The Darkness Within (2010)

Plot: Chad Morgan and Ashley Sera are starting their new life together. They've recently gotten engaged and have moved into an apartment in a new town.

Everything is seemingly perfect; except for one thing - their next-door neighbor, Mr. Reed. After a bizarre encounter, Chad begins to realize that if he doesn't unlock the secret to this mysterious voyeur soon, he may lose everything - including his mind.

Review: "The Darkness Within" written and directed by Dom Portalla, Is a prime example of a well written and edited horror / thriller. Going into this movie I must say I was pretty excited based on what I had seen in the trailer, After viewing the actual film I find myself blown away and excited to hear the reactions of others after they have a chance to see it as well. With a $3000 budget and a mini-DV cam Dom Portalla takes the viewer on a journey that many million dollar Hollywood directors will only dream of ever achieving during their careers, weaving elements of horror, suspense, and even a dash of slacker comedy that draws you in and keeps you focused on the beautiful cinema experience that is unfolding before your eyes. This is not your average indie film and truly shows that you don't have to spend a small fortune in order to make a great movie.






"The Darkness Within" is a very engrossing film, I found myself unable to turn away due to the fact I was so curious to what was going to happen next and afraid I would miss some small detail or one liner if I strayed for even a moment. The acting was very solid and believable some of the best I've seen as far as indie horror goes Michelle Romano (Ashley) and Jimmy Scanlon's (Chad) onscreen interaction will be very relatable to any couples who have lived together both the comedic and serious moments that arise had me saying "been there before".




The overall visual quality of this movie is also not what you expect from such a low budget, it's very easy on the eyes and crystal clear, even a few old school horror camera effects are tossed in to give it a very Hitchcock era feel at times. There are also some very interesting camera angles, one being a early scene involving a spider in the bathroom that I loved from both an angle perspective and a dialog perspective truly memorable scene I'm sure I'll quote from for years to come as a known spider fearing person.

"The Darkness Within" is well written and at times the definition of creepy on behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "The Darkness Within" a well deserved 8 out of 10 and recommend you put the name Dom Portalla on your name radar if he keeps up such a solid display of ability.

8 / 10



- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Nightcrawlers (2009)

No, you're not having an acid flashback, and you don't need to text ChaCha, that is Joel Greco from trash TV show "Cheaters". I recently subscribed to "Indieflix", which, if you don't know, is like Netflix instant watch, only for independent film exclusively. It's a good service, if you would like to check it out, and it provides countless hours of independent cinema at the click of a button. Last night, I saw a vampire/comedy film available by the name of "Nightcrawlers", Having never heard of the flick, and it being so close to the release date to the latest mind numbing entry into the Twilight Saga, I gave it a go. Having a brisk runtime of only 74 minutes, it wasn't much of a commitment.

"Nightcrawlers" follows two friends in a hick town. Rob, played by Lee Trull, who has just discovered that his girlfriend is pregnant, and is desperate to get his act together, and Coop, played by Gabriel Horn, the town slacker, who also happens to be running for mayor. The duo have a run in with a mysterious outlander with a business proposition, but in order to hear said proposition, the two have to meet him at an abandoned barn outside of town, in the middle of the night. Sounds shady right? Well, after being told that there is a potential to make tens of thousands of dollars, they decide to give it a go. The job is simple, sneak into a creepy house that is rumored to be haunted, open a safe, grab the money, and the deed to the house. What could go wrong? Well, turns out it's not actually the deed to the house, but some sort of ancient scroll that vampires have been fighting over for centuries.

This is a hard film to review. It suffers from "Middle of the road" syndrome. It's not so bad that it's hard to watch, but it's just so by-the-numbers that it's hard to enjoy. It feels as if the writers were trying way too hard to be clever, and funny, and in turn, achieved neither. There were perhaps two moments in the film, that made me sort of smirk, but never was there an actual comedic moment. Both main characters played their roles well, but didn't have much by way of script to work with.

To call this a Vampire film would be a stretch. Yes, there are vampires involved, but they are far from central to the plot. We're treated to a few fang mugging close-ups, and that's about the extent of it. You could tell that the FX department were aiming to mimic the style of vampires featured in "Lost Boys" sunken eyes and all, and I suppose they did an OK enough job, it just wasn't enough to elevate my enjoyment of the film.

I'm not sure what the budget was, but I will say that it looks amazing. For what I'm assuming was a low budget production, they really worked well with what they had. I think there is some genuine talent behind the lens, but I also think that director Benjamin Wilbanks should adapt someone else's script for his next project. With a better screenplay, and some wittier dialog, this could have went theatrical in my opinion.

The third act tried so hard to be amusing, but I couldn't help hearing the sound of "Yakety Sax" in my head. It was a skit lifted directly from Benny Hill. Our main characters are running in circles across town from a horde of stumbling hillbilly vampires. It may sound entertaining to you, but I personally sat in disbelief of what I was witnessing.

I can't recommend "Nightcrawlers", but I can't suggest staying far away from it either. It's so generic that it's impossible to call bad. Think of it as film purgatory. If you have 70 minutes that you would like to donate to an experience you won't remember, but won't regret, give it a go. If not, no worries, the world will not end.

4/10

Enter The Void (2010)

Enter The Void is one of the most astonishing films I’ve ever seen. This is a piece of work that throws out the book and creates it’s own rules, bending the boundaries of narrative and delighting in taking you to places you never thought you would go. It’s a terrifying, beautiful, erotic and disturbing motion picture that proves Gasper Noe to be the most creative director working today. Enter The Void is easily the equal to Noe’s previous masterpiece Irreversible, and almost defies definition in contempory cinematic terms. It will struggle to find a regular audience or even a distribution prospect without severe censorship, but Noe has built himself a loyal audience and DVD is where this movie will live. An instant cult classic that will be revered by lovers of the underground and the offbeat, held in esteem alongside the best of Lynch and Cronenberg, and maybe used as an accompaniment for drugs by the truly adventurous.

Beyond anything else, it is the technical aspect of this film that initially delights. The camera weaves in and out of buildings, streets, up and over rooftops, even through bodies and planes of consciousness. If you can imagine DePalma and Argento on acid being told to go wild with a steadycam then you maybe have some idea of the visuals on display. Noe’s use of crane shots over the streets of Tokyo, model work and the studio is mind-blowingly original. Film-making is a collaborative medium, but this film is such a singular vision that it almost seems like a direct projection of the director’s imagination onto the screen. This is pure art, made with all the tricks and skill available to the modern filmmaker, and Noe constantly gives us moments that will make you question how it was done.

