Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) Review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem in "Paranormal Activity 2".

The best way to describe "Paranormal Activity 2" would be the feeling one gets when forced to watch someone else's vacation videos or misc home videos, you do it to be polite but in all honestly you really just don't give a fuck and hope it ends as soon as possible. This is exactly the feeling that "Paranormal Activity 2" creates thanks to never ending pointless footage that does nothing for the build up or has anything to do with the movie itself.

In all reality this film could of and should of been 30 minutes long and been included as a bonus prequel for a special edition of the first films DVD, it really shows that this was made solely to try and shed light on why the haunting in the first film occurred, which they do in the very last fifteen to twenty minutes of "Paranormal Activity 2".

The movie itself is only about an hour and twenty four minutes long, with nothing even remotely interesting happening until the last thirty minutes or so of the flick. The agonizing build up makes it really hard to keep watching and even when things do start to happen there so vague and boring you honestly don't care.

All the clichés are here, misc untraceable bumps in the night, pots that fall for no reason, a child's toy that activates itself, the same old recycled bullshit we have seen in haunting movies time and time again. Before I forget just for good measure there is also use of an Ouija board in case you had not got your fill of clichés yet.

As much as I disliked the first film, it was better before seeing the prequel, the back story they try and tack onto the series is ridiculous and will leave a bad taste in the mouths of any sane viewers who make the mistake of wasting their time with "Paranormal Activity 2". The script is poorly written and filled with so many holes you will find yourself spending most of the time shaking your head in disbelief. One thing that really drove me nuts about this movie is the way they randomly and briefly stick key information in after twenty minute spans of scenes that have nothing to do with anything making it very hard to know when you need to be paying close attention and when it's safe to let your mind wonder in hopes when you re focus it's over.

There is so much time spent on nothingness', and then when something important arises they breeze by it like Speedy Gonzales on crystal meth. As much as I would love to go into great detail about all the loop holes created by this unneeded prequel, I will not for sake of spoilers, but I can tell you this whoever thought this film was a good idea should be taken out in the street and beaten with the very camera used to film it.

On a fun side note my favorite part of this entire film was seeing two Ramones and a Misfits poster, other than that it was the exact same movie, same youtube style hidden fishing line gags, the same boring uninspired piece of shit that everyone sat through last year.

I went into this one with an open mind, hoping for the sake of the time I was about to spend watching it that it would be better than the first film, but in the end I could not find one redeeming quality, fans of the first film don't waste your time the tacked on back story will only ruin the first film for you. On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Paranormal Activity 2" a 1 out of 10, and award for most unneeded prequel ever created. As much as I hated the first film I would watch it on repeat for days before I would ever sit through "Paranormal Activity 2" again.

1 out of 10



- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Session 9 (2001) Review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Danvers State Mental Hospital, closed down for 15 years, is about to receive five new visitors. Hazmat Elimination Co. seals a deal to remove dangerous asbestos from the hospital, which is soon to be renovated. The five-man crew dons protective gear and ventures into the eerily vast and vacant spaces and corridors of the hospital. The crew is drawn deeper into the mysteries that surround the asylum rampant patient abuse, medieval medical procedures, and rumors of demonic possession. The hospital holds many dark secrets but then, so do each of the men in Brad Anderson's "Session 9".

It's a very rare occurrence that a film authentically creeps me out, but thanks to the intense atmosphere created by "Session 9" it has landed itself on that short list. As someone who has spent a lot of time in abandoned prisons and hospitals, I can tell you when inside one; it is very hard not to let your imagination get the best of you at times.

The buildup in this film is a very slow burn, and they use this mechanic perfectly making sure you do not become bored with all the character development that you are overloaded with during the first half of the movie, while at the same time using it to create an ultra tense situation between all the parties involved. The in-depth background given on the relationships between each of the characters in "Session 9" is amazing and really keeps you engrossed in what is unfolding in front of you, this leads to there never being a dull moment in "Session 9".

Something that I really loved about this film was the use of skillful editing and sound to create a truly scary ambiance, a few of the sudden changes in audio were so clever and seamless that I even jumped a couple of times. The entire look and feel of "Session 9" produces such a beautifully dark and uneasy setting that you will not soon forget about Danvers State Mental Hospital.

The acting in "Session 9" is flawless; David Caruso (Phil), Stephen Gevedon (Mike), Josh Lucas (Hank), Peter Mullan (Gordon), and Brendan Sexton III (Jeff) all play their roles with precision. The interactions between each character is so lifelike and believable that you will find yourself forgetting it's only a well written script and not a retelling of a true occurrence.

Also I really enjoyed the use of light and darkness in "Session 9", the dim shadows created by the low light creeping through busted windows really added to that creepy feeling in the pit of your stomach that says "let's get out of here" whenever you are somewhere that you have a feeling you shouldn't be. One of my favorite scenes in this film from a visual standpoint involves Jeff and a very long hallway near the end of the movie, which is all I will say for spoilers sake, but take note when you see this scene how amazing the use of the darkness is and how genuinely scary the scenario really is.

If you are looking for a scary paranormal / psychological thriller style horror film I highly recommend you give "Session 9" a watch. I really enjoyed this movie and found myself on edge many times during it creating an experience I will not soon forget. On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Session 9" a 9 out of 10 and recommend not only you watch this one but own a copy for your collection.

9/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

The Widows Mansion (Short Story) by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Halloween ah yes the one night of the year that the walls that keep the dead and the living from one and another fade away allowing smooth travel in-between this realm the and next. In today’s age many of the youth forget about the magical sometimes even dark side to what has become a night of carefree mischief and collection of sugar infused treats. I too use to share this naïve mind set until I encountered my first brush of something not of this psychical world we live within. My first taste of evil if you will the date was October 31st 1986 I was 16 years old and it would change my view on Halloween and life forever.

It was an extra cold fall morning my alarm woke me up with a blast of the all too familiar lyrics “From my laboratory in the castle east to the master bedroom where the vampires feast”. I opened my eyes in anticipation that song meant only one thing today was the day the one event of the year that I truly craved it was all hallows eve. I leaped from my bed quickly grabbing a plastic bag from my desk and my favorite ripped up Danzig t-shirt from the back of my chair. I disappeared into the bathroom for many hours my eyes fixed into the reflection of my human face in the mirror transforming layer by layer with the help of various shades of makeup and latex.

“Ah Tom savini would be proud” I thought to myself as I splashed on just a few more sprays of fake blood. Giving me that freshly murdered and drug through the woods look that I worked so hard to achieve this year.

Out the door I rushed just barely remembering to grab my backpack and the make shift yet ultra realistic looking fake machete I had made the night before. I ran so hard and fast that my legs burned and I wheezed with each breath until I saw my best friend and partner in crime leaning against a quickly approaching tree.

“Bout time shithead” he said flipping his half smoked cigarette to the curb. Before it even hit the ground he was reaching for a fresh one and his skull engraved Zippo.

“We’re burning daylight man we’ve got a lot of ground to travel before nightfall” he reminded me as he flipped his backpack over his shoulder.

Without missing a step we started down the street our feet in perfect sync with only one thing on our minds. Tonight was the night that we were going to spend the night inside the old widow’s mansion. It may sound cliché even silly but that’s only because you have never seen this house that remained the most infamous building in our small town for many decades.

