Flavours of the Month: October 2012...

LOOKS:

The Walking Dead: Cold Storage - the month got off to an undead start with a rather good webisode series directed by KNB effects master Greg Nicotero. Surprisingly dark in places, it provided a nice little side-bar teaser to the forthcoming main event later in the month.

Fangoria's Blood & Guts with Scott Ian - the Nerdist channel on YouTube has introduced a great new show that targets horror nerds in its sights. The Anthrax guitarist visits various effects houses (starting, naturally, with KNB Effects) and explores the world of special make-up effects - often involving gallons of glorious fake blood.

Cinemassacre's Monster Madness 2012 "80s-a-thon" - every year James Rolfe gets into the Halloween spirit and reviews various horror flicks throughout the month of October. This month was dedicated to the frightful sights of the 1980s.

Click "READ MORE" for more looks, sounds, vibes & flavours of October 2012...

The Governor's TV, Milton's tea, and Ash who? - The Walking Dead 3x03 memes...

Find more Walking Dead memes here.

One of these gives away a tasty shock image at the cliffhanger of episode three, so just in case anyone has happened by that hasn't seen the episode yet, you can find it after the jump below.

Click "READ MORE" below for a spot of tea and some telly...

Almost Human (Umberto Lenzi, 1974) DVD Review...

Read more Shameless Screen Entertainment DVD reviews here.

Umberto (Cannibal Ferox, Man From Deep River) Lenzi's brash poliziotteschi crime thriller kicks off in grand style, with a botched bank robbery that leads to a frenzied car chase filled with screaming rubber and battered metal – a sequence that best demonstrates Eugenio (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) Alabiso's tight editing. Blamed for ruining the score, Giulio Sacchi (Tomas Milian, Syndicate Sadists, full of twitchy energy) is introduced as an unreliable low-level hoodlum on Italy's crime-ridden streets, a man with enough chips on his shoulder to fill-out a fish supper. What's more, he's not above killing a policeman for a mere 600 lira stolen from a cigarette machine, in this film where the usual Italian glamour is replaced by uncompromising grit.

Written by Ernesto Gastaldi's (The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh), we are presented with a vision of Italy exposed as a society ruled by a totally corrupt legal system which fails to enact the basic intentions of law and order. Criminals are routinely let off the hook due to a lack of evidence, and it is with this knowledge that Giulio crafts a scheme to yield him some fat cash: half a billion lira, to be precise.

Click "READ MORE" below for the full review and more screenshots...

Walking Dead Debrief 3x02 "Sick"...

See the previous episode's debrief here.

See memes for this episode here.

WARNING: EPISODE 3x02 SPOILERS AHEAD!



WHAT WE LEARNED:
* Bear McCreary's music has taken a step up. It was always good, but the intense dramatic moments of these first two episodes have born witness to heart-pounding, driving pieces on the soundtrack.

* I forgot to mention last time, but the new opening sequence is great. Covering key images from the second season (such as the Cherokee Rose flower, Hershel's watch, the farmhouse and more), it looks forward to what's to come.

* T-Dog might have a bit of a naff weapon (a fire poker), but he sure knows how to wield it effectively.

* Hershel, in the intervening months, has taught Carol a thing or two about medicine.

* Rick's competitive side is unleashed. It's survival of the fittest now, and Rick is willing to stand his ground for the good of his group. He barters a trade with the five inmates - half their food in exchange for assisting them in clearing out another cellblock for them to live in separately.

Click "READ MORE" below to learn more...

Eyes In Your Window: Blog #04...

Read the previous post in this series here.

Time for a progress update - put simply, the first draft of the script for "Mug" (the first-of-three episodes which make up Eyes In Your Window), was completed today. As this is a spec script, and a three-part post-watershed drama serial to boot, you don't have to write all three (or however many you've chosen) episodes. Instead you write the first episode, and then map out the other two (or however many you've chosen).

Click "READ MORE" below to continue reading the latest EIYW blog post...

Evil Dead 2013 remake trailer analysis...