Enter The Void follows Oscar, trying to win his place on the streets as a drug dealer. Literally following him, as the camera stays with his first-person vantage point the entire time, the camera even ‘blinking’ every few seconds. His sister Linda leaves their apartment for work and he starts to experiment with DMT, a drug which occurs naturally in the cranium on or near the point of death. Heavily in mid-trip (which is fully realised with strobes, spirals and insane CGI) he gets a call from his friend Alex asking him to bring drugs to a local bar called The Void. He does, but the deal is a sting, and the police chase him into a toilet and shoot him dead. Following this Oscar’s spirit can only observe as Linda slips into depression following his death and Alex goes on the run from the police. But we also learn more about Oscar’s childhood (Noe playing with time as he did in Irreversible), learning of his parents death in a car crash and of the days leading up to his death, and the reasons behind it. Toward the final act the film loosens the strings of the plot and turns to explore sexuality and creation. A long sequence takes place in a wild, neon-drenched hotel-brothel where the camera lazily explores couples in states of varying sexuality, with Noe actually showing the penis ejaculating into the vagina - creating new life, or entering the void? The question isn’t answered.

While plot is always apparent, it becomes more of a secondary element to the experience of the film itself. At over two and a half hours the length far exceeds the narrative but the real worth of the picture lies in Noe’s vision, rather than the story or even the meanings behind it. Enter the Void often provides pure, uncut exhilaration - some of the most cinematic experiences I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. And that is what the film is - an experience. A hallucinatory descent into heaven and hell that is uses ambitious techniques and technical achievement to chronicle a young man’s death. This film will divide audiences - the headache-inducing visuals, extreme violence and graphic sex won’t suit casual viewers, but for those who delight in strapping themselves down and being submerged into other worlds then Enter The Void is a wonderful mindfuck to be experienced time and again.

Rich Wilson

Dead Hooker In A Trunk (2009)

Have you ever been skull-fucked after an ass rape? This is one of the many perplexing question posed by Twisted Twins "Dead Hooker In A Trunk". Identical Twins Jen, and Sylvia Soska wrote, directed, produced, and starred in this wildly dark, and comedic horror/comedy that delivers what the title promises. The twins play, well... twins, whom are the polar opposite of one another. The story follows the sisters, and two of their friends, after they find a dead hooker in the trunk of their car after a long night of partying. Everything that follows is complete insanity.

"Dead Hooker" does well to capture that "indie" feel of the mid to late 90's. If you're a fan of films like "Doom Generation" You're in for a treat with this one. The dialog is sharp, and funny, and well delivered by all involved. The violence is depraved, and plentiful. A special thanks goes out to the filmmakers for using practical FX, even though it's quickly becoming cheaper, and easier to go the CG route.

Before you put this film in the DVD player, ask yourself, are you actually a fan of indie film? Or do you just like low budget studio flicks that are teetering on the indie line? This definitely isn't a movie for the mainstream audience, which is sad, but true. I think if anyone that enjoys a fun movie would give "Dead Hooker" a chance, they'll have a fun time, but sadly some people have a hangup on the look and feel of a movie. Does it look low budget? Of course it does, but they did a really good job with what they had to make it look as professional as possible, and at no time throughout the flick did the budget hinder the fun I was having.

C.J. Wallis as "Goody Two-Shoes" delivers some of the funniest lines in the movie. He's got the choir boy act down to a T, so when he goes on one of his F-Bomb tirades, it makes it that much more enjoyable. As a whole, the film features some of the funniest dialog I've heard for a while. How many other movies can you hear the term "cock-punch" used? The Soska sisters are funny, and sexy as hell. You can go ahead and sign me up for any future projects that they have sloshing around in those sick brains of theirs.

Thinking back, I only had one small complaint throughout the entire film. In a couple of scenes, there seemed to be what I could only describe as odd editing choices. Once or twice, it felt like the scene cut abruptly. It didn't take away from the experience at all, it just felt kind of odd. This is a minor complaint though, and this still remains to be one of the funnest times I've had watching a flick for as long as I can remember. Get a group of friend together, grab a beer(or your bong) and prepare to have fun, something that the rest of the world has apparently forgotten about.

7.5/10

Skull Heads (2009)

Plot: For generations, the strange, inbred Arkoff family has lived in their creepy Italian castle undisturbed by the outside world.

Until one night when their sanctuary is invaded by a trio of treacherous art thieves and the Arkoffs must fight for their lives, aided only by the ancient protectors of the castle. The deadly Skullheads !

Review: "Skull Heads" much like "Demonic Toys 2" is a nice reminder of my horror roots, and also a reminder of some of the best years of my life growing up. I remember every weekend running to the local video store and renting as many Horror movies as I could possibly watch over the span of two days. When I got this film in the mail it gave me the same feeling I got as a child when I would stumble upon a possible hidden gem that I had not had the pleasure of viewing before.

"Skull Heads" truly felt like the Full Moon I remember growing up with, this time around the special effects while still low budget as always, were at least done properly for what they had to work with, CG is used but only when truly needed and the cheesiness only adds to the retro feeling of "Skull Heads". If you were a fan of the "Puppet Master" series the chances of you enjoying this movie are very high. Once again if you are more into mainstream horror and big budget affairs I would not bother with this film you will only find it subpar to your standards.

I loved this film and I had a great time watching it, Is it the greatest thing since sliced bread ? Far from it but if you find yourself bored on a dark stormy night, Toss a bag of popcorn into the old microwave and queue up "Skull Heads" for a night of fun, campy, cheesy horror that's sure to leave your inner 80's / 90's child satisfied.

On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Skull Heads" a 5.5 / 10 and a thumbs up for some awesome retro fun. If you like such titles as "Ghoulies" and "Puppet Master" this is a win-win situation.

5.5 / 10


- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Blood River (2009)

Adam Mason has quickly become one of our favorite directors at The Liberal Dead. He has an uncanny ability to take next to no budget, and create something that will blow your mind. "Blood River" is his best film to date, and a true cinematic masterpiece. The story follows Summer(Tess Panzer) and Clark(Ian Duncan) as they travel across the desert to tell Summer's parents that she is pregnant. A car crash that follows what I would say is the most interesting piece of film ever dedicated to a tire blow out, leaves them stranded. The film is set in 1969, so it's not quite as easy as just pulling out their iPhone and calling AAA. Clark, and Summer head out on foot to the nearest town, "Blood River". As the couple arrive, not only is there a cow carcass laying at the entrance to the town to greet them, but there are various skeletal remains scattered across the grounds, and nothing much else. It's completely abandoned. Soon, we're introduced to Joseph(Andrew Howard), who is seen from the distance, appearing out of nowhere. It's made immediately obvious that there's something not right about Joe, but they are so desperate for help at this point, that they're willing to overlook his quirks. Leaving Summer behind, Joseph, and Clark head off into the desert, in an attempt to salvage gas from the crashed car, and siphon it into Joseph's car. This is basically the top of the coaster. It was great up until this point, and the ride just gets better from here.

