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Jason Takes... What? A List of 'Friday the 13th' Slayground Suggestions

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Jason Voorhees has taken Manhattan, been to space, and of course massacred nearly everyone brave enough to show his or her face at Camp Crystal Lake. While those are all fine accomplishments, we think there are still plenty of missed opportunities for Jason. In fact, there is an entire film catalogue of experiences waiting for him, if only someone would give him the chance. He has been patiently laying dormant for quite a while, and we think it’s time Mr. Voorhees takes a stab (pun intended) at a new set of circumstances. 
 
For your reading pleasure, we dreamed up a few situations, places, and scenarios we would like to see Jason ‘take.’ So, read on for some ridiculous fun, infused with a hearty amount of satire, irony, and wishful thinking.
 
Jason1
 
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
 
How it Goes Down: Like in Manhattan, perhaps Jason would catch a boat in to the city and wreak havoc upon his arrival. We can see him picking up a jackhammer that was abandoned by city workers and doing in a couple of victims with that, before moving back to his machete. Our thoughts are, if Jason can take Manhattan, why can’t he take someplace a little less ambitious? Poughkeepsie would be perfect. It’s also near Jason’s home state of New Jersey, and it doesn’t really get much play. With the exception of a few mentions in The French Connection and The Poughkeepsie Tapes, it’s almost as if the town is invisible. Jason could draw some much-needed attention to the region and bring in some new blood (pun intended). If his urges were properly channeled, Jason could potentially do a world of wonder for the New York tourism industry. Can’t you just imagine the mayor of Poughkeepsie giving Jason Voorhees the key to the city? 
 
Outcome: After racking up a sizable body count, Jason, armed with the key to the city, lives to fight another day. 
 
Jason7
 
Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain  
 
How it Goes Down: Obviously, Jason would be in Southern California for vacation. During his visit, he stops by Six Flags for a day of thrills, but he is upset by the long lines and starts cutting his way to the front – with a machete. When he tires of using his signature weapon, he would naturally begin pinning people’s heads to the roller coaster tracks and letting the coaster cars do the work for him – similar to one of the deaths in The New Kids. In addition to being known as an even-tempered and fun guy, Jason is universally recognized for his prowess in dealing with the youth of America, so wouldn’t it be absolutely perfect for him to take on a major theme park? Of course it would. Think of what he would do for the long lines one must wait in before riding popular attractions. Jason would also deal with misconduct in the park. We’re not sure how he would react to Hurricane Harbor, the adjoining water park – the guy is not really known to have a fondness for water. But maybe he would warm to the idea with time… and therapy.
 
Outcome: After realizing total domination of rowdy tourists, Jason is hired by the park for ongoing crowd control.
 
Jason6
 
Location: A Dry Cleaning Business in Miami Beach
 
How it Goes Down: Jason goes into semi-retirement and moves to Florida, as many people do. To pass the time, he takes on a part-time job at a dry cleaning business. Unfortunately for the establishment, the clientele, the neighborhood, and anyone else involved, Jason snaps when he spies a teenage couple having premarital sex in the restroom. He goes on a rampage, killing the young couple, the staff, all of the other patrons on the premises, and anyone else unlucky enough to get in his way. Maybe the film’s tagline would be "Jason Takes Miami… To the Cleaners."
 
Outcome: Jason is let go from his job after killing the staff. Since he lives off the grid, police are not able to locate him in any of their databases. Then he kills them and goes back to retirement. 
 
Jason2
 
Location: Your Dentist's Office
 
How it Goes Down: Jason shows up for a checkup and is told by his dentist that he needs to floss more regularly. For Jason, that is the final straw. As a result, he snaps and decapitates his dentist. He then massacres the entire staff with a dental drill and works his way to the waiting room. On his way there, he picks up a scalpel and slices through every patiently waiting client in the lobby. I hate going to the dentist as it is, so if I showed up for an appointment and Jason was there performing surgery, that would be enough to scare me away from the dentist’s office for life. 
 
Outcome: Jason is inspired to go back to school and pursue a degree in dentistry.
 
Jason5
 
Location: A Charity Ball
 
How it Goes Down: After being asked to serve as a spokesperson for an anti-violence benefit, Jason graciously accepts. He would certainly start out with the best of intentions, but as we know, idle hands are the devil’s workshop, and seeing as there wouldn’t be a whole lot for Jason to do at a charity ball, he would eventually grow bored and resort to his old tricks. That would undoubtedly include bloodshed, charitable carnage, and a ridiculously fun viewing experience. In a fit of rage, he would empty the punch bowl and use that as a tool of destruction by dumping it over someone’s head for trying to restrain him. Then he would impale someone with the leg of a chair and strangle some onlookers with a microphone cord. 
 
