to my web site www.sonofghoul.net for updated list of SOG Appearances, DVDs, T-Shirts and E-Mail.

There you have it, the one, the only, the great Son Of Ghoul. We here at Liberal Dead would like to send out a huge thank you to SOG for giving us the chance to interview him, and to wish SOG continued success in keeping the horror host craft alive and well.

Lost Signal (2007)

Dead of winter, also known as Lost Signal, follows Santos and McCoy, a young couple who are unknowingly slipped a high dosage of LSD at a New Years Eve party. As the drugs start to take effect, and the couple leaves the party, they start to become paranoid that someone is out to get them. After a car accident leaves them stranded in the woods, their trip continues gaining momentum as does their fear.

I found this movie by total accident in the wee hours of the mourning. I was bored and needed some background noise while I was studying for finals. Before I knew it I was drawn in and hooked, not able to take my attention away from the movie. I've seen quite a few movies with the "Bad Trip" scenario, and hated most of them, but what makes this movie stand out from the rest is there is no madman, no monster, you are simply viewing two people who have no clue that they are having an extremely strong LSD trip. The actors who play the two mains do an excellent job of portraying this terrifying situation as well, both are very believable during the entire movie. I really had a good time watching this film. It turned out to be one of those random "it came from Netflix" gems I find now and then when sleep isn't an option. I highly recommend giving this movie a chance, it is very much atmosphere driven so don't expect ton's of story or over the top special effects. If it wasn't for the super cheesy special effects, that caused me many times to be reminded that what I was watching was only a movie due to how silly they were most of the time I would of given this film a bit higher of a score. But none the less I feel its worth your time.

- Ritualistic

6/10

The Human Centipede(First Sequence)

It's very rare for me to sit in awe of a film after the credits roll. I see some decent movies from time to time, but most of the time it's the same old thing, just rehashed in a competent way. It's been a good while since I just thought "Wow" after the film was over. The Human Centipede gave me this feeling.

When the film started, I was scared. I thought it was just going to be another "hot girls lost in the woods" type of film. I was way off base. The Human Centipede follows Jenny, and Lindsay, two girls vacationing in Germany. The girls get lost on a trip to town, and to make matters worse, they get a flat tire. From this point on, the film is extremely creepy, and atmospheric. An encounter with a local, whom the girls think is there to help them, sets the tone for the rest of the film. One of my only complaints is, I feel that most of the foreign dialog could have went without being translated into subtitles. While the scene still retains it's creepiness, not knowing what was being said to the girls would have added an extra level to the feeling of isolation. The girls decide to venture out into the rainy night to try and find somebody to help them get home. Soon, they come across a house, in the middle of nowhere. Here we are introduced to Dr. Heiter, played astonishingly well by Dieter Laser. From the moment they meet our devilish doctor, you can tell somethings not quite right. The girls are desperate to get back to their hotel though, so they enter the house in order to use the phone. Our doctor goes to the kitchen to fake a phone call to emergency service, as well as prepare a roofy cocktail for our women in peril. I'm going to stop here, because explaining the rest of the film would ruin it's impact on you. I'll just say, the film is called "The Human Centipede" and it delivers what it promises.

Another problem I had with the film was that the girls were really annoying. It was hard for me to feel sympathy for them, but I'm not really sure that I was supposed to to begin with. I was happy to see them get what was coming to them, because frankly, I was tired of hearing their mouths. While this sounds like a major problem with the film, it really didn't bother me that much. I still felt like I was watching a really important film for the genre. It's rare to see directors take risks these days, and I feel it should be mentioned when someone does.

The film's tagline is "100 % medically accurate" I don't know, I'm not a doctor. The way it was explained, and ultimately carried out in the film was believable to me though, so I have no qualms about the claim. Some really nice special effects are put on display, and when we finally see the creation in motion, it's pretty special.

The Human Centipede is definitely not for everyone. I see it being very polarizing. You're either going to love it, or hate it. It worked for me, and quenched my thirst for something different. It's hard to imagine it was written as a trilogy, but I can't wait to see what Tom Six does in "The Full Sequence" to one-up this film. If you're interested in broadening your horror horizons, and escaping the drudgery of remake after remake after remake, see The Human Centipede. It's currently doing a limited theatrical run, but it's also available via "IFC In Theaters" OnDemand.

8/10

Remakeapalooza: Children Of The Corn (2009)

I'm not going to waste time on plot synopsis, as it's a remake of a classic, and we're all familiar with the story. 2009's Children Of The Corn is a shitty remake, of the shitty cult classic from 1984. Much like Wes Craven's original The Hills Have Eyes, I'm not sure how the original achieved cult status. It's a poorly made movie, with ridiculous performances. I think it's name recognition. For Children Of The Corn, it was penned by Stephen King. Another one of his shorts, that just doesn't work for me as a feature length film.

While the remake is sub-par, at times it manages to be fun to watch. The first act of the movie was really creepy, and atmospheric, much like the original. Burt is played by David Anders this time around, a name some of you may recognize as Sark, on J.J. Abrams series Alias. Vicki is played by Kandyse McClure, who played in another made-for-tv King remake, Carrie. McClure phones in a terrible performance here. As bad as her performance, was probably the way her character was written. She wasn't given a purpose, other than to be a complete bitch, for what seems like no reason. Her character is not developed, so when she gets what's coming to her, you either don't care, or are happy that she was dealt with. I enjoyed Anders, but I'm a huge fan of Alias, so that might have something to do with it. I think he made the best of a shitty script though. Every other line written for him has something to do with Vietnam. Yes, he's recently returned from the war, but does that really have to be his entire character? The first time they played this Vietnam flashback card, it sort of worked. He was in "the corn" and it did seem like he was in the jungle, so him making a reference to being in the jungles of 'Nam was forgivable at this point, but it happened every other scene, and it became laughable by the end.