The cinematography in this film is nothing short of amazing. Ingenious camera angles, coupled with a gorgeous backdrop, and some stunning helicopter angles makes this Mason's most visually appealing movie to date. I really felt, from start to finish that this film should have gotten a wide theatrical release. Mason had a budget of $250,000 to finish this film in a time span of 18 days, so the end result is even more stunning.

"Blood River" isn't a gorefest, but I think it will still appeal to that demographic. It's raw, gritty, and psychologically brutal. Another thing that made me happy was the fact that it doesn't spoon feed it's plot to the viewer. It definitely knows the message it wants to portray, but it leaves a lot of it up to the viewer to decipher. It's rare that a filmmaker gives the audience this kind of credit, instead of insulting our intelligence with flash cut scenes to make sure we got the subtlety. "Blood River" is not like this, it's intelligent at it's core, and it assumes that those watching it are as well.

The acting is superb across the board, but Andrew Howard in particular puts in a powerhouse performance. He's done an amazing job in past films with Mason, but this performance alone put's him at the top of my list for genre favorites. From the moment that he is introduced, until the last frame, Howard is cool as hell.

The atmosphere created is astonishing. It's gritty, and dirty, but manages to be breathtakingly beautiful at the same time. The setting is on a far grander scale than Mason's previous work, spanning across what seems to be a vast desert wasteland, but it still manages to keep a strong level of isolation.

"Blood River" is not an easy film to slap a label on. While it will definitely appeal to fans of the horror genre, fans of really solid dramatic, psychological thrillers will be in for a treat as well. It blends genres seamlessly, and is most definitely Mason's most marketable film to date. For fans of His previous work, such as "Broken" and "The Devil's Chair", don't worry, this movie was made for you as well. It's not a cookie-cutter thriller, and it demands the audiences attention. You're not going to be spoon-fed anything, you're going to have to turn your brain on for this one.

The film is currently available in Germany, has just been listed for pre-order in the UK, and if I'm not mistaken, there will be an announcement shortly about Canadian distribution as well. Unfortunately, there is currently no details available for a US release date for the flick, so if you have some pull at a studio, watch this flick, love it, and make Mason a big fat offer for distribution, you won't regret it.

Check the trailer out below, and do whatever it takes to get yourself a copy of this film. I've seen a lot of movies this year, and this has easily been my favorite so far.

9/10

Demonic Toys 2 (2010)

Plot: Dr. Lorca from Hideous! (Michael Citrini) is back and is continuing to collect strange oddities, along with the help of Caitlin (Alli Kinzel) and her boyfriend David (Lane Compton).

Along the way, they collect the mysterious pieces of the last Demonic Toys and they continue their search at a mysterious castle in Italy, Where there have been rumors of a mysterious, ancient puppet alive and walking around, which is under the control of a mysterious demon, who takes on the human form of a little woman named Lilith (Selene Luna).

When not looking, the puppet brings the Demonic Toys back to life, and now blood, terror and death counts will rise again.

Review: Going into a Full Moon feature, you have to keep multiple things in mind. For starters, the budget is going to be low, the acting is going to be just a tad bit on the cheesy side, and most likely after the credits role you are going to realize you had a good time.

"Demonic Toys 2" will not be nominated for any Oscars and does nothing to redefine the genre, but for those of us who grew up in the 80's / 90's era of horror it is a much welcomed journey back to a simpler time. The overall story is typical from what you get from other Full Moon Features, Its campy, Cheesy (In a good way), and packed full of sometimes subtle bits of B-movie humor, and most importantly its fun. I found myself chuckling often at some well written one liners, Leslie Jordan who plays the role of "Butterfield" has some classic lines my favorite being "Seven miles from where Christ lost his shoes."

"Demonic Toys 2" would have received a much higher score if they would have used practical effects or at least better grade CG, One use that stands out off the top of my head was a beheading scene that could have been done quite easily and would have looked a thousand shades better with practical effects. I understand that CG is a great way to save money and when you're on a B-movie budget every last penny counts but in my personal opinion special effects is not the area to cut back costs in especially in the horror genre.

For hardcore Full Moon Features fans and fans of 80's and 90's B Horror, you will walk away pleased and happy with this film and will find it to be a blast to watch, But for the more mainstream oriented I don't feel this movie is for you as you will likely find it too cheesy for your standards. Overall I enjoyed this film and I had a good time watching it and like I said earlier it would have got a higher score but I could not ignore the sometimes horrible use of CG over practical effects it really took me away from that classic Full Moon feel I had through much of the movie. On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Demonic Toys 2" 4.5 out of 10.

4.5/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

[REC] 2

"[REC] 2" begins directly where the first film left off. As reporter Angela Vidal is being dragged off into the darkness, a swat team, led by an agent of the Ministry of Health is infiltrating the building. As it turns out, the Ministry of Health agent, is actually a priest, and has been sent to extract a blood sample, in an effort to develop an antidote to "the virus".

You'll quickly notice the difference between the two films. [REC] 2 takes a concept that was quickly touched upon at the end of [REC} and expands on it for the length of the film. I'm talking, of course, about the religious subtext. The suggestion that the virus, is somehow related to demonic possession. In the ending of the first film, it wasn't laid out in black and white. You could clearly see that they were trying to make a connection, but it was never actually explained in gory detail. My interpretation of the ending, was apparently way off. I thought what they were trying to say, was that the scientist had proven that what people had once thought was demonic possession, was actually a biological virus, much like the zombie virus. Apparently though, what they were saying is, possession it's self is the virus. That demonic possession can be spread communicably. I'll give them one thing, this is definitely a different kind of take on this sub genre of film. Never have I seen anyone try to even link these two things together.

For the most part, this approach works. It's a shock to the system at first, and several of the scenes that involve the zombie-demon communicating through the random infected were a bit over the top. One scene in particular is very reminiscent of the exorcist, in tone, and appearance. Once you really get into the story though, it settles in, and you're able to engage in the film despite everything you thought about the original being shaken to it's core.

"[REC] 2" is creepy, brutal, and claustrophobic. There were several jump scares, where a zombie-demon made an unexpected appearance that nearly made me piss my pants. There's a split in the middle of the film, where the swat team's camera dies, and we're introduced to another set of characters. These characters, not only eventually meet up with the characters from the beginning of the film, continuing the story seamlessly, but they're also rejoined by Angela, from the first film. I thought it was a pretty clever plot device, and it definitely elevated my experience.

Some purists may not be able to handle the drastic switch, from zombie movie, to unique possession movie, but it's a hell of a ride. In my opinion, it's every bit as spooky, and intense as the first film, and it expands on the story. Isn't that what a sequel is supposed to do?

7.5/10

American Grindhouse (2010)

"American Grindhouse" is another example of how to make an amazing documentary released by Lorber Films the same who brought you the horror documentary "Nightmares in Red White and Blue". This documentary tells the history of the Exploitation Film in America. Scantily clad vixens, blood thirsty psychopaths, drug crazed youth, just a few topics that would be covered in various Exploitation Films through the history of film each sub genre covered in "American Grindhouse".