Legend had it that the house was built for the widow as a token of the undying love of her soon to be husband. He came from a very rich family as blue blood as they come they were very much in love and their romance was talked about by all the towns people as something nothing less than enchanting. The entire town was over ran with excitement their wedding day came closer and closer it was sure to be the biggest event the townsfolk had ever witnessed. Then the news came everyone was shocked and heartbroken to find out that the young man had been in a terrible accident. The widow a much younger and beautiful lady back then had always dreamt of riding down the aisle on matching white horses but her lover was quit afraid of the creatures and had never rode one. As a surprise to his bride he had been receiving lessons masking them as out of town business calls. No one really knows what happened just that his horse was spooked and he was tossed from its back his head cracking against a sharp stone causing him to bleed to death before ever reaching any form of medical attention. When the bride was given this horrible news she changed both inside and outside. The town’s people stopped seeing the young woman her lawn grew higher and higher and for months and month’s rumors ran ramped throughout the small town. After no sign of the woman for what felt like an eternity a group of local kids finally took it upon themselves to enter the home. They slowly worked their way up the endless flights of stairs. Each level of the house a rancid smell gained more and more strength almost screaming turn back to the boys. Finally they all took the final step lining up side by side none said a word for a moment only gasped in horror before storming from the home screaming one boy throwing up in the lawn as soon as he cleared the mansions front door.

“What did they find?” “What is it they saw that was so terrible?”

Hanging from doorway of her upstairs bedroom swung the now decaying corpse of the young widow covered in various bugs that had began to eat away at her blue lifeless flesh.

Only one family lived in that home after the houses image was forever tainted by this terrible tragedy. They managed to stay there for 3 months before abandoning the home never even bothering to put it back on the market. Over the years many teenagers and other curious minds have entered the house staying for only short periods of them before running out with fear in their eyes. But not us not tonight we were going to spend the night and become legends.

The sun was just setting as we finally got the nerve to approach the door of the towering mansion. We had spent hours just standing in the jungle like yard surveying the outside of the home trying to get the courage to step foot inside this house of horrors.

“Screw it man, It’s do or die and we both know legends never die” my friend yelled trying to mimic the badass tone of Bruce Campbell one of our person heroes.

Without warning he grabbed his backpack and walked up to the door at full speed. I quickly followed behind stopping for a moment just in time to watch the front door swing open and my friend take the first step inside. I entered and stood to his side much like the boys from the story we grew up hearing year after year. Our eyes peered scanning every inch of the house that we could see. It looked like something you’d see in a drive in horror movie 50s furniture and décor covered in thick layers of dust and spider webs. Sticks and leaves covered the floor most likely blowing in over the years from the broken side window. The smell god I will never forget that smell I imagine it would be the odor left behind after years of use of an embalming room the scent of death.

Slowly we started up the stairs walking room to room on each floor. Nothing happening we both were starting to believe this was a story to be filed away along with the Easter bunny and Santa Claus. Bored and coming to the conclusion that this was going to be easier than we thought we decided to take a break before moving up the never ending staircase. We both flopped down on a dirty covered couch a cloud of dust filling the air as we laughed and coughed at the sheer cheesiness of the situation.

Then we heard the sound a low high pitch squeal accompanied by a soft scratching sound. We looked at each other for a moment before laughing.

“And then I saw the hook!” I said aloud mocking the sound.

My friend burst into laughter and at the same time we heard a loud boom echo throughout the house causing us both to jump at the same time. Our hearts raced to the point they felt like they were going to tear themselves out of our chests and flee the scene at their own will. We both lit up a cigarette without saying a word trying to calm ourselves before we let our imagination get out of hand. After all it was just a story nothing more than a ruse to scare children and add a little excitement to small town life. We spent much of the night in that room killing time knowing we’d have to reach the top before the sun comes out. A photo of the others standing outside from the top floor window was the final piece of proof required to make us the coolest kids this town has ever known.

Together we started up the stairs skipping the last two floors heading straight to the mission at hand. If we were ever going to escape our mundane life of lower class society and join the popular kids at the top of the food chain we were going to have to stare fear in the face. This is the moment in time that will be burnt into my eyes for the rest of my life in this plane. It haunts every second of my existence both when I sleep and when I’m awake.

My friend made it up first he made no sound said not one word. And I never heard him say anything after either as I walked up the final steps I saw him standing in the door way of the first room motionless. I reached for his shoulder to make sure he was alright and his body fell backwards like a statue. His skin pale white his face contorted into a horrible face mimicking a scream of pure terror. I raised my head once again and there I saw her covered in maggots and flies her eyes locked onto my own. She swung side to side her toe nails scrapping across the decaying wood floor she reached out towards me as I let out a scream that could be heard in the deepest darkest confines of space.

I woke up the next morning in a hospital bed I sat up letting out the last few notes of the scream that I had started the night before. My parents quickly rushed to my side putting their arms around me and telling me everything was ok. They demanded to know what happened in that house the night before. My only answer which remains the same even today when asked was “We found evil”.

My friend died that night of a severe heart attack it was found out later that the kids we entered the home to impress had also mounted a dummy swinging from a nose in the upstairs bedroom. But what I saw, no, what we saw was no dummy and I will never forget the look of anger in the old widow’s eyes at the thought of being mocked by the cold heartless living.


Happy Halloween From The Liberal Dead! May you're season be filled with endless screams.

Rammbock AKA Siege Of The Dead (2010) Review by: Shawn Savage

I know what you're saying. Another zombie movie? Saying that the market is over-saturated with zombie films right now would be an understatement. Thought I've personally had a life-long obsession with the sub-genre, today the world has gone zombie crazy. Unfortunately, most of these films barely meet even watchable standards. Most that are solid entries slip through the cracks, and never reach their audience. Half-assed cash-ins are what wind up getting most of the attention. Hell, even the godfather of the genre has a bad track record with his last couple of films. It seems that if you want to see a good zombie film, you have to go out of your way to do so. "Rammbock" is one of those films that you should see by any means necessary.

"Rammbock" is a German film that follows Michael as he travels to Berlin in order to give his ex-girlfriend, Gabbi, the keys to her apartment back. Once Michael arrives, there is a strange man wrestling with Gabbi's radiator heater. As the man becomes more and more aggressive, it soon becomes evident that something is off. Soon, a young man named Harper shows up, who was apparently on a job with the man whom we can now see is bound to the heater. A wave of infection has ravaged the population of what seems to be a country-wide radius, turning them into savage creatures with a ferocious appetite for human flesh.

If you're anything like me, you go into a zombie movie thinking you know the score. You've seen it all, and it's not possible for them to show you anything you haven't already seen. One of the beautiful things about "Rammbock", is that it isn't your standard zombie film. Not all of the same conventions and logic apply. Yes, you can still be infected by being bitten by one of the ghouls, but they've added another layer on top of that. While you're technically still infected if you swap bodily fluids with one of these bad boys, you're still a member of the living unless you let your emotions get out of control. Extreme feelings from either side of the emotional spectrum will expedite your new career as one of the walking dead, also incorporating ideas such as ingesting sedatives in order to keep your cool. Another unique thing about this film is the way in which you dispense of the walking corpses. Sure, a good blast to the head will still do the trick, but one character learns that the dead are affected by another unique way. The method discovered may not kill the zombies, but it hurts them bad enough to possibly clear a path.