Outcome: Jason is banned by the charity after killing some of the wealthiest philanthropists associated with the foundation. 
 
Jason10
 
Location: A Blood Drive in Scranton, Pennsylvania 
 
How it Goes Down: It would start innocently enough: Jason would be asked to help out with a blood drive as a celebrity spokesperson. He would find himself overwhelmed by seeing bloodletting that he was not personally responsible for. Not wanting to be outdone, he would begin amputating limbs and showing Scranton who’s really boss. Really, though, who can blame the guy? Asking Jason Voorhees to sponsor a blood drive is like asking a recovering alcoholic to bartend for the night. It's an unfair temptation, and probably not even nice to ask. Jason would use the needles used for drawing blood to shove through his victim’s eyes, ears, and any other accessible orifice. Like Poughkeepsie, Scranton doesn’t get a lot of national recognition. But, that will all change when Jason stages a massacre there. 
 
Outcome: Jason destroys every single donor on the premises. The drive brings in a record amount of blood, but it is unfortunately by way of mass murder. 

Ten Fantasia Festival Premieres We're Dying to See

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Over the past few weeks we've been keeping you updated on the expanding lineup of titles being added to Montreal's Fantasia 2013, the largest genre film festival in North America. Now that the list is a lock and the curtain is set to rise tomorrow night, we thought we'd gather up our own list of the Fantasia screenings we're most curious about.
 
Some of the fest titles we've shared with you already, in some form or another: for example, we took a look at James Wan's The Conjuring, the grim Israeli killer flick Big Bad Wolves, Mike Mendez's monster bash Big Ass Spider! and E.L. Katz's mind-games thriller Cheap Thrills; some titles like V/H/S/2 and the psycho-thriller Magic Magic are seeing their theatrical, DVD and/or On Demand premieres this month, and Adam Wingard's You're Next screens at Comic-Con tonight. But there are still plenty of up-and-coming items on Fantasia's roster that we'd love to see pronto.
 
The Complex
 
After a few missteps over the past few years, Ringu director Hideo Nakata shows some chilling promise once again with his new horror entry about a nursing student who moves into a creepy apartment building and soon receives a horrifying visit from her recently deceased neighbor.
 
 
Curse of Chucky
 
We've been getting some encouraging teases about the upcoming reanimation of the beloved Child's Play micro-villain, and while it's actually targeted at a DVD release in time for this Halloween, the long-awaited return of Chucky will make its world premiere on the big screen at Fantasia.
 
 
The Demon's Rook
 
This incredible-looking DIY horror/fantasy from James Sizemore blends the surreal imagery of Fulci and Argento with campy '80s-style monsters and buckets of gore for his tale of a man raised by demons who returns to the world of humanity with the secrets of the Beyond. Looks like a one-of-a-kind experience.
 
 
Discopath
 
This giallo-style thriller is set in New York City's '70s club scene, and features a disturbed man who is driven to commit murder every time he hears a disco tune. That premise alone is enough to merit a look, plus the film is being compared to the works of John Carpenter and Brian De Palma at their prime, so what's not to love?
 
 
Frankenstein's Army
 
It's hard to resist a well-made horror tale in a gritty WWII setting, especially if it involves Nazi zombies... and it's looking like this flick might fit the bill. The pulpy scenario involves a lost battalion of Russian soldiers trapped behind enemy lines who stumble into a descendant of Dr. Frankenstein, who has been busily working on an army of undead steampunk super-soldiers.
 
 
Hell Baby
 
Another promising horror comedy on the roster, this satirical spin on the demonic exorcism genre comes from the creators of Reno 911! and looks hella fun (no pun intended). Rob Corddry (Warm Bodies) and Leslie Bibb star as an expectant couple who hire a team of elite Vatican exorcists after discovering an evil presence in their New Orleans home.
 
 
Lesson of the Evil
 
It's been a while since acclaimed Japanese director Takashi Miike shocked audiences the way he once did with horror classics Audition and Ichi the Killer, not to mention his banned Masters of Horror episode “Imprint.” But this tale of a schoolteacher with homicidal tendencies suggests Miike's still got the chops to freak us out all over again.
 