Once again I was totally blown away by how detailed and informative this documentary was from the start to the very last moments of its running time. Going into this I was already a fan of Exploitation Films, but I had no clue their extensive history or the fact that they dated all the way back to the start of film making. This documentary does a great job of keeping both highly knowledgeable fans of the genre and its sub genres and those new to these types of films entertained and leaving them with chunks of facts they did not know prior to viewing "American Grindhouse", which should be ultimately the goal of any documentary, to inform and "American Grindhouse" goes far beyond simply informing to the point you feel like you've spent years researching the topic after the credits roll.

From the sex, to the violence, and various other Taboo subjects, the world of Exploitation Films in America is a long and interesting one. Take the trip from the days of Thomas Edison to taking a stroll up 42nd street diving into the sometimes scary, sometimes offensive, but always entertaining world of Exploitation with "American Grindhouse".

On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give this documentary a much deserved 10 out of 10 another solid gold release that I highly recommend any fan of American Grindhouse Films not only view but own.

10/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue (2010)

"Nightmares in Red White and Blue" takes you on a journey through the history of the American horror film. Featuring commentary from genre legends George A. Romero, John Carpenter, Roger Corman, Mick Garris, Joe Dante, Larry Cohen, and more, "Nightmares in Red White and Blue takes you from the golden age to modern day screams, covering every era of the genre leaving no grave unturned.

I watch a lot of horror related documentaries and a lot of the time I end up coming away disappointed, but that is not the case with "Nightmares in Red White and Blue". I really enjoyed this trip through the history of horror in America, I had seen tons of general horror documentaries before but none that focused on the American horror film that I can recall so it was a very nice change of pace.

One of my favorite features of "Nightmares in Red White and Blue" is how they explain what was going on in the news and the country during each era and how the events influenced the horror films during their time. It was very interesting to see how everyday life and everyday fears molded each era into something totally different from the last. This information says a lot about the times we live in and how different things are in America today than they once were in a simpler less violent age.

I also really enjoyed their look at various clichés found in horror such as the typical sex, drugs, and rock roll attitudes that lead to many a teenager being brutally slaughtered by various masked mad men. The segment focused on the mid to late 80's took me back to my childhood when I first discovered monsters inside the TV it was very nostalgic and reminded me of a few films I had totally forgotten about over the years.

"Nightmares in Red White and Blue" is a must see both for long time genre fans and those who may just now be discovering their love for horror. Well produced, wonderfully edited, and intriguing to the very end, on behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Nightmares in Red White and Blue" an well earned and deserved 10 out of 10.

10/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Sick Girl (2007)

Edben Mcgarr's "Sick Girl" tells the story of Izzy (Leslie Andrews), a disturbed teenager that has been left behind to take care of her little brother Kevin (Charlie Trepany) after the death of their parents and their oldest brother's deployment to Iraq. One day Izzy snaps and the body count starts to rise as she embarks on a journey of unspeakable violence and stomach churning gore.

When I say this movie may disturb you I truly mean it "Sick Girl" is not for the weak stomached or those who cannot handle violence involving children. I can honestly say that I seen things in this film that I have never witnessed before. The sheer graphic nature and brutality displayed during the torture and kill scenes puts "Sick Girl" on a level of its own when it comes to gritty, realistic, and sometimes hard to watch violence. The special effects are pretty amazing but not on par with what "ToeTag Pictures" managed to achieve with the "August Underground" series, which are the only movies that come to mind right off that I can compare "Sick Girl" too in terms of violence and gore due to the nature of the scenes and the pure shock value they produce.

I enjoyed this movie from start to end, the overall plot was solid and well acted, Leslie Andrews (Izzy), Charlie Trepany (Kevin), and John McGarr (Barney) do an excellent job of making their characters and their situations believable which is really important for the ultimate feeling you come away with after you witness the last few moments of this film the more believable the people involved are the more real the story will seem, and trust me after you finish this one you'll wish it was over the top and unrealistic just so you won't have to ponder the fact that people like Izzy do exist and acts like those portrayed in "Sick Girl" have already been done in the real world and worse will be done in the future.

After viewing "Sick Girl" on behalf of The Liberal Dead I give it a solid and well earned 7 out 10 and highly recommend this film to all the gore hounds out there who may be reading this review. To the more mainstream crowd honestly I'd steer clear of this one depending on your tolerance for various very graphic scenes of realistic violence some involving children.

7/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Slaughtered (2010)

Left Films was kind enough to send me a screener of Kate Glover's "Slaughtered", and for that I thank them, and her. Unfortunately, it will probably be the last screener I receive from said studio, as I can't in good conscience give this film a good mark. "Slaughtered" follows a group of friends that work at a local pub in Australia. Soon, someone starts picking them, and the pub's regulars off one by one. That's honestly as deep as the plot goes.

When I read a press release that describes a film as a "gory slasher", I expect them to make good with their promise. Yes, this was technically a slasher. In fact, it's so by the numbers, this advertised fact becomes it's downfall. Every genre set piece known to man is on display here, from the masked killer in a duster, wielding some odd choice of weapon, to the "Scooby Doo" scare scene, of survivors stepping over the killer's "dead" body. It's as if they had a slasher marathon, and made a checklist to guide them. Midway through, I felt "I know why you screamed last halloween" would have been a more descriptive title for the film.

Was there gore? I suppose. Technically there are some bloody kills, but the editing was done in such a strange way, that I don't think I ever actually saw anything. There are some after shots of brutal murders, and one odd scene that involves swallowing glass that I'm not sure is physically possible. Overall though, for something that promised to be gory, it was pretty underwhelming.

The acting was ok, I suppose. The main 2 girls played their roles well, and were fairly easy on the eyes. Some of the extras though, I have no clue what they were doing. Every now and then someone would walk into the frame, and just stare into space like "Snowball" from "Clerks". There were several odd scenes, where our main characters are running around, covered in blood, being chased by a masked killer, and the pub regulars are all taking a nap in unison? It appeared that way, whether or not this was the intended effect, I cannot say.

There was some severe problems with the audio, at least in the version that I saw. If they have this corrected in the retail version of the disc, then I apologize, but it was very distracting for me. Every time something loud happened, it went from fairly clear quality, to sounding like it was recorded using a 90s cellular phone.

I can see that director Kate Glover has sincere love for this genre of film, but unfortunately, that doesn't always translate into a good movie. I'll watch for future projects from her, and hope that she's given more support in order to bring her vision to light, but I can't recommend this film to anyone, as there's not really anything to enjoy.

3/10

Love Object (2004)

Love Object follows Kenneth, a socially awkward technical writer who decides to purchase an anatomically accurate sex doll made out of the highest medical grade parts named "Nikki" who just happens to look very similar to his new co worker Lisa. After many romantic nights with his fake girl he starts to form enough knowledge about relationships and perhaps even love that he manages to start a real relationship with Lisa.