Read my reaction to Evil Dead 2013 here.

Remakes are a funny old game, as I've remarked before, most recently when stating that a flick which would make for a good remake is Drive-In Massacre. One of the biggest problems with remakes that I find, however, is that they can never live up to the vibe that the original exudes. The scope of the remake is far larger, the production design is through-the-roof comparatively, and in-place of discovering a long-established classic during your formative years with fellow-minded classmates, you've got the big marketing push with the inevitable appearance at a Comic-Con.

 

This brings me to the 2013 remake of The Evil Dead – as first shown to us at the 2012 New York Comic-Con – and it has my fanboy mind all over the place. I'm a huge admirer of the original movie (which I first saw aged 14 after buying a VHS copy – which was at the time still severely cut by the BBFC – from my local post office), so the first mention a while back of the film being remade, sent we horror fans into a right old tizzy. The announcement that Diablo Cody would be heading up screenwriting duties was controversial enough in itself, but on the other hand – under the banner of Ghost House Pictures – the original creators of the The Evil Dead were actively involved, and had picked an unknown (Fede Alvarez) for directing duties (an offer that no sane aspiring filmmaker would turn down).

Click “READ MORE” below for a slew of screenshots and responses...

Where's Carl? Carol's SVU, Daryl's poncho, and a bonus - The Walking Dead 3x02 memes...

Find more Walking Dead memes HERE.

Another episode of The Walking Dead season 3 means some more memes - enjoy.

Click "READ MORE" for more Carl, as well as Carol's sane medical research, and a couple of bonus pics...

Walking Dead Debrief 3x01 "Seed"...

Each week I'll be doing a run-down of each episode from season 3 - a sort of week-by-week episode-by-episode debrief, if you will - so with the triumphant return of AMC's superb zombie apocalypse drama, onwards to the 3x01 "Seed"...


WARNING: EPISODE 3x01 SPOILERS AHEAD!


WHAT WE LEARNED:
* After months on the road, surviving winter in the process, our merry band of walker bashers have developed into a team with a procedure for clearing a house and searching for survivors. However, while desperate, Rick won't allow them to stoop to eating dog food - a prospect that a much more hardened (and responsible) Carl doesn't take issue with.

* Michonne and Andrea have formed a tight duo (with accompanying chained zombies). This will be an interesting dynamic to follow as the season progresses, particularly when Woodbury is introduced (no doubt in 3x02 or at a push 3x03).

* The gang have developed their own tools - silencers made out of torches (or flashlights to our American friends), locks made out of chains and climbing gear that are ideal for chain link fences, and so on.

Click "READ MORE" below for more info, gore, twists, and cliffhangers...

Final Destination 5: Single Bill Mini Musings...

What's it about?
Fourth sequel in the long-running horror franchise where death uses devilishly inventive ways of picking off those who escape his deadly grasp. A bus load of young business folk are off on a team building weekend, but when one of their number forsees a disastrous bridge collapse, he and a handful of his colleagues escape their grisly fate ... for now.
Who would I recognise in it?
Emma Bell, Tony Todd, David Koechner, P.J. Byrne, Courtney B. Vance

Click "READ MORE" below to see if it's any good...

The Walking Dead Memes (Collected)...

The Walking Dead is a fantastic show and ripe for some excellent memes, and so here is one single post to keep track of the various meme images that I have created for it. This post will be updated with new images as-and-when they're produced. Beware, there's plenty of spoilers ahead...

N.B. Click on each image to see them in their FULL SIZE.

Season One in Memes

Season Two in Memes (Plus S1, S3 & S4 Bonus Memes)

Rick Grimes: Sheriff of the English Language (1x01)

Rick & Dr. Jenner

Season 3: The Search For Carl?