 
Thanatomorphose
 
This sublimely shocking French-Canadian entry from Éric Falardeau looks creepy as hell, and advance buzz has been very positive – not only for the grotesque body-horror imagery (courtesy of controversial FX artist Rémy Couture), but also for the film's intriguing subtext about body image and self-identity. If it's as chilling as this teaser, we're all in.
 
 
The World's End
 
Advance buzz has been positive for Edgar Wright's long-awaited reteaming with his Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost... and who doesn't love the thought of seeing these cracking geezers take on yet another apocalyptic scenario – this time featuring hordes of killer alien cyborgs!
 
 
Zombie Hunter
 
This looks just way too over-the-top to miss: a slick-looking but otherwise totally '80s B-movie-inspired horror/action epic set in an apocalyptic wasteland in which a drug has transformed nearly the entire human population into zombies. The hard-drinking, muscle-car-driving title character joins forces with a group of survivors led by an ass-kicking priest, played by Machete man Danny Trejo.
 
 
Runners-up for this list include L'Autre Monde (The Otherworld), a surreal documentary from Richard Stanley (Hardware, Dust Devil); Bobcat Goldthwait's Bigfoot mock-doc Willow Creek; the campy horror comedy Bad Milo; Korean anthology Horror Stories; the sleaze-and-gore-fest Pinup Dolls on Ice; and the long-awaited Troma sequel Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1.
 
 

Gift Guide: Zombie Doll Tights

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Zombies are scary. Dolls are scary. So why choose between one or the other when you could be both, and scare the piss out of people? Multimedia artist and author Sharon Bateman has combined both into these awesome airbrushed tights. The ball joints drip blood and pus and all sorts of icky stuff. Bateman has lots of other styles, including broken doll, regular doll, and octopus tights. 

$35.00 at Etsy

Not So Good: The Most Brutal Weapons Used by Comic 'Heroes'

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Some heroes save the day with their wits, some with their fists, some with webs, and some with gadgets. Superman can fly and breathe ice and shoot lasers from his eyeballs. Spider-man swings around kicking people and tying them up. Wonder Woman makes people tell the truth with her lasso. That's all well and good; those are the boy/girl scouts of the Superhero community. But some heroes are a little less, uh, careful with their weapon choices. Let's look at some of the most brutal weapons used by heroes... not villains, but actually used by the good guys. Wear a poncho, it's gonna get gruesome.
 
Wolverine
 
Wolverine's Claws
 
This is an easy one, right at the top of the list. Of course, everyone knows that Wolverine has adamantium-laced claws, and everyone knows that he uses them to slash up bad guys (and sometimes, accidentally, good guys). But think about it, he's a hairy, feral, wild man with a bad attitude that uses savage claws to rip his opponents apart. That's pretty brutal for a top-tier hero. Not exactly the same as tying up baddies with webbing and leaving them for the cops to find, is it?
 
Ghost_Rider
 
Ghost Rider's Chains
 
When you're the spirit of vengeance and a skeleton-headed defender of the innocent, you wouldn't really want to use kid gloves on your enemies. Ghost Rider's chains, though not part of the original character design, have become so connected to the character that it's hard to imagine him without them. They can swing around at his will, he can stiffen them to become spear-like, he's choked out countless villains with them, hell… he can even make them explode, sending chain-shrapnel out against his foes. I imagine it would hurt to get whipped by a chain... so imagine how bad it would hurt to get whipped by a chain wielded by someone zipping by you on a motorcycle! Damn!
 
Spawn
 
Spawn's Necroplasm
 
Spawn's one of those "heroes" who can't help but end up on these lists about brutality. He's so brutal when he needs to be, having destroyed more than his far share of ne'er-do-wells in Detroit (and in Hell, and all over the world, and…). Hardcore fans will note that all of Spawn's body is this organic substance called Necroplasm. But specifically we're talking about his Necroplasm suit. It allows him to form it into shapes of his will, like giant spikes. It also weighs a ton, but keeps him agile so he can jump around. Basically, Spawn's whole body is a killing machine, which is why he's one of our favorite heroes in comics!
 
Hawkman
 
Hawkman's Mace
 
We love this weapon because it is so simple and so brutal. Hawkman's a guy from a distant planet, garbed in special metal that allows him to defy gravity, capable of great feats of technology… and he uses a mace. Some story lines say he's better at using a mace because he's lived past lives and is used to more ancient weaponry. We think he prefers using the mace because it makes him look like a badass. This is another weapon, like Ghost Rider's chains, that you wouldn't want to see coming at you. Sure, a normal whack from a mace is no joke, but a hit from a mace that's wielded by a bird-man who's flying down at you at eighty miles an hour? No thanks.
 
