Rob Zombie Working on “Lords of Salem” Movie

In my opinion, Rob Zombie is a brilliant artist.  I’ve only had the pleasure of seeing him live once but what I saw proved that he is a true showman, always putting on memorable performances that are theatrical and entertaining.  This transfers over to the films that he directs.

Zombie recently sat down with the writers of “Empire” to talk with them about his next film project, which will be titled “Lords of Salem,” and he had some pretty interesting things to say.  You can read their full article here.

The story of the film was inspired by the Salem Witch Trials but takes place in modern-day Salem, Mass.  He explains the premise, saying,

“There were 20 people that everyone knows about – obviously all innocent – executed as witches in Salem.  The basic premise of the film is that there were a further four who actually were witches, who were killed secretly, and vowed one day to return to wreak havoc on Salem’s descendants.  That’s when the movie jumps ahead to the present day and things start to go wrong…”

According to Rob Zombie, he has had the idea for this film for a long time.  He even turned it into a song that debuted on his 2006 album “Educated Horses.”  However, he didn’t have any plans to make it into a film until Oren Peli, Steven Schneider and Jason Blum (known for their work on “Paranormal Activity“) approached him and asked him if he had any supernatural-themed projects that they could work on with him.

Screen shots from the "Lords of Salem" music video

After hearing about the film, Peli, Schneider, and Blum convinced Zombie to bring his ideas to life.  The current plan is to begin production around April 18 this year after he returns from touring.  After shooting he will take another break for touring and return to edit in the fall.  He hopes that the film will be released early in 2012.

Originally, Zombie was planning on taking a break from horror and was going to produce what he describes as “a really violent, 1970s crime biker movie” titled “Tyrannosaurus Rex.”  He still plans on working on the film and hopes that it will follow “Lords of Salem.”

He also planned to do a re-make of the classic “The Blob” but has decided that he no longer wants to take on the project.  He told the “Empire” reporter,

“I didn’t want to do another remake.  You just can’t win. If it’s too similar to the original, everybody wonders what the point was, but if it’s too different, everybody complains that it’s…too different! I found especially with Halloween II that everyone talked about what it wasn’t and not what it was: ‘you can’t do that with Michael Myers; you can’t do that with Loomis…’ It’s like people have a set of rules in their minds about how these things should function, and you can’t work like that.”

Some directors need remakes to help boost their career but I truly believe that Rob Zombie is such an original and creative person that he should direct original films.  That’s exactly what he’s going to do with “Lords of Salem” which he promises “is probably the bleakest of all my films.”  The best is yet to come!

This Dexter Spoof Will Make you Chuckle

I love the series “Dexter.”  It’s dark, gory, entertaining, and everyone can relate to Dexter on some level.  No, we may not all want to be serial killers but the struggle to balance different aspects of life day-to-day is something that we deal with. 

Because the series is currently on break, fans have to find other ways to get their dose of Dexter.  While browsing, I found this comical spoof that sums up Dexter’s relationship with Deb, his inner monologues, the plot line of the show, and the goofy flaws of the characters in less than two minutes.  Check it out, have a good laugh, and tune in next fall for season 6!

Final Destination 5…and 6…and 7?

When the first Final Destination Film came out, horror fans all over rejoiced.  The plot line was original and entertaining, scary and suspenseful.  It was dark and yet so fun to watch which pulled in tons of viewers.  Then the second one came out and we all smiled and headed to the theaters.  Then there was a third…and a fourth…and now a fifth.  Somewhere along the way, the story line became tired and the films lost the flare that the original held. 

The fifth film uses the reoccurring theme of “you can’t cheat death.”  This time, however, the film will be in 3D and the writers insist that it will be dark like the first film.  The comedic approach the fourth film took really turned viewers off to the series so maybe returning to its roots will bring them back in.