Comic-Con 2012

Beth: Soap & Jesus, Maggie Killing Walkers, and the Bro's of the Apocalypse

Shane's Serious Squat, and Barn Burning

Season 3

Hershel vs. Puberty, and Maggie Loves Gore (3x01)

Where's Carl? Carol's SVU, Daryl's Poncho, and Nicotero's Walker (3x02)

The Governor's TV, Milton's tea, and Ash who? (3x03)

Axel's Catchphrase, Guard Tower Sauciness, and Teleportation (3x04)

Rick: Psycho Dad, An Awkward Trouser Malfunction, A Dash of Merle, and Security Problems (3x05)

Daryl vs Carl, Where's Carol, and Hello Aunt Alicia (3x06)

Glenn The Ass Kicker, Where's Carl Memories, Double Sleeveless, Duct Tape Armour, and Alternatives (3x07)

Axel's Dating Tips, Tyreese Steps Up, Michonne on Humour, and Hammer Time (3x08)

Tyreese vs T-Dog, and Apple Sauce (3x09)

Short Haired Danger, Brown Trouser Time, and Eye-F**king (3x10)

Carl Loves Beth, Dale's Face, and Andrea's Arse (Various)

Amputees Anonymous, Traitors, and F.U. Ben (3x11)

Where's Carl, Crazy People, Hitch-Hikers, Stuff & Things and More (3x12)

Where's Carl, Dale Tales, and more Things 'n' Stuff (Various)

Badass Beth, Diplomacy, Pervy Merle, and Sexual Relations (3x13)

Subtlety, Undercover Badassery, Speaking the Truth, and Getting Michowned (3x14)

Merle & Michonne's Road Trip (3x15)

Expectations Subverted: Apocalyptic Parenting, Sad Farewells, Girl Power and Sound Advice (3x16)

Derle, Merle, Carl & T-Dog (Season 3 Bonus Memes)