Soon Kenneth starts to believe that the doll "Nikki" is jealous and is trying to destroy what he has with Lisa, causing one of the strangest love triangles you will ever witness.

Robert Parigi's Love Object is a very interesting film to say the least and it does a stupendous job at making sure you stick around to see the end sucking you into the strange life of technical writer and social misfit Kenneth.

The story is so well written I was shocked I had not heard of this movie beforehand especially with a cast featuring the likes of Udo Kier, Rip Torn, and Desmond Harrington. I knew early into the movie I was in store for a real treat and by the end I was so impressed with this film I had to recommend it do a friend of mine before the credits even finished rolling down my screen.

The editing in this movie is wonderfully creepy at times the scenes involving his hallucinations involving the doll will leave you covered in chill bumps every time you picture it in your head for years to come. The acting was solid I thought that Melissa Sagemiller did a great job at portraying Lisa. Overall this movie looked and played out beautifully and I enjoyed the entire ride.

Although there is not a large amount of violent actions in his film the few encounters that do occur showcase some realistic and believable special effects adding to the films already creep factor that is so deeply established thanks to the fact this could really happen in real life and most likely has somewhere.

I highly recommend giving this one a chance its storyline is more than compelling enough to deserve at least one watch through after viewing "Love Object" I give it a score of 7 out of 10

7 / 10

- Ritualistic

Tony (2010)

Tony spends most of his time at home watching endless streams of old action movies. Whenever he becomes exposed to a social situation that requires interaction with other humans he has a tendency to panic and murder them. The film "Tony" by director Gerard Johnson takes you into the mind of an out place man who see's the world in a totally different way then you or I.

This movie sounded very interesting and I had been looking forward to sitting down and giving it a watch. Unfortunately this turned to an endurance test to see if I could make it through the entire film without waking up in a pool of my own drool. At first I thought maybe it was due to the thick accents and British slang that I did not recognized, In order to remedy this I turned on the sub titles and started the film over in hopes of better understanding what all the filler meant.

Once I could understand what was being said and what was going on I had to deal with the fact that I was simply watching a bad movie. The main character sounds interesting enough when you're reading the plot rundown but soon you realize he is just mind numbingly boring. The acting in this movie felt so lifeless and hollow that when mixed with a character of this type it created the ambient effect where it feels like you took a handful to see if you could stay awake while being hammered by the drowsiness it causes.

The kills where nothing special and most of the time also very boring and bland, this could of been the movies saving grace if they would of put more effort into them. I spent most of the movie trying to decide if I should just turn it off and move on to the next as most of the scenes felt like needless filler as if this started as a short and then was turned into a feature at the last minute. I do not recommend this one at all if you see its DVD case staring you in the face as interesting as it may sound it just isn't. I give "Tony" a 3 out of 10.

3 / 10

- Ritualistic

Girl Number Three (2010)

Before going in to "Girl Number Three" you have to accept, and embrace the fact that this is a micro budget production. You have to accept that you will not be witnessing any flashy FX, or quick cut editing. If you can get this into your head before you start the movie, you should be able to enjoy it for what it is.

"Girl Number Three tells the story of Max, an art student shopping for a sexy Halloween costume for a party that night. After a creepy encounter with the sales clerk at the costume store, Max heads to her car, only to be ambushed, and kidnapped at gun point. Max, along with several other girls, arrive at an abandoned plant, with bags over their heads, and guns in their backs. They soon learn that they will be part of some sort of ritual, in which they will be sacrificed. Max, however, doesn't plan on going down without a fight.

The opening 10 minutes or so of this movie, were really creepy, and atmospheric. The score really sold it for me at that point. While we're witnessing the opening ritualistic montage, I was really sucked in to the universe that film had created. I wish the rest of the film stayed in this style, as it would have elevated this watch for me by ten fold. What follows the opening scene will be rough to watch for more casual viewers. As mentioned before, it's micro budget, so you have to forgive a lot in consideration of that fact. Some of the acting is a bit shaky, but it doesn't distract the viewer too much from the over all tone of the film.

The concept is there, and you can tell that there is some talent behind the project. Had the crew been given more of a budget to work with, I have no doubts that a cult classic could have came out of it.

"Girl Number Three" is based on a graphic novel by Nathan Thomas Millner. After watching this flick, and seeing some of his artwork, I fully intend on checking the source material out. There's nothing really overly negative that comes to mind about my experience with this movie, and the things that I can think of can easily be explained away by the lack of money. Special effects, which are few and far between, could have used some sprucing up in my opinion, but again, when you're working with zero budget, you use what you have access to.

The film is showing at the end of July at this year's Fright Night Film Festival, and I hope that someone will see it, and give director Herschel Zahnd III, and writer Nathan Thomas Millner a budget for their next flick. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of late night b-movies, and anyone who has aspirations of becoming a filmmaker themselves.

Summer School (2006)

After an extra long horror movie marathon an amateur film critic Charles finds himself having trouble telling the difference between fantasy and reality. The next day he attends the first day of summer school and starts to slip in and out of various day dreams to the point he can no longer tell if he's awake or trapped inside another horror influenced nightmare.

This movie turned out to be a somewhat fun watch, although it was hard to believe that this film was made in 2006 the entire time watching it felt like an 80's horror comedy if this was on purpose they did one hell of a job at giving it that feel. Summer School will not blow your mind it will not change your life or the way you feel about horror cinema in any form or fashion. What this film will do is give you a fair amount of laughs and maybe even a few cringes depending on your tolerance to various degrees of ultra low budget cheesy gore. Summer School is good for a batch of popcorn, some dimmed lights, and a night of good old fashion cheesy B movie fun, but don't go into this one expecting a serious movie or you will walk away very disappointed.

The special effects are mostly horrible with only a few that stood out as decent. Story wise it's pretty interesting and does a well enough job at keeping your entertained enough to stick around for another dream sequence wondering if it will all turn out to be real this time or not. I hated the ending of this film it seemed tacked on at the last minute as if they got stuck in an endless loop of what if and realized they had no clue how to end it. It also adds to a negative image of fans of the horror genre which by the end of the film really started to bother me and on a certain level even offend me to a degree. Over all I'd give Summer School a 4 out of 10.

4 / 10

- Ritualistic

Broken (2006)

Broken tells the story of Hope, who after making sure her daughter is safe in her bed, goes to her own room to get some sleep. The next morning she awakens to find herself in the woods, held captive by a psychotic survivalist hoping to beat her into submission until she's the perfect slave.

Her only goal is to survive, and rescue her daughter who may very well already be dead. Once again, I'm left speechless and craving more after viewing the film "Broken" another example of why Adam Mason is a name to remember.