 

Tony Todd, the creepy undertaker from the first film, will also return in a larger role.  When asked about the upcoming film, Todd told reporters at Dread Central,

“Thumbs up! Thumbs way up. They expanded my part, and the producer told me as we were leaving Vancouver that if it opens at Number 1 – which statistically it has – they’re going to shoot the next two simultaneously.”

So apparently a sixth and seventh film are already in order.  Now I can’t speak for everyone but I’m left thinking, “just give it up.”  If you disagree with me, by all means, feel free to tell me so but I’ve been disappointed by the last few films and I just don’t know that the damage can be repaired.  Maybe this next film will be incredible and I’ll be begging for more but I doubt it.  There comes a point in time where every good series needs to quit while they are ahead.  I think it’s safe to say that time has come and yet they keep on going. 

You can catch the fifth film in theaters at the end of August.  The current release date in August 28th so mark your calendars and pray that if the film fails, they take the hint and just stop.

Afterdark Horrorfest 4 – 8 Films to Die For 2011

 

It’s that time of year again.  Time for the release of the Afterdark Horrorfest’s “8 Films to Die For.”  The films that are too horrifying to air in theaters will debut on January 29th.  For anyone who hasn’t seen the lineup yet, here it is.

 DREAD – This film centers around three college students who set out to do a research project for class.  They decide to tackle the concept of dread by investigating what their peers fear most and finding what caused the fears.  However, as the research continues, it becomes all too real, leaving Stephen (Jackson Rathbone) to question his partner.  Just how far will the experiment go?  Watch the film to find out.

 THE FINAL - We’ve all encountered outcasts in out lives.  At times, we’ve probably even known what it’s like to be one.  However, the worst place to be an outcast is in high school.  As if the raging hormones, pressures of grades, and nagging parents weren’t enough; high school outcasts often have to deal with cruel peers.  But what happens when they’re pushed too far?  In “The Final,” a group of outcasts join together to get revenge on those who tormented them in school and it’s clear they want their victims to experience the pain they felt.  Scary masks, blood, gore, and horror entwine in this film to die for.

 THE GRAVES - Two sisters set out on an adventure and get more than they bargained for.  They get lost on their way and end up in an old mining town.  In Skull City, death is the least of your problems.  They quickly find that the town is evil and they have to fight for their survival.  With both human and supernatural threats, the inseparable sisters must rely on each other to stay alive. 

 HIDDEN – The death of a loved one is never easy.  When Kai Koss loses his mother and returns to his childhood home after 19 years, he finds the painful memories to be haunting.  The trailer for the film says “There are moments in our lives we must remember our past, we must accept our present, we must face our future.  We all have two lives.  The one we are born with, and the one we take.”  Kai must face his past or else he may not have a future.

KILL THEORY - A group of college friends travel to a secluded house to spend time together before graduation.  Their getaway becomes a nightmare when they find themselves caught in the sadistic game of a serial killer.  If more than one person is left alive at the end of the night, he will kill them all.  Each individual of the group is forced to choose between themselves and their closest friends.  Can they kill each other to save one?  I haven’t seen this film yet so I don’t know the answer to that question.  However, the plot is very similar to that of the movie “House,” a film adaptation of the book by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.  The book is one of my favorites and I throughly enjoyed the movie so  I suggest that if you watch this film and like it, you look for the book, the movie, or both because they follow the same premise. 

 LAKE MUNGO - This film is a supernatural thriller that deals with grief and the paranormal.  It seems to be somewhat reminiscent of “Paranormal Entity” with an interesting twist…the family knows the ghost that is haunting them.  The trailer begins with, “In December 2005, the tragic death of 15-year-old Alice Palmer began a series of supernatural events that would haunt her grieving family.  This story is a record of those events.”

 THE REEDS - A group of Londoners set sail for the reeds as part of a weekend boating party.  It’s all partying and fun until they realize that there’s something more than frogs hiding in the reeds that surround them.  Their party becomes a terrifying journey when their lives are threatened by something they can’t see lurking in the shadows. 