Zombie films today are mostly spent following a scantily clad bombshell as she blasts her way through the undead with what seems to be an unlimited amount of ammo for some of the most powerful weapons on the planet. In "Rammbock" the survivors react the way you would assume they should, by running their asses off. This is hard to do from within a cramped apartment complex, so instead of assaulting the audience with 90 minutes of popcorn action that would make even Michael Bay blush, what we are treated to is a merciless game of cat and mouse. Each move the survivors make seems to push them back further and further, until finally it's fight or flight. The amazing set design, coupled with some spectacular cinematography and lighting lend to a creepy and unnerving experience. Just when you think you get a break from the assault, another wall caves and the survivors are back in peril.

There are a plethora of zombie films to choose from this year. Some are great, most are mediocre at best. If you're sick to death of the genre, and can only handle one more zombie film, I highly recommend that it be this one. The film clocks in at a single hour, so there's never time for it to let up. The pacing is impeccable, and allows for character development, even though it feels like you're under a constant barrage of bloodthirsty demons. If you're becoming increasingly annoyed with the lackluster options to choose from in this massively overused sub-genre, this may be the film that makes you remember why you fell in love with zombies to begin with. The quote on the cover says that Romero would be proud, and I agree with that statement. "Rammbock" is a must see for not only fans of zombies, but fans of creepy atmospheric horror as well. I'm not sure if this is the first attempt at a zombie film from Germany, but it certainly is an amazing one. I hope to see more films like this coming from the region. American filmmakers could learn a thing or two as well. If you're going to continue to beat that dead horse that is the zombie film, take not, because THIS is how you fucking do it.

9/10

Altitude (2010) Review by: Shawn Savage

"Altitude" follows a freshly licensed pilot as she flies her and her friends across the country for a concert. Some unexpected weather causes them to increase their altitude in order to fly above it. Once in a steady incline, the plane's mechanics malfunction, causing them to be unable to level out. As the plane rises higher and higher, strange things begin to happen, but are they actually happening, or are they becoming delirious from the lack of oxygen?

Though the trailer would lead you to believe that "Altitude" is little more than a low budget creature feature, it's actually much more. Instead of focusing on some poorly animated creature stalking and killing the characters, we follow them in a downward spiral to madness. The film plays with the viewers senses. I started feeling claustrophobic before the plane even left the strip. Halfway through the movie, not only was I uneasy due to the tight quarters, but completely disoriented.

The way in which the film is shot leaves the viewer completely disoriented. Shot almost entirely within a tiny airplane, it becomes hard to decipher whether the plane is still in a steep incline, or if a decline has begun. Instead of inventing some monster to try and invoke fear, "Altitude" does well to play on things that terrify you in real life. I squirmed my way throughout this entire film. Having not only a fear of enclosed spaces, but a deep fear of heights, I felt battered for the duration of the film. The best horror are those that effect you personally, and if you share these phobias, you're in for some terror.


Though the cast of characters are as cliched as can be, the casting was excellent. Everyone plays their part in near pitch perfect harmony. Playing off of one another, making it believable that they are actually a group of friends. Since Altitude is a character study, this works well for the film, as we follow the group on a decent into insanity. The concept of delirium induced by lack of oxygen lives or dies by the cast's performances. Had they just phoned it in, this movie would have failed completely. Thankfully, competence was shown, and this clever little story unfolds just as it should.


The setting is incredible. Though almost completely green screen, it's highly believable, and impressive. It takes talent to pile a group of actors into a tiny airplane on a sound stage, bump it up and down and have the end product turn out not only good, but intense and original. "Altitude" is not going to be for everyone. If you're going into the film expecting a creature feature b-movie, you're going to be disappointed. However, if you crave psychologically terrifying stories that plays out in a brutally claustrophobic setting, this may be a hidden Halloween treat for you.


"Altitude" is available today on both DVD and Blu-Ray. Though a DVD viewing will suffice, if you have the technology I highly recommend giving the Blu-Ray a whirl. With a crystal clear 1080p presentation, and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel audio, "Altitude" is sure to rock your home entertainment system.


7.5/10

13 Hours (2010) Review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Sarah Tyler (Isabella Calthorpe) returns to her troubled family home in the isolated countryside, for a much put-off visit. As a storm rages outside, Sarah, her family and friends shore up for the night, cut off from the outside world. But something comes out of the driving rain and darkness, something that holds a dark secret so devastating that, in one night, it could wipe out the entire family in "13 hours".

What a perfect movie for Halloween, this film was precisely what I needed to get me into the holiday spirit. Thanks to a mind blowing script and some truly breath taking practical special effects "13 Hours" is a must see, and for a lot of you I believe it will end up earning a spot on your DVD shelves.

A constant topic with Shawn and me has been the lack of really good werewolf films; this will actually be gone into with more dept in an upcoming article. With that said, yes this is a werewolf film, and not only is it a werewolf movie, but a really good one.

The script is just incredible; the story unfolds at a flawless pace and does a great job of keeping the viewers interest during its entire runtime. The writer and director did a remarkable job at creating a truly creepy atmosphere, with the use of a desolate location and the constant tension of the characters that have no clue what they're up against.

Watching the characters unravel as the pressure rises gives them a very real and human vibe, making it easier for you to develop an attachment to them forcing you to want things to pan out in their favor. As I have said in earlier reviews, this is something I think is very important especially in a age where a lot of sub characters end up just feeling like random slabs of meat, written in solely for the purpose of being killed. But when you make your audience feel for both the main and even the sub characters, you'll get a much stronger reaction when they die than simply shock and awe of the brutal nature of their demise. While the characters come off ultra whiney at times, it does ad to who they are and helps push along the way you are meant to view them as people. The character development I felt was very strong in this film and really added to this entire feel.

The special effects in "13 Hours" made me smile like the Mad Hatter, what an astounding display of practical effects, and once again proof that hands on buckets of blood and latex will remain superior to CGI as long as there are those who practice and continue to improve the craft. The werewolf's do not look like what you would typically expect, but once you get a good look you'll be pleased with the direction the film took. If you are a fan of monster movies, and find yourself craving a skillfully produced werewolf flick look no further than "13 Hours".

On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "13 Hours" an 8 out of 10 and award for best werewolf movie I have watched in a very long time.

8/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

The Liberal Dead Interviews One of The Book of Zombie's Directors Scott Kragelund

I'm sure it is pretty easy to see that we here at The Liberal Dead, are in fact very large fans of the zombie sub-genre. When I first laid my eyes on "The Book of Zombie" and read the synopsis I was beyond intrigued and found myself thinking "How does one kill a Mormon zombie?" After finally seeing the film, I was totally blown away and the same night contacted the director and writer Scott Kragelund. Who was cool enough to agree to give us some of his time to answer some questions for you readers, without further delay I present to you Scott Kragelund, a name you better get used to seeing if "The Book of Zombie" is just the beginning of the genius hidden in this man's brain.