The plot of this movie unravels at a nice steady pace, and its content is solid and highly entertaining. It will leave you on edge, wondering what's going to happen next, scene after scene. This film does an excellent job at making you feel for Hope to the point that you are crossing your fingers that she will eventually get away, and find her daughter safe and sound. The sense of dread and fear in the eyes of Nadja Brand, the actress who plays Hope, is so believable at times, you forget you're watching a movie, she does an insane job in "Broken".

Regarding special effects, this movie is a true piece of art, with ultra realistic gore and violence so intense, you will find yourself cringing at the thought of the amount of pain coursing through the victim's body at any given time. This film does a great job at making every injury feel real and believable, making it easy to get sucked into the movie without being slapped back to reality by an over the top effect like you find in many horror films.

This movie has something for everyone. It has the mind blowing violence wanted by the gore hounds, and a solid terror filled story for those who want to experience pure terror, and on a certain level a character study about the ways a human will adapt in order to survive in extreme circumstances. This is another must see horror film, after viewing "Broken" I give it a much deserved 8 out of 10

8/10

- Ritualistic

Get Off My Porch(Short)

"Get Off My Porch" is a short by director Patrick Rea, that could easily fit into a fall themed anthology. The short tells the story of Neill Marshall(haha) An average husband, trying to make the most out of his wife being out of the house. Neill is catching up on some football watching, and potato chip eating, when he is interrupted by the door bell. He is greeted by a chipper "adventure girl" trying to sell him cookies, in order to get her troop new uniforms. When turned down, it becomes clear that this isn't your average girl scout. Neil soon notices strange occurrences, with the girls making cookie deliveries to his neighbors at almost midnight, so he decides to call the police, to report the strange goings on, only to be told by the police to buy a box of cookies.

While it's not Halloween themed, "Get Off My Porch" really has that "Trick r Treat" feel to it. The director does a good job at portraying the fact that it's fall. It just oozes October. Rea also does a good job at capturing that old school "Tales From The Darkside" feeling of oddity. I hope to see a feature length film out of him soon, I think he has some real talent.

You can catch the short below(Source: Dread Central). Feel free to let me know what you think in our comment section, or on our facebook group.

Burning Inside (2010)

Burning Inside tells the story of a man known only as John Doe. Who has awaken from an extended coma with no memory of his past life, no clue as to who he is, or what happened to him. After obtaining a new life with a wife and normal existence he suddenly finds himself filled with a need for revenge that must be carried out by any means necessary.

I always hear people screaming that they want something unique, they are sick of remakes and they are sick of the same old cookie cutter horror stories. I present to you Burning Inside, a horror cinema experience like none you have had before. This is not your ordinary horror film, it does not spoon feed you what it wishes you to believe, or what it wishes you to feel, this is left completely up to you the viewer to observe and to analyze, and to form your own conclusion on what you have just experienced.

There is very little spoken dialog in this movie, and most of it is shot in black and white. Sound wise you are mostly exposed to ambient sounds from the current location, and a truly spooky soundtrack in just the right places. The tone of voices used in the delivery of all the lines in this film gave me a feeling like I was watching someone's dream, or maybe even a journey described by someone who may have digested a hallucinogen of some sort. This feeling is supported heavily but the strange way this film is edited at times, giving you a truly uneasy, and unfamiliar feeling while viewing it.

Burning Inside is a true assault on your senses that will leave you thinking about what you have just seen for a very long time. You may not even get how amazing of a film it is in a single viewing. I personally plan on watching it many more times to be sure I missed nothing in this beautiful example of true genius and creative cinema. It's rare a movie leaves me so inspired and just amazed by its editing, and use of sounds and, eye grabbing visuals to invoke emotions of the person watching.

Going into this movie, I would have had no clue that it would end up fighting its way onto my most enjoyed horror movies list. And not only claiming a place on said list, but falling in the number three slot. Some people may disagree with this review, they may not get this movie, and I don't blame them at all. It's not something that is easily explained, but I promise you this, it will leave a mark on you forever, no matter if you loved it or hate you will not forget "Burning Inside".

After watching Burning Inside with my jaw laying securely on my floor, I have to give it the rating of 9 out of 10, but I give this rating from the point of view of a very huge fan of the classic black and white horror era, and a very hardcore fan of obscure indie horror. This movie may be lost on the mainstream, crowd but for you who scream for something different, enjoy this gift from the movie gods.

9/10

- Ritualistic

The Redsin Tower (2006)

A teen girl and her friends decide to take a little trip to the infamous "Redsin Tower" for a wild night of partying. Not realizing her psychotic love crazed ex boyfriend is following them but he is the least of their worries. After they encounter the evil force that lives within Redsin Tower it will become a fight for survival for everyone who ventured inside this place of evil.

The gore in this movie is some of the most shocking and impressive displays of pure no remorse ultra violence I have ever witnessed in a horror film. From the only studio that I can honestly say has ever made me feel uncomfortable watching a movie with their August Underground series Toe Tag pictures delivers once again with their mind blowing special FX surpassing anything that Hollywood can even dream of attempting to recreate as far as stomach churning blood and gore goes.

The story in this movie is also well done its fun, campy, and keeps you entertained from start to finish. I also found the acting very believable and a lot of the characters in this film relatable on a personal level reminding me of various friends and people I've met over the course of my life from various school and social scenarios.

I went into this movie expecting just your average gore flick but when all was said and done I ended up experiencing something far more substantial. The Redsin Tower will leave even the sickest gore fans happy and your general horror fan with a smile on their face as well as long as their able to stomach the blood soaked death scenes and extreme gore. I give Toe Tag Picture's The Redsin Tower 7 out of 10.

7 / 10

- Ritualistic

Mercy (2006)

Mercy follows the story of John Mercy, an ex convict who will soon discover that life after prison is far from easy. After meeting a strange woman inside a bar he finds himself on the brink of insanity and at risk for ending up back in jail for violation of his parole.

Mercy is an amazing film to say the least a hidden gem in the purest meaning of the term. If you enjoyed the original black and white Twilight Zone and the works of the great Alfred Hitchcock I highly recommend you pick yourself up a copy of Patrick Roddy's "Mercy". It's a beautifully written and thought provoking story that tackles a real world issue that affects many ex prisoners every day who find themselves released but shown no mercy regardless if they have been rehabilitated or not when it comes time to finding work, shelter, and acceptance in order to maintain a productive crime free life style.

This movie is shot entirely in black and white, which is what drew me to it in the first place as a huge fan of black and white cinema. If I had to choose a favorite era for horror I'd have to go with the 50's, 60's, and 70's of black and white and Technicolor films. This is the era in which a strong story was a must if you wanted the audience to understand and be hypnotized by your tale or terror you did not have fancy Hollywood CGI effects to fall back on in order to get your O's and Ah's. Mercy is a perfect example of this now almost lost art done correctly and with great precision.

I had a lot of fun watching this movie, to the point that I found myself unable to look away from the screen for even a split second until it was time for the credits to roll. This is a must see film for any fan of the classic era of horror who craves a flashback of the golden years of horror cinema. I give Mercy a much deserved 8 out of 10.