 

 ZMD: ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION - Described in its trailer as a “political zomedy,” this film focuses on the walking dead and uses the idea of terrorism as a major threat in today’s age to entertain its audience.  When terrorists use biological warfare in the idyllic island town of Port Gamble, the residents begin turning into zombies and ravaging the island.  Gore, comedy, and violence combine to create this zombie film.

Rookie Mistakes

I’m sorry that I haven’t posted anything new recently.  My computer caught a virus and it took almost a month to fix.  But I’m back and ready to take on the world of horror once again.

I just finished watching the film “Asylum” which was made in 2008.  I’m going to be honest and say I didn’t love it.  The film revolves around a group of college freshmen who move into the campus’ newly renovated dorm.  After a little research, they find that their new home used to be an asylum.  The doctor in charge was known for his brutal treatments and was killed when his patients revolted and subjected him to the tortures they were forced to endure.  Now, years later with troubled teens roaming the halls, the doctor returns from the dead to continue his sadistic practices. 

The storyline held promise (at least in my opinion) and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the amateur cast didn’t completely lack talent (with a few exceptions of course).  However, the movie also had a lot of flaws.  I didn’t like the green lighting that was used in the film.  It made the scenes less eerie and more fantastical (in a bad way).  The killings in the movie were completely over the top and ridiculous.  The errors of the film are what inspired this blog.

One of the great things about horror is how often it pushes the boundaries of reality.  It has to, becuase without some imaginative element, we slip into the genre of thriller film.  However, while the boundaries should be pushed, they should never really be overstepped.  “Asylum” overstepped, making the film just plain bad.

I would argue that horror is the hardest genre of film to master.  You walk a thin line when attempting to create successful horror.  You have to go above and beyond and yet not too far.  It has to be fantastical and yet believable.  You can’t cut off the top of someone’s skull with tiny skewers and one swift movement.  If the audience doesn’t believe it, the illusion is broken and it’s not going to work. 

I love the complexity and contradiction of horror and hate to see it poorly executed.  Any film that can master the balancing act is okay in my books and any film that can’t gets put on “the list”…the list of movies I wish I hadn’t wasted my time watching.  Asylum made that list…

Hey everyone!  Sorry there haven’t been any recent posts.  My computer caught a virus and has been in the shop for over a month.  I’m happy to report that I have it back and good as new (hopefully) so you should see new posts within the coming week.  I hope everyone is ready for horror news 2011!

~Kristen~

“City of Bones” Movie in Pre-Production Stages

Screen Gems has taken the first steps in making a film version of the popular book “City of Bones.”   Lily Collins (The Blindside) will play the role of the main character, Clary Fray and Scott Charles Stewart (Priest, Legion) will direct the film.

 

Lily Collins

 

The novel version of City of Bones is written by Cassandra Clare and spent time as number eight on the New York Times Best Seller List.  It is the first book in the Mortal Instrument series and is followed by City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire.  However, the last three in the series have not yet been written, making it interesting that they already have decided to begin filming the first. 

 

The book follows Clary, whose world is turned upside down after she witnesses a murder that no one else seems to see.  The murderer is surprised that she can see him and explains to her that what she witnessed was the death of a demon, something that normal humans cannot see.  He offers to explain to her later and they set a time to meet but the plans are broken when she returns home and finds that her mother has been abducted.  Her life is even further complicated when she discovers that she is a direct descendant of the demon-hunting clan known as Shadowhunters.  As if being a teenager wasn’t hard enough…

I haven’t read the book and I don’t know how closely the movie will follow the plot of the novel but I do know that with the close following that the series has developed, it’s bound to attract a lot of fans.  My sister loves these books and when I told her via text there would be a movie, her response was “OMFG. I JUST PEED.”  An odd reaction, yes, but it shows the excitement that fans all over will experience when they see one of their favorite novels come to life.