TLD: Welcome Scott, and thank you for taking the time to speak with us, to get things started how about a little about yourself? What is your background in horror? And what got you interested in the industry?

Scott: I direct TV news in the Seattle market, but I've always wanted to do something in the entertainment realm. So that's why we decided to do something fun. I have to be honest, the Horror genre was not my first love. I'm more of an Action/Comedy type of guy. So me and some co-workers were kicking around some ideas of what project we should do, and somehow we whittled it down to Mormon Zombies. It seemed like an attention grabber. Nobody thought I was serious until I wrote a 7 page short story and dropped it in their laps. I got their attention, and after several re-writes, I handed it off to Erik Van Sant who had some screen writing experience, and he turned it into a feature film.

TLD: "The Book of Zombie" is your first film correct? Do you plan on making your home in the horror genre? Or is it just a starting point of sorts for yourself?

Scott: TBOZ is our first project and it made me a bigger fan of Horror films. As long as I get to be creative, I don't really care what the next project is. TBOZ is definitely a starting point for me, I hope it leads to more projects.

TLD: I have to admit man, Mormon zombies has to be one of the most unique takes on the genre I have ever witnessed, and the fact you came up with a special method needed in order to kill them, instead of taking the easy way out and just using the same old zombie formula but having the film set in a Mormon community speaks volume about your creative side. How did this idea come to be? Have you had any fallout from the Mormon community?

Scott: The idea of Mormon Zombies was basically something that I thought would grab the Youtube generation's attention. In fact, when I wrote the short story, it was originally titled "MORMON ZOMBIES", because we wanted people to be intrigued just from the title. Some of the ideas were based on one of my trips to Southern Utah where I got to witness some interesting stuff, but we haven't had any bad fallout from the Mormon community. We've actually had nothing but positive feedback from Mormons. Erik Van Sant (writer/co-director) and I, actually did an interview for a Mormon reporter and we had a blast answering his questions, and I think the reporter liked us even more after the interview.

TLD: The gore in "The Book of Zombie" was nothing shy of gorgeous, and from what I saw all practical latex and buckets of blood, do you prefer this method over CG? And while we are on the subject what is your take on many studios now going that route even for things that can easily be done practically?

Scott: The gore in TBOZ was all thanks to Marcel Banks. At the time of shooting, he was a 20 year old Tacoma guy who we recruited off of Craigslist. We struck gold with him. I would always choose practical effects over CGI, not just because they are cheaper, but because people can root out marginal CGI in a second. Even with mediocre buckets of blood, you can make the audience cringe.

TLD: So Scott, do you have any future projects you're able to talk about? Anything coming up for those craving to see what your capable of after such a flawless debut?

Scott: I have a couple projects on the horizon but we are still putting a huge amount of time into TBOZ. We are working the festival circuit trying to drum up a possible distribution deal. If nothing hits soon, then we'll just sell our DVD off the website. But we're in no hurry right now, we want TBOZ to get to as many people through festivals as possible. TBOZ was just in Scotland at the DEAD BY DAWN festival and we got a great reaction over there as well. It's been great to see all the positive comments we've received.

TLD: If you could remake any IP with no restriction to budget, what would you choose and who would you like to be involved with the project as far as casts go?

Scott: If I could redo one thing about this film, it would be to take our time. We were under a strict deadline by the City of Auburn to shoot our movie in 4 months and then they were going to knock the buildings down for re-development. So we definitely made some rookie mistakes in the shooting that I think we could have avoided if we weren't under such a crazy deadline. But all in all, I'm very proud of the final product.

TLD: While on the subject of budgets, what did you spend on "The Book of Zombie" if you don't mind talking about it? Did you pick up any tricks of the trade working on a indie budget that you would like to share with some future film makers out there working on a shoe string budget?

Scott: We only spent around 15 thousand dollars for this film. And it was mostly out of our own pockets with a few donations. We were extremely lucky with TBOZ, we were able to get everyone to donate their time to this project. Actors, Crew, equipment, we just kept on calling in favors and everyone did it for free, it was great to see that kind of response.

TLD: Quick Save one, Kill one, Eat one! Betty White, Vanilla Ice, and The cast of "Little House on The Prairie" Go!

Scott: Save Betty White, Kill Vanilla Ice, and eat one of the Little Prairie kids.

TLD: Which statement do you most agree with? Real zombies are reanimated corpses that were once deceased and have a slow pace of movement or zombies can be created by various means and run like cheetahs?

Scott: I know its controversial to say fast zombies, but I'll be honest, slow moving zombies just aren't that scary to me. When I first saw 28 days later, it scared the crap out of me. I know some other films have tried to do the fast zombie thing (with less success) but damn , fast zombies are just more creepy. (Zach Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake is one of my favorite zombie films, and he was able to successfully blend slow and fast zombies)

TLD: Who do you consider to be the king of zombies? Romero? Fulci? someone else?

Scott: The King of Zombies will always be Romero. I know he hasn't hit on all cylinders lately, but he's the man. Fulci did some great things and some of them even better than Romero, but Romero is King.

TLD: If you had to choose one film from 2010 so far that just rocked your socks horror wise, what would it be?

Scott: I can't speak for any Horror films in 2010 just yet, but let me just say that THE GRUDGE messed me up. And I'm talking the American version. I didn't know that Ju-On (the Korean version) was first, so I saw the American version without any expectations, and it blew me away. I was looking at shadows differently for a week.

TLD: Alright Scott your trapped inside a two story barn with only the following items, a container of gasoline, A Pistol with 3 bullets, A pitchfork, A rope, and the keys to a truck that is exactly 30 yards from the entrance. The Barn has become totally surrounded by the undead and your time is running out, what do you do?

Scott: From the second floor, I throw the container of gas at the closest zombies, shoot one round at the container and blow it up to clear a path. Tie the rope to the pitchfork, bury the pitchfork in the rafter, swing myself down to the ground and run like hell for the truck. If things go bad, I still have one bullet for another zombie and one for myself.

TLD: Before we take off, is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers Scott? Anything you want to pimp or plug to all the sick fucks out there that call The Liberal Dead home? Words of wisdom? Warning of the end is near?

Scott: Last note, I just want to say that TBOZ was done by a bunch of dudes who just wanted to be creative. This movie was a real team effort. There are too many names to list here that I want to thank, but we would have never finished this film if we had lost anyone that is on our crew list.

When we finally do print the DVD, it will have a one hour behind the scenes section that details how a bunch of regulars like ourselves pulled this movie off. So stay tuned.

(note: Scott is one of the 3 writers/directors on this project along side Paul Cranefield and Erik Van Sant)

TLD: There you have it everyone the writer and director of the sure to be cult classic "The Book of Zombie", Scott Kragelund. Be sure to check out "The Book of Zombie" and be prepared to fall in love with the genre all over again.

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Luster (2010) Review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Thomas Luster (Andrew Howard) is a troubled businessman who tries to make sense of a life being driven out-of-control by a force closer to home than he first realizes. After battling an never ending case of Insomnia he turns to medication to induce sleep, when he starts to notice things are spiraling out of control as mysterious letters start to appear Thomas will find himself in a twisted tale of murder, madness and mayhem in the bizarre and terrifying "Luster".