8/10

- Ritualistic

The Liberal Dead Interviews Director Adam Mason

LDead: First I'd like to thank you on behalf of The Liberal Dead and all our readers for taking the time to talk to us today. It's a real honor to get to sit you down and pick your brain for a moment. Let's start things off with the more serious questions if you don't mind.

So, Adam I'm sure you're asked this all the time but what made you get into film making? And who were some of your influences coming up in the field?

Adam: I grew up loving movies, especially "Jaws", and all of the early Spielberg stuff. Then as I got older I discovered real films and fell in love with them. Angel heart, Jacobs Ladder, The Exorcist, TCM, The Wicker Man, with nail & I. Those were the films that really informed me.

I’m not sure what it was that actually started me doing it professionally, I started making shorts when I was a kid, but I find it very cathartic from a psychological point of view, which is why I continue to do it.

I always wanted to either make music or films – and I remember one day in my teens making a very specific decision to follow the film thing, as I don’t think a person is really allowed to do both in society unfortunately! You can only do one thing it seems!

LDead: Beyond movies you've also directed many music videos who are some of the artists you've worked with over the years? And if you had to choose one which was the most exciting at a personal fan level?

Adam: Yeah I made about 90 music videos, used to make a great living doing that. The only artist I every really liked that I worked with was Martin Grech. Everyone else I thought was a bit shit or not my cup of tea, so to speak. Him and Fields of the Nephilim, who I was a fan of growing up and still really like. I quite liked Mortiis. I can’t actually remember any I did off hand!

I was making videos at the time just before the music industry got killed off by piracy, when technology was allowing everyone to make music and the market was flooded with absolute rubbish. Kind of what’s happening to the film industry now actually?

It was fun for a few years, and then I got involved in a horrific situation with a band called Within Temptation which put me off making music videos for life. The music biz is rotten to the core and filled with Patrick Bateman types, sociopaths and narcissists, much like the film biz, and you’ve got to be very careful dealing with them.

I, for one, am now getting endless pleasure watching them all go out of business.

It was sad really, my experiences, because I used to love music so much as a teenager and in my 20’s. But dealing with musicians, managers and record labels was enough to put me off for life. It’s actually put me off music!

That said – I’m just starting up doing it again. It’s taken me almost four years to get over dealing with that last band. I used to love hanging out with bands, it's always a lot of fun, although it became apparent very fast that the glamour and mythology behind it all is a complete façade.

LDead: Your next project is "Luster" correct? How is it coming along? When can all the blood thirsty Adam mason fans expect to get their fix?

Adam: Luster’s finished as of about two weeks ago… so should be out soon. It’s not a horror movie at all… more a dark comedy/thriller. I guess horror fans might like it, although they may well be left a bit bemused. I’m not really sure to be honest. It's impossible for me to categorize what I do as I lose all perspective once I’m done.

As for it coming out I’ve got no idea. No one has seen it yet. I’m not sure how it will do. Part of me thinks it might be super commercial, but you never really know until you start getting feedback. I hope so anyway! It's probably the most accessible film I’ve made.

LDead: Do you have any other upcoming projects you'd care to share with us today?

Adam: Yeah I’m going to start shooting a new movie about a blind girl getting tormented, which I hope will be my ‘Company of Men’. Super dark, Will be very disturbing.

I also want to do a one shot western with Andrew, kind of like Pig.

Aside from that I’m a bit burnt out with the whole thing if I’m being honest. I’m considering knocking it all on the head.

LDead: The special effects in your movies always seem to be impressive, what's your view on CGI blood and gore compared to practical effects good old latex and fake blood? Which do you prefer as far as a director goes to best represent your vision of a scene?

Adam: I’ve done a lot of CGI stuff in music videos. I’m not a big fan if I’m being honest. As soon as I see something I know is fake, it just takes me out of the movie. The only times I like CGI in movies is when it’s invisible, like in Black Hawk Down, or Fincher’s movies. That’s the smart way to use it. District 9 was absolutely amazing as well.

As a whole – I always shoot things practically. That’s why the crosses in Blood River were real!

LDead: Now that we got the suit and tie questions down how about a few oddities we'll call them?

On zombie day, what will be your plan for survival once you hear the invasion has started?

Adam: I’d probably take a gun to my head.

LDead: You're camping with five other friends in the remote back woods and two have already gone missing. In your backpack you have a pocket knife, fishing line, hooks, a small piece of rope, a camping shovel, and half a pack of cigarettes. What kind of trap would you create out of these items to protect yourself from lurking in breeders?

Adam: I would lure a bear into the clearing and woo it with cigarettes, then attach myself to it with the fishing wire and hooks, tie the rope round my head like Rambo and beat it to death with the shovel.

Then I would wear the bear like a tortoise shell and attack the in breeders. I would have the upper hand.

LDead: I'm sure you've seen where the real life Amityville house is up for sale would you ever personally live there if given the chance?

Adam: No thanks. I have always wanted to buy the Polanski house on Cielo Drive. But it's seriously expensive.

LDead: One last serious question before we go If you Don't mind, but how about some words of wisdom for all the starving and unknown horror film makers out there who are just trying to get their foot in the door ? Any advice on getting your work seen?

Adam: I guess the main thing I’ve learnt in the time I’ve been doing this is there are a thousand people talking about doing stuff for every person actually doing it. I could make a film with my phone and laptop these days, so there is literally nothing stopping people except fear and ineptitude.

Also – directing and writing isn’t some god given talent. Of course talent does come into it, but plenty of people are talented. Directing is like playing the guitar. You don’t just pick up a guitar and play. You have to learn how to play it. And the only way to do that is to practice. I know people who have been talking about making a film since I was at film school with them 12 years ago. They could have made 12 features since then, and would probably be quite good at it by now.

So yeah advice-wise pick up a camera and start shooting stuff every week. Start working with actors. Start writing every day without fail and practice practice practice.

LDead: We would like to thank Adam Mason once more for sitting down and talking with us and want to wish him luck with his upcoming projects; the entire staff can hardly wait to see what he has in store for horror fans across the world next.

Adam's Filmography

The 13th sign (2000)

Dust (2001)

Prey (2003)

The Devil's Chair (2006)

Broken (2006)

Blood River (2009)

Pig (2010)

Luster (coming soon)

Sexy Killer (2008)

Directed by: Miguel Marti

Written by: Paco Cabezas

The title pretty much says it all!! Not only does she got you by the heart, she's got you by the balls. Barbara (played by Macarena Gomez) is a femme fatale with a bag full of decapitated heads. She's a card-carrying psychopath who has a story to tell. Her audience just happens to be a guy who hit her dog. A guy whose hand she has knifed to the hood of his car. In other words he's captivated. The whole movie plays out as she tells him about herself, and her victims, about how she's a college student who goes around killing people on a whim. Because she likes someone's dress, because someone is bad at sex, because someone prank called her, because they hit her dog with a car.She doesn't really need a reason to kill.But she's good at her job, and she looks damn good while doing it.