Spider_Jerusalem
 
Spider Jerusalem's Bowel Disruptor Gun
 
This gonzo journalist star of the Warren Ellis-penned series Transmetroplitan is a low-down, bitter, rotten, drug-addled genius. In the seminal cyberpunk comic series Spider is always on the run from someone. In such a tough world he needs a good, show-stopping weapon at his side. Meet: The Bowel Disruptor Gun. Yes, it does exactly what you'd expect it to do to your bowels. And yes, it does have different settings, from woefully unpleasant to… uh… deadly. This iconic, insane weapon is just one of those little touches that makes Transmetroplitan one of the pillars of the indie comic scene.
 
So stay clear of claws, maces, chains… or any gun that gets aimed at your stomach. Did we miss an awesomely brutal hero's weapon on this list (don't anyone write in with "Superman's Fists"… doesn't count)? Let us know!

Nerf Launches Line of Zombie-Hunting Toys

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Nerf, that company that helped traumatize your childhood with their line of foam-tipped weapons that weren't supposed to hurt, have launched a line of zombie-hunting toy weapons.

Other than the Z logo on the sides of these weapons, I am not sure how these are any better equipped at killing zombies than your standard Nerf toy. Some of them feature fabricated handles that look like splintered wood hastily tied together, which makes it look like you got up close and personal with a hungry zombie.

There will be eight toys rolled out starting August 1st at major retailers and toy chains. Prices are set under $20 for each piece.

Source: iO9.com

'80s Gore Classic 'Demons' Gets Its Own 8-Bit Game Mockup

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Earlier this week we paid a visit to Dr. Terror's Blog of Horrors for a segment entitled “8 Bits From Hell,” in which Dr. Terror worked with artist and graphic designer Frank Browning (already a FEARnet fave for his work on all those horror ice cream flavors) and electronic musician Sean O'Connor to design vintage-style packaging, screenshots, instructions and 8-bit musical themes for imaginary early '90s-era NES games that horror fans would have totally killed to possess.
 
Demons_city
 
At that time we showcased a sweet game mockup based on Lucio Fulci's 1979 classic Zombie, but as we mentioned, that was only one of many splatter flicks to get the 8-bit treatment. 
 
MaskGeretta
 
Their second round of wish-fulfillment includes an homage to Lamberto Bava's Demons, and the distinctly '80s look of that film lends itself perfectly to the retro game vibe – all the way down to O'Connor's recreation of the main theme by Goblin's Claudio Simonetti, which you can hear in this trailer:
 
 
Doc Terror's team dreamed up many more game concepts in line with their “Italian Horror Week” theme, including Dario Argento's Deep Red& Suspiria, Joe D'Amato's Absurd (a.k.a. Antropophagus 2), Mario Bava's Black Sunday, Michele Soavi's Cemetery Man, Andrea Bianchi's Burial Ground... the list is huge,and you need to check it out pronto.

The Nine Most Memorable Villains From Kids' Cartoons

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Growing up in the eighties and early nineties, I genuinely believe that my generation and those before us had the best cartoons the world will ever see. Kids growing up today probably don’t even know what ‘Saturday morning cartoons’ are. Much of the current lineup for youngsters consists of CG, reboots of shows from years past, and straight-up nonsense. I used to spend all week looking forward to Saturday; even the commercials were amusing. 
 
As young horror fans, may of us found ourselves rooting as much for the villain as we were for the good guy. In some cases, the villain was much more debonair, interesting, and relatable than the hero, so it wasn’t all that unreasonable to cheer for them. So with that said, we've prepared a list of memorable villains from those beloved cartoons... villains we sometimes liked just as much, or even more, than the protagonists.
 
Snidely
 
Snidely Whiplash from Rocky & Bullwinkle 
 
I am personally partial to Mr. Whiplash. He's a man after my own heart, in that he sports a mean-looking handlebar moustache. He was always running into trouble with Dudley Do-Right, and that never seemed fair to me. All Snidely wanted was to tie some innocent people to the train tracks in the Canadian mountains, but the clueless Dudley was forever interfering... and worse yet, showboating. 
 