When you hear the name Adam Mason followed by Andrew Howard, you instantly are filled with this sudden realization that you are in for a treat, it is almost the same feeling you get Christmas morning as a child, when you look over at your clock and take in what day it is, at least that is how I feel every time I find out they are working together on another project and it was no different when I heard the news that "Luster" was in the works.

I have watched this film now a total of four times, and each and every time I view it, I find more and more to like about it. Once again Adam Mason has a winner on his hands with "Luster" and proves that he is not a name to be forgotten. After a string of classics such as "The Devils Chair", "Blood River" and "Pig" and now "Luster" he has gone way beyond the needed criteria to land a spot on my list of top horror directors.

"Luster" has it all, a solid and entertaining story that is both original and ultra thought provoking, stunning practical special effects that shame most big budget Hollywood releases by sticking to the gritty and raw feeling that Mason has mastered over the years, and to finish the total package an excellent all around cast and convincing top notch acting by all who were involved.

Once again Andrew Howard does an incredible job, this time portraying Thomas Luster, who has found himself on a downward spiral in every sense of the word. Andrew delivers such a realistic and moving performance, you really build up an attachment and sense of honestly feeling bad for his character and what he is going through something that is rarely achieved in the horror genre these days where most characters are nothing more than slabs of meat included for the sake of being dismantled in gruesome ways.

The entire cast of "Luster" did astonishing jobs with their characters, Tess Panzer, who plays Thomas's wife Jennifer Luster was on top of her game, and my personal favorite character Les played by Tommy Flanagan, who you may recognized from his role on the hit FX series "Son's of Anarchy" really stole the show for me, you would honestly believe that he was a homeless vet he plays the role so authentically.

The writing ability of Adam Mason and Simon Boyes, time after time produce truly creepy and most of the times very feasible scenario's in their viewers minds that leave them haunted forever by what they just witnessed. "Luster" is no different in this department, once it all becomes unraveled and you grasp what has been going on you will find yourself desperately craving to find another soul who has seen the film so you can gab about it like a tween girl who just finished the latest issue of "Tiger Beat".

While "Luster" is not your typical Adam Mason style horror film, as it has more thriller, psychological, who did it undertones than his previous films, any fans of his earlier work will not be let down this time around. While there is not as much gore in "Luster" as his previous films either, when it does occur it's done in the familiar gritty fashion that Adam has always delivered in his films.

I guarantee after you watch "Luster" you'll think twice about taking that little chalk flavored capsule in order to get to sleep when a bout of insomnia strikes you again, you'll start to second guess yourself every time you "Misplace" an object in your home and you will forever feel the effects left behind by "Luster", ensuring that there's always a part of you that asks what if?

Thanks to an insanely strong script, and characters that are both believable and memorable both main and supporting wise, "Luster" is sure to win crowd after crowd whenever it is released. I highly recommend any fan of the horror genre go out of their way to see this movie upon release and if you are not familiar with Adam Mason's earlier work, I insist that you IMDB his name and go down the list, I would start with "The Devils Chair" and work my way through his impressive library of true horror films.

On Behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Luster" a very solid and deserving 9 out of 10, and award for best psychological twist in a horror film in a very long time.

9/10



- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Horror Happy Hour: Aaah! Zombies Video Review by Dave and Krys Caroleo

 

Horror Happy Hour: Long Pigs Video Review by Dave and Krys Caroleo

 

Let Me In (2010) Review by: Shawn Savage

"Let Me In" is the American remake to the Swedish phenomenon "Let The Right One In". I'll be the first to admit that I've had it up to my asshole with this remake bullshit. At this point it seems like 3 out of every 5 new trailers that premieres is for another goddamn remake. It's getting old, and very rarely are the end products even worth mentioning. "Let Me In" is one of those rare occasions where not only is it worth mentioning, It's worth recommending. Despite a few moments of pure Americanization, the film basically unfolds in the same manner.

The story follows Owen, a lonely kid, going through the nasty divorce of his parents at home, and constant bullying at school. While spying on his neighbors one day, he notices Abby, played by the amazing Chloe Moretz(Kick-Ass). Abby is a strange girl, walking barefoot through the snow with what Owen can only assume is her dad. After a few awkward encounters, the two become infatuated with one another, and from here, the story really sinks it's teeth in you.

While "Let Me In" is most certainly a horror film, much like the original, the real focus of the story is the relationship between these two  young lovers. There is some real on-screen chemistry between Owen and Abby, so much so that it's almost impossible to be disgusted, even at their lowest point. Both young actors do a fantastic job at portraying their roles. Your film is only as strong as your actors, and it's usually a hard sale when it comes to child actors. Chloe impressed the hell out of me in hit girl, and has done so once again with her performance in "Let Me In". It's hard to ignore her enthralling on-screen presence. She has the potential to be one of the greats.

It's hard for me to explain, but films used to have a certain feel to them. With the invention of HD cams, it's become less demanding to make a film. While this is mostly good news, the downside is, you have to weed through much more crap than you used to. When "Let Me In" started, the music, combined with the spectacular aerial photography filled me with a certain feeling that I don't often get when I go to the cinema. I exhaled deeply, and said to myself, "This is a fuckin' movie". There is no gimmick, no first person handicam found footage. Just impeccable filmmaking.

The mood created by "Let Me In" is dark, dreary, and beautiful. Set in a snowy winter, the backdrop of a frigid winter adds a creepy factor to an already creepy story. The film is also littered with 80s pop culture references, including an awesome 80s pop soundtrack, Mrs. Pacman, and the terrible tasting(in my opinion) candies, "Now and Laters". Thankfully it only adds to the overall package. A lot of the time when directors aim to set their film in that period, it feels tacked on, and more like a gimmick. The end result that we are given by director Matt Reeves(Cloverfield) is up there with Ti West's "The House Of The Devil" as far as feeling genuine goes.

Those of you that like a little dose of crimson juice in your films should not fret, there is enough bloody violence in "Let Me In" to wet your whistles as well. The effects were handled extremely well, and the fact that everything around our characters is covered in glistening white snow adds to the payoff when it's time to get a little wet.

The sound design was particularly impressive. Several scenes actually made ME jump, simply because the sound crafted to do so. Scenes are set up so that it's quiet enough to give you a sense of security, until a blood curdling scream sends chills down your spine, and possibly urine into your underoos. The score is also very beautiful, and fits the tone of the film perfectly.

"Let Me In" is one of those rare films that will appeal to both die-hard fans of the genre, and those that just really enjoy a good story. The horror elements are prevalent enough to maintain it's genre status, even among purists, while the dramatic way in which the story unfolds will be sure to please even those that are looking for a touching love story.

Yes, "Let Me In" is a remake, and most of the time, that's reason enough to skip it. I implore you though, don't be stubborn and miss out on this experience just because you're trying to send a message to Hollywood. I'm as sick of the remake silliness as much as the next guy, but I'm glad I squashed all of that and went to see this film anyway. If anything, you should flock to the theater in droves. If you want to send a message, send the message that if you're going to make a remake, THIS is how it's done. Hollywood, while we would so very much rather you would give us some original horror films, if you're going to continue the remake parade, take note, as this is one of the most competent remakes ever unleashed.