I was fairly surprised at the level of gore, and nudity in the film, seeing as the film premiered on the SyFy channel last year. I had assumed that it was a made for TV movie, but apparently it was not. The special effects are pretty good. Most effects appear to be practical. There is minor use of CGI, but nothing that bothered me as much as it usual does. One of the biggest problem with this flick is Preston Bailey's performance as Isaac. I realize he was probably only 7 years old when the movie was filmed, but his performance is so bad, that it makes it hard to take the film seriously, as if it wasn't already a challenge.

For the most part, Children Of The Corn is a poor movie. To be fair though, your film can only be as strong as the script allows, and this script could have definitely used a rewrite. It was a surprise for an American movie to show such graphic child deaths, as taboo as that subject is in American cinema, I have to at least give props to the filmmakers for that. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to find a copy of this flick to watch, but if you're bored on a weekday afternoon, and Ace of Cakes or something isn't currently on television, give it a go. There's a little fun to be had, if you can forgive all of it's flaws, of which there are many.

5/10

Peacock (2010)

Peacock is a very interesting, and original film. It tells the story of a small town bank clerk named John Skillpa, who has a very big secret. Little do his fellow towns people know that John also has a split personality, that happens to be a female. This causes him to dress as a woman to do chores for John, and to also cook him breakfast every morning. After a freak train accident in his front yard during his daily chores, he finds himself having to work extra hard to hide his other half from the towns people, and at the same time, trying to stay on top of the ongoing battle between his two halves.

Let me start by saying, this movie is far from a easy watch. Before I felt comfortable reviewing it, I ended up watching it a total of three times. It tends to leave a lot of questions to be answered by the audience on their own without ever confirming it within the film itself. So your first time through, you may find yourself confused to some degree. The acting in this movie is pretty amazing especially the lead Cillian Murphy playing both the role of John and his other personality Emma. In a time of endless remakes and cookie cutter scripts, Peacock is a very nice change of pace if you're willing to watch it with a open mind, and give something different a shot. This film won't be for everyone and honestly its more drama slash thriller than horror, but in the end I recommend you at least try to make it through it, and if you manage to do that you'll be rewarded with a real treat.

5/10

Pandorum (2009)

Pandorum stars Dennis Quaid, and Ben Foster as Lt. Payton, and Cpl. Bower. A member of a flight crew aboard the ship Elysium, a ship carrying 60,000 people sent desperately from the now overpopulated earth in order to find a new planet to inhabit. Bower, and Payton wake up from hypersleep suffering from severe memory loss, and a serious case of where/when the fuck are we? They soon learn that something is just not right, and set out to repair the ships nuclear reactor, in order to get them back on track.

Pandorum is a pleasant mix of films like Supernova, Event Horizon, and even The Descent. Much like The Decent, there's an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia all throughout the film, especially when Bowen is slithering his way through the ventilation shaft to get to the other side of the locked door caused by interference from the on-the-fritz reactor. Foster does a good job portraying this dreadful sense of being trapped, I squirmed while he began to panic. Even when our "survivors" are out in the ship, you still feel it. Dark, bleak, no windows, all the doors are jammed. If this type of thing is horrifying to you, you're in for a treat. Even though they are in a much bigger space, I feel that Pandorum did almost as good of a job creating this sense of dread as Neil Marshall's The Decent.

The acting suits the parts, with good performances from both Quaid and Foster. No wooden lines as far as I could tell. The cinematography was spectacular, and really draws you in to the film. The practical effects are done very well, and even the CGI didn't bother me in this one. They did a good job blending the two. It's a fairly violent and bloody movie, so if you're wondering about the gore factor, it delivers plenty to quench your bloodlust.

I'm not sure why this flick bombed at the box office. Actually, I take that back. It's clearly not made for the Twilight crowd. This is a gritty, violent horror/sci-fi flick, and none of the baddies sparkle. Just pure, unadulterated badassery. I picked this flick up for 5 bucks at a video store that was going out of business, and I'm glad I dropped the dough to catch it. I'd recommend you doing the same thing. Hit ebay up, you're bound to find a copy for 10 bucks or less. I promise, you'll be pleasantly surprised if you like space-horror types of movies.

8/10

Dead Air (2009)

Dead Air is a hard movie for me to score. Some aspects of it, to me are amazing, while some(the entire zombie plot) are a little underwhelming. Dead Air stars Bill Moseley as Logan, a late night shock jock who spends his time berating his callers. Much like "Pontypool" something has happened outside of the studio, and people begin to call the show with eyewitness reports of the incident. Where Dead Air differs from Pontypool though, is they actually show what's going on outside of the studio. The thing that Pontypool did so well, in my opinion, is it never showed you what was going on outside the studio. It played sort of like War of the Worlds.

The actual zombie action of Dead Air, like mentioned above is a little underwhelming. It's handled fine, but it's just so run of the mill, that it doesn't stand out against other zombie flicks. I will say, that I enjoyed the zombie action a little better in Dead Air, than I did in Survival of the Dead, which, if you've seen that film, isn't saying much(Sorry George).

Bill Moseley is what made this film. His on screen presence is demanding. It really reminded me of Howard Stern during 9/11. At first, he's making jokes and telling the callers they are crazy, but as more and more reports come in, he starts investigating, and trying to help the public out. To be honest, I felt the zombie plot interfered with Moseley's performance. If this was 90 minutes of him taking phone calls from his listeners, I would have loved every second of it. I can't say enough of how amazing Moseley's performance was. I was completely enthralled. As average as this film is otherwise, I would strongly recommend picking it up on the cheap for his performance alone. I think you'll be impressed.

6/10