Season 4

Season 4 Comic-Con Trailer Analysis with Bonus Memes

4x01: Farmer Rick, Story Time Carl, and Violet the Pig

4x02: Singing, Breakfast, Photography, and Michowning

4x03: Sore Hands, Shocking Carol, and Creepy Judith

4x04: Awkward Dancing, Newbies, Terminology and Time Pieces

4x05: Hershel, Fangirls, Rick-Trolling, Cheats, Creeps, and Credits

4x06: Pirates, Messages, Fist Bumps, Bad Jokes, and Forever Alone

4x07: Winking, Blinking, Aquariums, and Golf

4x08: War, Feels, Tanks, and The Governor

4x09: Pudding, Swearing, and Pile-Ons

4x10: Diaries, Bunnies, Photos, and Crazies

4x11: Crazy Cheese, Shirts, Smarts, and Stuff n Thangs

4x12: Golf, Booze, and Pyromania

4x13: Piggy-Backs, Foreshadowing, and C-Blocking

4x14: Creepy Lizzie, Justice, and Forever Alone

4x15: Eugene's Success With The Ladies

4x16: Throats, Lego, and Cliffhanger Trolling

Season 5

Season 5 Comic-Con Trailer Analysis

5x01: Puns, Explosions, Watches, and Crossbows

5x02: Gags, BBQ, and Soggy Walkers

5x03: Wise Words and Red-Handled Machetes

5x04: Lollipops, Haters, and The Greater Good

5x05: Dolphins and Peeping

5x06: Health Hazards and Art Appreciation

5x07: Puns and Official Terminology

5x08: Feelings and Such

5x09: Breaking Hearts and Walker Torsos

5x10: Kissing, Worm Food, and Sasha's Pep Talks

5x11: Looks, Roamers, and Happy Abraham

5x12: Grizzly/Gorgeous Grimes, and Carol vs Daryl

5x13: Cookie Monster Carol and Randy Rick

5x14: Cookies, Consequences, and Tempting Fate

5x15: Crazy Rick and 7 Minutes In Zombie Heaven

5x16: Killer Rick and Hashtag Deanna

Season 6

Season 6 Comic-Con Trailer Analysis

6x01: Protein and Mullets

6x02: Haircuts, Ron, and Ass-Kicking Carol

6x03: Epic Feels, Cliffhangers, and the Worst Thank You Ever

6x04: Big Teases and Morgan-Induced Rage

6x05: Cookies, Kisses, and Changed Minds

6x06: Abraham's Got a Way with Words

6x07: Judith's Parentage and Flipping Off Ron

6x08: That Mid-Season Finale Feeling

6x09: The Ultimate Badass Kicks It Up a Notch

6x10: Sneaky Peeks and Saucy Times

6x11: First Impressions and Getting Bigger

6x12: Cookies and Kisses

6x13: Smoking Kills and Ice Cold Carol

6x14: Shifting, Biting, and Words of Wisdom

6x15: Bedroom Apples and Eugene's Shower Habits

6x16: How Evil is Evil, Tempted Fate, and That TWD Feeling

Season 7

Season 7 Comic-Con Trailer Analysis with Bonus Meme

7x01: Snot & Tears, Anticipation, and That Negan Feeling

7x02: Shiva Galore

7x03: Easy Street

7x04: Parentage, Bargains, and Balls

7x05: Cooorrraaalll, Car Crashes, and Teenage Disobedience

7x06: The New Lizzie, and Tara's Devil on Her Shoulder

7x07: Father Burn

7x08: Vicarious Thrills, Spaghetti, and Hugs

7x09: Rhetoric and Lessons

7x10: Darva and Morgan's Stick

7x11: Posture, Pickles, and Sepsis

7x12: Walker Bits and The Judith Approach

7x13: Into The Ragelands and Noah Knows

7x14: BFFs and Smokey Doctors

7x15: Lady Nuts

7x16: Cucks, Chat Up Lines, and Delays

Season 8

8x01: Windows, Banter, and Shakespeare

8x03: Post-Apocalyptic Politicking and Sharyl

8x05: Weenie Talk and Seriously Puntastic

8x07: Awkward Handshake

8x08: Having A Moment

8x09: Alexandria's Protector and The New Carl

8x11: Party Invite (and a 8x10 Bonus Meme)

8x14: Rick's Jacket

8x16: Jerry

Season 9

9x01: Motorbikes Rule, Horses Drool & The Pookie Zone

9x03: Keeping The Grimes Bloodline Going

9x09: Eugene's Confession

9x13: #Donnie's Love Notes

Enjoy, and keep an eye out for more.

Hershel vs Puberty, and Maggie Loves Gore - The Walking Dead 3x01 Memes...

Find more Walking Dead memes HERE.

The new season of the superb zombie drama show The Walking Dead is underway - so it's about time we had some brand new memes to go along with it.

First up - Hershel vs. Puberty.

Click "READ MORE" below for Maggie loving some gore...

Eyes In Your Window: Blog #03...

Read the previous post in this series here.

There's always that moment of trepidation before you actually start writing a screenplay. You've got it all planned out, you've got extensive notes, and the whole thing is pretty much right there in your head - now though, you have to physically type it all out, translating the images in the old noggin, into words on a page that people will then read.

Oftentimes procrastination rears its ugly head about now - with the script essentially all there in your head, the creative juices begin to wane a bit (after the planning process where ideas come thick, fast, and in whatever order they want) - but you have to fight past that temptation of goofing off. It can be resolved by a simple action - double clicking that screenplay software icon on your desktop. Double click that and it's open, and then you think 'well seeing as it's open, I might as well write something', and providing the muse is with you, you'll find yourself with five pages under your belt. That in itself is a measure to go by, if you can get five pages written each day, then that's good going - but even still, just writing a mere one paragraph is all progress in the right direction - so if you have a rough day at the keyboard, don't fret - but if that's how each day goes, then perhaps something needs to change.

Click "READ MORE" below to read the first page of "Eyes In Your Window"...

"Nightmare Factory" - the KNB Effects Documentary...