8.5/10

Nightmare Aka Atmosfear (Video Board Game) (1991) review by: Adam "Mudman" Bezecny

One of the dictionary definitions of the word “movie”—blatantly the most valuable word of all in film criticism, for it is via this definition that we as critics do our work—is, “A sequence of photographs projected onto a screen with sufficient rapidity as to create the illusion of motion and continuity.” Therefore, theoretically, anything that you watch on a TV or screen, whether it’s part of a show, or something that you watch on tape or DVD or Blu-Ray, is, at least in part, a movie.

Right?

I’m seeking justification because this review makes me feel like I’m cheating.
Is Nightmare a movie? Well, it’s on a screen. It moves, with certain (albeit questionable) movement and continuity. I say questionable simply through the merit of its lack of a true plot. Maybe that’s what makes it a gem. And maybe its status as a gem makes me insane. And my status as a madman makes you all equally insane. There’s a cliff in the future for all of us.

Nightmare was actually a board game that was made in a particular style—mainly one that is entirely reliant or at least largely reliant on a VHS tape that was included with the game. Nightmare, or Atmosfear, as it sometimes called, is of course the movie on that VHS tape. I’ve had the severe displeasure of watching some other board game movies, like Clue and a couple of others; those are more plot-driven, but they really suffer for it. Is Nightmare more comforting? I really don’t know, nor do I care.

We meet a guy in a black robe called the Gatekeeper, or, as his ridiculous accent states, “the Gatekeepair”. His hobbies include standing around, staring, yelling, and banishing players of his game to the black hole, a space on the board that prevents you from playing—he enjoys calling it “the blaghoel”. And he’ll say it a lot, too, just to get his point across.

So, since there really isn’t a linear storyline, this may be my most challenging review yet. But, there is a linear sequence of events, each more hilarious then the last, so this may be my best review ever. Essentially, the Gatekeeper introduces himself and tells the players he will appear onscreen from time to time to give out rewards and punishments. And he does this for a while. Fortunately, something changes. He eventually denotes someone as the “Chosen One”, and tells them he will summon them when the time is right. Minutes later, he summons them and tells them to leave their seat and get close to the screen—the camera keeps zooming in on him as he whispers for them to get closer and closer. But finally, he shouts loudly and says, “Do not ever get that close to me again, little maggot!” It’s quite hilarious, but there’s more before the night is out.

He also looks for the oldest and youngest players. When he finds the oldest, he refers to them as “the old one”, and says things to your imaginary answers to his questions, which plays out as follows: “How old are you? … That old? … The others must pity you! Ha, ha, ha!” Then, he threatens to kill the old one in real life. He also yells at the youngest a lot. Both are ridiculously disturbing, complete with lines like, “Wait! I want to play with the young one again!”

Halfway through, his voice starts to have a second dubbed layer to it which shifts in pitch, which I guess is supposed to make him more spooky. He also gets wrinkly and his eyes turn yellow, which is actually not that bad looking. Still, he never really gets…scary. He just gets abusive. Did I mention this is the only full-motion video (FMV) board game to get a PG rating? It was for player abuse. He also snorts a lot, exactly like a pig.
Ultimately, though, if the video ends, so does the game and all the players lose. Pretty much, in-game, you have to get a certain number of keys to draw a Fear Card, and if you draw the card that you wrote your worst nightmare on, you have conquered your nightmare and win. But again, if the tape runs out, the Gatekeeper wins and it’s game over. Still, though, near the end, as the formerly-low ambience in the background grows louder, and the moon in the corner grows more full, we do get an awesome line: “The ghost train is coming—listen to its scream”. Neat.

I watched this without the game board, and most of the video is just the timer ticking upwards to the hour mark. There is some music, and like I said, the moon grows more and more full. So, it’s not so much of a movie as it is just an hourglass—but remember this: hourglasses don’t have hilariously bad actors in black robes to make pig noises at you and scream “little maggot” every five seconds.

Who needs plot? It moves, doesn’t it? Ain’t that enough? You can watch the whole thing in about twenty minutes if you skip the timer—and trust me, I don’t need to tell you that you don’t want to stare at a clock for forty minutes. The Gatekeeper will become like an old friend. Take some time out of your schedule and trip out.

- Adam "Mudman" Bezecny

Night of the Demons (2009) Review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

A group of friends attend a Halloween party held in one of the most notorious mansions in New Orleans, where eight years ago, six people disappeared without a trace, and the owner was found hanging from a noose, as the night progress they find themselves fighting for their own lives from the same evil spirits that claimed the lives of the six missing people years ago in the remake of the 1988 horror classic "Night of the Demons"

As a fan of the original film and also a known fan of Edward Furlong I had been looking forward to viewing this film for some time now, and after watching it I must say I'm pleased. This is a perfect Halloween get together movie to watch with a group of friends, made to watch while munching down on snacks and having some laughs, it sticks to the tried and true, modus operandi of a authentic 80s style sleazy comedy horror flick tits, drugs, and gore, what more could one ask for?

When it comes to remakes, this is one of the better ones I've seen, it really does a good job at capturing the same feel as the original but modernizes it enough for this generation to relate to it better. I found myself laughing out loud many times, and the typical "Why the fuck is she going to the basement" screaming at the television occurred while watching "Night of the Demons" which added to the retro fun immensely.

I also have to mention that this movie has one of the best soundtracks ever, for anyone who is into psychobilly, horror punk, or metal, id would even go as far as to say it is just as good of a soundtrack as "Return of the Living Dead" which in fact is the preeminent horror movie soundtrack in my opinion. Featuring such bands as TSOL, Wednesday 13, Type O Negative, 45 Grave, and more it's truly an epic soundtrack.

The special effects and gore in "Night of the Demons" are nothing short of pure awesome rolled up in sugar and served on a silver splatter. Gore, lots and lots of sweet, satisfying, stomach churning, torn flesh and barrels of blood gore that we all grew to love in the 80s and 90s era of horror. This movie will take you back to when it was ok to be as sleazy as you wanted when it came to making a horror movie, there was very little worry of offending the general public because in all reality this movie was not for them, it was for the die hard and loyal crowds of horror fans who flocked to the films.

If you're looking for a good movie to sick down and watch to get into the Halloween spirit, I highly recommend you watch the remake of "Night of the Demons", it's fun, gory, campy, and at times hilarious, on behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "Night of the Demons" a 8 out of 10, and award for best demon sex scene.

8/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Ozone! Attack of the Redneck Mutants (1986) Review by: Adam "Mudman" Bezecny

There are things in this world that make me angry—when people insult my family or my politics; when people stab me in the back; when I lose a girl to some jerk-ass…Although you wouldn’t be able to tell from just the printed word, I can get pretty passionate about my anger. That’s why…

Argh!

Two years! Two years I spend looking for a DVD-R of Matt Devlen’s Ozone! Attack of the Redneck Mutants! You know, the sister movie to The Abomination? I finally find one that’s affordable. I buy it, and what do I get? A cheap zombie movie that’s not funny, not scary, and just downright gross. The sleaze bucket has hit the deck again and this time it got broken, spilling its floppy, slimy contents over everyone involved.