She orchestrates these slayings in the most hilarious ways possible,

advertising the plastic bag she's gonna throw over some poor saps head,

stabbing her high heels into the temple of unsuspecting masochist,

locking some beauty in a bathroom stall and ramming a mop-stick through her head,

or beating a cops neck in with the trunk of a car. It's all in a days work.

But what she doesn't know is that her lover has built a machine,

one that can display the thoughts of the dead.

To say the least this movie doesn't waste any time starting up, it comes out of the gate like Speedy Gonzalez hopped up on meth-amphetamines. Shower-room nudity in the first second - death in the first 5 minutes.

It's a really fast-paced, meta-fictional, Spanish horredy, teaming with a bevy of quirky characters!!

Everyone is a total clown, and everyone pulls off their role with comedic bravado. Meaning all the acting is so over the top it feels like a circus of pure madness! And I loved it, I really did, despite the fact that the subtitles whizzed by as fast as it's plot.(which is really my only complaint). It wasn't unreadable like some of the asian flicks out there, but it was a strain on the eyes. The plot felt like Screams wacky wayward cousin,

It was wild & all over the place! Cluttered with lines, costumes, & gags from other movies like: Scream, Crocodile Dundee, Taxi Driver, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Unforgettable, etc. Point is; it unapologetically wore it's influences like a quilt of many colors. What's even more insane, is that the whole movie 20 minutes from the end turns into a Re-Animator zombie romp, if you can believe that. And suffice it to say; the zombies all looked excellent, not even a drop of cop-out in that department!! Would have liked to have seen it dubbed, as it would have been easier to enjoy. The acting was over the top, the FX were spot-on, and the plot was an absolute mad man!! You're going to love Barbara (name lifted from Night of the living Dead) And you're going to love this movie.

8 out of 10

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Women's liberation means "freeing the beast" all over the back of some guys head.

Liberal Dead Interviews "Horrorwood Mannequins"

LDead: For those who are not familiar with Horrorwood Mannequins who's in the band and where are you guys from ?

HWM: We hail from sydney, Australia, The captain of the crew of miscreants is audri medicate on vocals... the doctor on guitars, hiv on the bass and human drum machine Noddy on the drums.

LDead: So how did you all get together?

HWM: Fate I believe we are the only people that can stand to be around each other 24/7. common interests perhaps *laughs* bible studies. you know how it is.

LDead: I'm taking you guys are horror fans huh ? So token bullshit horror question what's everyone's favorite horror flick ?

HWM: Ooo that's a tough one... chuck some Friday the 13th in there... bit of Kruger... gotta love a bit of dusk till dawn.. oh and don't forget Mr. Rodriguez.. it feels like the night before Christmas waiting for "predators" to come out *laughs* and how could we not mention rob zombie... RUN RABBIT RUN!

LDead: What upcoming horror movie are you most looking forward to seeing on both the Hollywood side and the indie side ?

HWM: As I said before "predators" I'm happy to chuck a horror label on that seeing as Mr. Rodriguez has his hands on that one. as for the indie side we have a home grown Australian hero with something in the works... but I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say about that one.

LDead: You guys have a amazing sound what are some bands that have influenced it?

HWM: dope, static-x , American head charge, Marilyn Manson, slipknot, motley crue

LDead: If you could tour with any band who would it be ?

HWM: ooo another tough one. can we pick a couple? HED:PE, Motley Crue , and the murderdolls baby!

LDead: Remakes are a big issue in horror today, what are your feelings on all the classic's being resurrected and re-hashed as of late ?

HWM: As long as they are done justice it's always good to see someone put some life back into something. rob zombie has it down to a fine art. they just need to respect the original artwork

LDead: Let's say you had to die a horror movie death what would be your personal choice of elimination?

HWM: well we would have to be the 1st people that get wasted. hmm I might go with Friday the 13th on that one... before everyone dies they always seem to hit the reefer, pull a root. unfortunately on the way to the fridge for munchies it all comes undone. not a bad way to go.

LDead: What director would you choose if you had your choice for a HWM video and why ?

HWM: either rob zombie or Robert Rodriguez... we love gritty we live gritty... they capture intensity in such an amazing way

LDead: What can we expect from HWM in the future ?

HWM: The world. everybody is our target. we have been brought back to life.. With a new cd on the way nothing like the music from yesterday. this is how we feel. BIGGER, BETTER MORE OFFENSIVE THEN EVER!

LDead: Before you leave I have one last question but before we get to that I would like to thank you on behalf of Liberal dead and our readers for taking the time to answer these questions and we wish you nothing but good luck and hope to hear years and years of new music from HWM.

Final Question: You're stranded in a small farm house in the middle of nowhere, zombies surround the house from every side their moans filling the room as they slowly move closer. On the table there is a shotgun, a chainsaw, a set of duel swords, and a sledgehammer. Which do you choose and why ?

HWM: id cut my hand off stick the chainsaw on and grab the shotty, I've seen it done before and it seemed to work rather well, except for the missing hand of course, brace yourselves and keep your hands inside the ride. WELCOME TO HORRORWOOD.

Be sure to visit the Official Horrorwood Mannequin's Myspace to get your HWM fix and to show your support.

The Roost (2005)

Ti West's "The Roost" follows four friends on their way to a wedding , who after a car accident find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere. Their only hope a nearby farm house that was left secluded for good reason that ultimately leads to their discovery of a evil that none of them could of ever prepared for. Bats, zombies, and gore oh my "The Roost" is one hell of a ride.

Right off I have to express just how beautiful the camera work in this film is the use of light and darkness and creative angles are endless in "The Roost". This movie features some of the most amazing camera work I've ever seen, there are so many angles used and their all used perfectly.

I loved this movie, the gore, the story; the entire package took me back to my childhood that was spent watching campy blood soaked films anytime I had a free moment. Ti West does a great job at bringing you back to the 70's and 80's era of horror. Unlike a lot today's horror "The Roost" is no one trick pony, you get a solid story, beautiful special effects, and just the right amount of campy humor, and a ending that leaves you with a psychotic smile across your face. It seems like a lot of today's horror movies give you one or the other but don't seem able to smoothly blend both terror and humor something I really miss from the 80's era but Ti West pulls this off perfect.

The story is nothing new we've all been there and done that for the most part, but "The Roost" does add a nice little twist with its take on the zombie genre making it more than entertaining enough to want to know what happens next. I highly recommend this movie for any true horror fan, make a batch of popcorn, turn off all the lights, and take a trip back to the days of costumed horror hosts and late night picture shows with Ti West's "The Roost" I give this film a 8 out of 10.

8 / 10

- Ritualistic