I was watching the round-up of Fright Fest the 13th (a UK horror film festival that reached its thirteenth anniversary this year) on The Horror Channel, and amidst the films glimpsed at was a documentary about the talented folks over at KNB Effects - the go-to-guys for practical make-up effects, whose fingerprints are all over all of the best gore and creature effects of the last twenty years - titled Nightmare Factory (written & directed by Donna Davies) From their humble beginnings on Evil Dead II, the documentary covers what brought these guys together to bring frightful sights to the silver screen, and for any horror nerd (such as myself), this will surely be a must-watch when it is released.

In the meantime, have a glimpse at some clips - I for one am chomping at the bit to get my mits on this documentary. A visit to KNB Effects would be my personal equivalent of Charlie going to the Chocolate Factory.

Nightmare Factory trailer from Ruby Tree Films on Vimeo.

Click "READ MORE" below to view a few clips from the documentary...

Double Bill Mini Musings: Haunted Hotels & Spoofing Spies...

The Innkeepers:
What's it about?
Ti West's follow-up to the chilling, yet restrained, 1980s-set horror The House of the Devil, about a couple of Generation Y slacker-cum-ghost-hunters (Claire and Luke) who are working during the closing weekend of The Yankee Pedlar Inn, a New England hotel with a dark history.
Who would I recognise in it?
Sara Paxton, Kelly McGillis
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Up front, if you didn't dig the gradual pace and slow-build tension of The House of the Devil, then you'll no doubt find no entertainment here. However, if - like me - you lapped up that flick, then you'll be in familiar and unsettling territory here. West has a real talent for subtle pacing and characterisation - you genuinely like Claire and Luke, who exist in a lazier hotelier's version of Clerks when they're not busy trying to find evidence of supernatural goings on. However, with the arrival of McGillis' actress-turned-healer, and a distanced widower, things begin to take a chilling turn. Each corridor, each picture frame reflection, each silent pause, holds an increasing sense of menace - you don't know whether to trust West or not after a knowing scare at the top of the flick - and this is the charm of the film. It's a classic ghost story that trades on familiar elements to inspire a sense of deja vu in the viewer. Sly hints crop up to continue the subtle guess-work - musical allusions to Ghostbusters, visual winks to The Shining - precisely where we'll end up is deftly hidden, and being that West has a fondness for horror from the genre's heyday, counting on a cosy wrap-up is sorely misguided. Cast with subtle shades and a glacial sense of propulsion, Saw franchise fanboys need not apply, but those keen on tense chills will be well served. Great.

Click "READ MORE" below for the belated return of Johnny English...

Eyes In Your Window: Blog #02...

See the first post in this new blog series here.

The actual writing of this new screenplay is almost about to begin, but before you can get to writing, you have to come up with an idea and flesh it out with a whole slew of ideas. I find that old unused exercise books or journals from school are the ideal thing for this - you can gradually fill a book up over time with new ideas as they come to you, and when you settle on your next chosen project to pursue, everything you already figured out is right there where you want it to be, and then you can add many more details.

Now, the one downside is that ideas don't pop into your head in a linear fashion, nor at any pre-determined time (hence why I'd often come up with a great idea just as I was beginning to fall asleep, and would then have to spend ten minutes writing it all down - at which point I'd be wide awake again). As a result, your book of ideas won't be in any sort of order, and you'll be jumping back-and-forth through the pages to find what you're looking for.

A great way to organise your ideas though, is to use record cards, like in the above image.

Click "READ MORE" below for more info on organising your ideas, and the episode titles for the planned arrangement of three episodes for Eyes In Your Window...

YouTube Finds: "Blood & Guts with Scott Ian"...

A new show to the Nerdist Channel all about gore and special make-up effects, and the first port of call is of course the legend that is Gregg Nicotero!

In this series premiere episode, join host Scott Ian (Anthrax) as he spends a day with Legendary FX Artist Greg Nicotero in his KNB EFX's studio. See Nicotero's vast prop collection from throughout his career and also experience an awe inspiring bit of Blood and Guts.

 As a big horror fan, and a keen follower of KNB's work, this was a real joy to watch. Just nerding out over the various props and replicas was satisfying enough, but then they 'kill' three zombies to finish the video off, haha!