The premise is actually relatively simple—the ozone layer is being destroyed by pollution. Without the ozone layer, radiation from space turns people into pukey-faced ball-o-slime mutant zombies. We meet the cast of characters: Kevin, the rich, whiny teenager whose dad is polluting the atmosphere (Cody from The Abomination); Arlene, Kevin’s love interest, a neo-hippie trying to protect the environment from being turned into a paradise for mutants (Cody’s girlfriend from The Abomination); Wade, a fat annoying hillbilly who likes to burp and shoot pumpkins; Wade’s mom, who likes to force-feed people fried chicken; and the rest. We get some hillbilly making-out, some hillbilly flossing, some hillbilly standup, all played for laughs. There’s way too much profanity. We do get a cool mutated coyote, made from latex and papier mache. And, we get the mutants.

The mutants are a triumph of the zombie-makeup industry—the actors are completely slathered in black, green, or purple goo, and I assume are now dead from being forced to swallow and then puke up large amounts of industrial paint—which ends up everywhere. Yes, people who are afraid of moisture or dampness (like me) beware; these mutants like to dribble, drip, drool, and generally just make a mess. It ends up everywhere; on furniture, on corpses, in fishtanks, and in someone’s mouth. And yes, I’d have to say that the scene that really did it for me was the scene where one of the mutants tries to make out with one of the girls while disemboweling her, dribbling zombie slime and all. In the end, everyone ends up zombified or dead, so it doesn’t really matter.

I suppose this movie had something to prove. I like the environmental message that they put in—in the wake of the BP disaster, it actually leaves an impact. Unfortunately, the problem is that everyone ends up becoming a caricature—Arlene’s a liberal freak, and Kevin’s so rich and conservative he’s never really lived. Both sides will end up becoming offended, even if they get away with a sneaky smile.

Gross-out wonder or tragic mindflayer? I choose both. Ozone is no Abomination, not by far, and I think I speak for those of us who have seen it when I say that gurgling slime and purposely-bad standup do not a good movie make. Still, the tumultuous chaos that makes up most of the movie does make it worth at least one viewing. Otherwise, feel free to avoid.

- Adam "Mudman" Bezecny

Cherry Tree Lane (2010) Review by: Shawn Savage

"Cherry Tree Lane" is going to split audiences. It's being sold as an entry into the torture genre, and being compared to the likes of Funny Games, but truth be told, it's everything but. A solid script, grounded in reality, and some immaculate cinematography elevate this to the top of the pack when it comes to films of the like.

The story focuses on a normal family, settling in after a long day at work to dinner in front of the TV. Soon, a buzz of the doorbell will change their lives forever. A group of teenage thugs have forced their way into the couples home, and are holding them at gunpoint. Apparently, their son has snitched on one of their friends, causing him to go to prison, and they're there to show him how they feel about that.

The difference between "Cherry Tree Lane" and other home invasion movies, is that here, they aren't trying to distract you by gratuitous displays of crimson brutality. Instead of concentrating on the carnage, the director opts to focus on the reaction of the other person as they listen in horror to the things being done to their loved one in the background. In a lot of ways, this makes the film more heart wrenching than any gore could have. One scene in particular that stuck with me after the film was over, was a scene where one of the characters is trying to sneak up the stairs, once he nears the top, he can hear the invaders describing what they are doing in the distance. This was an extremely effective sequence, and it really disturbed me.

One of the most impressive aspects of this film is the camera work. Some will certainly find it to bee too artsy, and most probably won't even notice, but for me, it added an extra layer of efficacy to an already sumptuous presentation. As the film opens, the camera focuses on a boiling pot from behind the stove. Out of focus down a hallways is one of the main characters, you can faintly hear her talking on the phone. This may sound unnecessary on paper, but I felt it was astonishingly implemented. The unique camera tricks and angles continue throughout the picture. A decent amount of otherwise competently filmed movies are held back by their bland, by the numbers presentation. I get so tired of films deploying the same style, the same quick cut MTV style editing, the same cinematography, lacking creativity, or even decent set design. A keen eye for detail will stand out amongst the other tripe, at least amongst some circles of moviegoers.

I'm from the states, so I'm a bit clueless as to the "Chav" phenomenon. I have no way to tell whether or not the performances are authentic. I do know, as an avid follower of film, that the performances in "Cherry Tree Lane" were realistic enough to give me chills. In most films of this nature, the antagonists are always menacing, and written to be clearly evil. This time around, the characters were written with almost a layer of innocence. Yes, they are committing an unspeakable act, but they seem completely unaware of this fact. The time spent waiting on their intended victim to return home is mostly spent eating, watching TV, getting stoned, and making personal phone calls. You really get the sense that these kids were never taught the difference between right and wrong.

One thing I can't be clear enough on, is that if you go into this film expecting a gorefest, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Brutal, disturbing things happen in this movie, but as mentioned before, instead of focusing on the violence, "Cherry Tree Lane" focuses more on the emotional distress caused by the violence. Most of the time filmmakers, and often critics will explain away their cut-away method of handling on-screen violence by saying "What you don't see is scarier". While I can generally agree with this point to a degree, I feel a lot of the time it's a cop-out. A means to justify your lack of ability to perform solid special effects. I can honestly say that I didn't feel that way about this film. The way in which the violence is handled, is not only disturbing, but utterly haunting. It takes talent for a director to take a sub-genre of film that's been done to death(Especially in recent years) and make it feel wholly unique. I feel that this has been accomplished, and I commend director Paul Andrew Williams(The Cottage) for putting together such a masterfully crafted entry into the genre.

After taking a look at the fall line-up of theatrically released movies, I've never been so thankful for the indie scene. If it were not for their efforts, this October would be loaded down with ho-hum popcorn affairs such as yet another entry into the "Saw" series, and the sequel to what I feel was last years most overrated film.(Paranormal Activity). If you can't stomach the thought of Jiggsaw killing people from beyond the grave, or staring at a surveillance camera for another 90 minutes, do yourself a favor and skip it. There are plenty of things being dumped on DVD this October that are far more appealing.

8/10

My Soul To Take (2010) review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

A serial killer returns to his hometown to stalk seven children who share the same birthday as the date he was allegedly put to rest in Wes Craven's "My Soul To Take".

As a kid growing up the name Wes Craven was always on the tip of my tongue, the master mind behind such iconic films and franchises as "A Nightmare On Elm Street", "The People Under The Stairs", and "The Last House On The Left", so clearly when I heard he was making a return to the teen scream / slasher genre that made him so famous, I was intrigued.

"My Soul To Take" is not a terrible film, but at the same time it is also not anything special, it is sadly your typical highly predictable Wes Craven style teen scream, it sticks to the mold and does nothing to break away from it, just your average cookie cutter horror film, pushed out the doors just in time for Halloween.

Don't get me wrong, I had a good time watching "My Soul To Take", but I would of rather of been watching something more original and less familiar, while the story was very easy to decipher and I had the killer fingered long before the big unveiling, it did do a good job at keeping you interested by moving the story along at a steady and comfortable pace. The acting was fine and the casting was well done I thought, the real weakness of the film was purely the script being way to cookie cutter for my taste.

There's not a whole lot of gore in "My Soul To Take", with only one "graphic" kill coming to mind, but when it came time for the sweet crimson juice to be sprayed, it looked good and is enhanced by some pretty nice sound effects to ad that extra gross out factor. A lot of the kills are done so that the blunt of the gore is off camera, leaving you to see buckets of blood and hearing the victim's final gasps for air, but not the actual kill itself.

Much like Dario Argento's "Trauma", "My Soul To Take" pigeon holes itself limiting the killer's method of choice to being a certain fixed style that is used on each and every person that gets dispatched. In a slasher film, I strongly feel this is a bad move, leave it open so there is some room for creative and holy shit did you see that sort of kills, otherwise your audience is going to grow bored quickly of your killer, you can only see the same throat slit so many times before you're completely desensitized to it.

Also there were times where the movie felt like I was watching "Scream! There's An Nightmare On Elm Street", as if the supernatural aspects of Freddy were mixed with the who done it "Scream" plot, and while this may of sounded appetizing on paper, in reality it really felt unoriginal and to make matters worse the ending to me felt really rushed and tacked on.

With an improved ending, and a more though out and well written script, "My Soul To Take" could of been a real hit for Wes Craven, the concept was highly interesting and I really dug the entire plot as far as the seven souls of a schizophrenic serial killer reborn on the night of his demise go, I would of liked to of seen a little more gore and more creative kills and would of really loved if Wes Craven would move away from his comfort zone he has locked himself in ever since the ultra success of the original "Scream" film.

On Behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "My Soul To Take" a 5 out of 10, an average horror film just in time for the haunting season, with there being slim pickens as far as horror goes this Halloween season I would still recommend this film over sitting through yet another "Saw" film.

5/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

Kid Friendly Horror: The Hole (2009) review by: Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

A pair of brothers stumble upon a mysterious hole in their basement that leads to the darkest corridors of their fears and nightmares in "The Hole" from horror icon Joe Dante. In their basement the two brothers discover a bottomless hole that manifests you're deepest fears, a fun and chill inducing paranormal tale that is sure to leave even the most diehard horror fans pleased.

Joe Dante once again proves why he deserves to be considered one of the greatest horror directors to practice the craft with "The Hole"; it's visually breathtaking and takes you on epic journey, thanks to a truly entertaining and solid script. As a long time fan of Joe Dante, I was very excited when I heard about this film and as I watched the story unfold in front of me, quickly I found myself taken back to my own childhood, flashbacks of sitting in front of the television watching reruns of "Tales From The Crypt" and other horror shows like "Twilight Zone" and "Monsters".



 
"The Hole" is just dark and scary enough that both adults and long time fans of Mr. Dante will have a blast but toned down enough for it to be a great watch for the entire family as it has a PG-13 rating, this is due to some strong language (1 shit, 1 Goddamn, that I can recall), and scary images and I will warn you parents all thought this is a family friendly horror film it may be a bit too intense for smaller children. If you loved such titles as "The Burbs" or "The Gate" I highly recommend you give "The Hole" a watch at all costs, this is a perfect way to share with a younger generation the genius of Joe Dante.


 
Special effects and visually this movie is beautiful, and it lead me to wish two things, number one that Joe Dante would give us just one more "Gremlins" movie, no CG, no bullshit, animatronic driven "Gremlin" goodness, and number two that he would of directed "Alice In Wonderland" and not the predictable and way over hyped Tim Burton."The Hole" is exactly what this generation needs to spark an interest in the horror genre, not sparkly, whiney, over dramatic vampires.


 
This movie would of been a absolutely perfect theatre release for the Halloween season, it would of not only drawn in the adult crowds but also with the PG-13 rating could of been an excuse for a family outing to celebrate a month of things that go bump in the night. I really miss this style of horror, it doesn't always have to be about shock and gore and extreme adult situations, sometimes it is nice to just sit back and watch a campy, fun, and creepy family scare.


 
For an awesome October movie night with the kids I would recommend the following lineup, "The Hole", "The Gate" and "The Burbs" as the trifecta for inducting the young ones to the genre. On behalf of The Liberal Dead I give "The Hole" a very well earned 8 out of 10, and a very high recommendation to all you readers.

8/10

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

The Rig (2010) Allergic to Sea Monsters by: Shawn Savage

Somebody out there, at one point or another, did a huge favor for William Forsythe. That is the only thing that I can fathom that caused him to lend his talents to this film. Don't be fooled by his top billing, and the fact that his name is plastered in bold font on the front of the artwork, he's only in the film for about 5 minutes total. Yes, he brings his usual charm to the role, but the script is so ridiculous that even he had trouble spitting out some of these lines.

"The Rig" is a straight to video monster movie crapfest. I had fairly low expectations going in, so the fact that it failed to meet even that should scare away even the most avid of fans of SyFy's monster mash-ups. The story follows a skeleton crew aboard a deep sea oil rig. A storm has caused them to evacuate all non-essential personnel. As they crew buckles down for a long night at sea. Soon it becomes apparent that someone, or something is stalking and killing them one by one.

Let me get the positive aspect of the film out of the way so we can talk about the rest properly. This film's only redeeming quality is that they stuck 100 percent practical with the FX. It nice to see the monsters were guys in rubber suits. This is a nice change of pace for this type of flick, as generally filmmakers opt to use the cheaper option, CGI. The film is moderately gory, but nothing to write home about. While I am labeling this as a positive aspect of the film, it fails to save the overall experience, as there are just far too many flaws.

Mostly responsible for this festival of suck is the shockingly terrible script.So many idiotic moments throughout that it's hard to hone in on one in specific. It came to a point where even my wife, who is a moderate horror fans, was pointing out plotholes. For example, did you know that one could have a pre-existing allergy to deep sea monsters? A crew member is attacked by the creature, and as he is laying on the floor bleeding, another member of the crew decides that he is having an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction to being stabbed by a sea monster? I wonder if he has that allergy listed on his medical records? Also, for being a movie about a monster, the monster is oddly absent for most of the film. It's also never really explained where it came from, or the reason he chose this particular oil rig to hunt his prey.

It became apparent that the film makers were making a statement on deep sea drilling. I have no problem with horror films making a political statement, so long as it's competently done. Competence is not a word that comes to mind while watching this flick. Super "subtle" details like an advertisement on the back of a porn mag about vacationing in beautiful Louisiana, the fact that in order to defeat the creature they will have to use natural gas. The viewer is basically smacked in the face with anti-oil propaganda, and it never leads to a point. They clearly thought they were being clever, but in the end, it's tedious, and insulting to the viewers intelligence. I get it. I'm not a fan of deep sea drilling either, but if you don't have the writing chops to make it relevant to your story, it's best to leave that type of thing to the professionals.

The characters are unnecessarily diverse. None of them are interesting, the acting is terrible, and there's not one character that you can even possibly give a shit whether or not they live or die. Unlikable people doing stupid things and being killed by an uninteresting, unexplored creature from the deep. "The Rig" makes even Sharktopus look like cinematic gold. Don't waste a time on this piss-poor excuse for a creature feature. Chances are, there's something much better airing on SyFy tonight, so why bother?

2/10