Misfits
 
The Misfits from Jem and the Holograms
 
The Misfits are absolutely fantastic. I thought of them more as anti-heroes than villains. They were constantly trying to get ahead by taking shortcuts, stealing, lying, cheating, and making mischief. Their outrageous hairdos, distaste for children, '80s new wave makeup and bad attitudes made it nearly impossible not to like them. They're so misunderstood: they just wanted to share the spotlight, or steal it, rather, and Jem & her pesky friends kept upstaging them. It’s easy to understand why they were always up to no good. 
 
Skeletor
 
Skeletor from Masters of the Universe
 
Skeletor reigns from Snake Mountain and is forever trying to take down He-man and Castle Grayskull. Skeletor actually kind of terrified me as a young child, but In spite of terrifying me in my formative years, he always had the most amazing toys and great dialogue. I seem to remember a Snake Mountain toy that kids could talk into and it would make their voice come out the other end sounding like Skeletor. Beat that, He-Man!
 
Dr_Claw
 
Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget
 
Dr. Claw had some serious swag. He also had an awesome cat that was always by his side. It always drove me crazy when Inspector Gadget, Penny, and Brain managed to foil his awesome plans before he could go through with them. That’s enough to make anyone want to be a little evil. I suspect there may have been some subliminal messages to children about the evils of Corporate America hidden in the episodes of Inspector Gadget; seeing as how Dr. Claw is the leader of the always evil M.A.D. organization, it seems in hindsight that the show’s creators may have been suggesting that Big Business is somehow evil.
 
Gargamel
 
Gargamel from The Smurfs
 
I love Gargamel because he has a kitty friend – Azrael - for a sidekick, and he was always engaged in conversation with him. How can you not like a villain who converses with his cat? His black bodysuit lent him a menacing quality, and the actor who gave Gargamel his voice made him sound like a perfect creep. He was the yin to The Smurfs' yang: Gargamel was menacing and curmudgeonly, while The Smurfs were always obnoxiously chipper. I also got annoyed when they used "Smurf" as a substitute for every other verb in the dictionary. I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean when you say, “I’ll Smurf that right up,” or “Let me Smurf that for you.” Gargamel was always much easier to understand... even Azrael knew what he was talking about.
 
Shredder
 
Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 
I loved the Turtles. I still do. But one must admit that Shredder got down like a boss. He had a rad set of body armor and he had countless henchmen just dying to carry out his every nefarious wish. I also liked that he had an interesting back-story. He's definitely the type of person I would like to go out for lunch with, although I suspect it would be hard for him to eat with his facemask on... maybe he takes that off for meals. If not, he would be a very messy lunch date.
 
Joker
 
The Joker from Batman: The Animated Series
 
I think Batman is great; he remains among my favorite superheroes to this day. But the Joker is an equally awesome adversary. Like his name implies, The Joker is a bit of a sneaky trickster; he was always giving Batman a run for his money in the animated series. The thing I like so much about the Joker is that he's always in such a good mood. It’s always time for a laugh! He never takes anything too seriously, unlike the brooding and often moody Batman.
 
Cobra_Commander
 
Cobra Commander from G.I. Joe
 
Cobra Commander is the head of a group of unsavory characters. He just wanted to be loved… and to overthrow the world’s leadership regime so that he might reign supreme. I like people who think big, and Cobra Commander most certainly did; he didn’t do anything halfway. He was most definitely a worthy opponent. 
 
Krang
 
Krang from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 
I had a love/hate relationship with Krang when I was a kid. He is absolutely disgusting to look at. But it is pretty rad that he's a displaced brain inside a human suit of some sort. He had some fantastic dialogue, and he didn’t let his size get him down; instead, he was always plotting mayhem and destruction. So he was easy to like... if you could get past the gross-out factor. 

Horror at the Emmys

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In all the frenzy surrounding Comic Con, you may not have noticed that the Emmy nominations were announced this morning. Well, they were, and genre is represented. Not a lot, and not as much as it should, but enough to make any horror fiend proud.

The biggest nod went to Vera Farmiga for her manic-depressive role as the ultimate Mother, Norma Bates. Farmiga was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama for Bates Motel. Disappointingly, her co-star Freddie Highmore, who plays Norman, did not get a nod. His performance this season has been equally as intense, but in a more subtle, nuanced way.

Other major nominations went to American Horror Story:Asylum. One for best miniseries and one for - no surprise - Jessica Lange for her role as Sister Jude.


The Walking Dead Invade San Diego Comic-Con

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AMC's The Walking Dead booth is always something to see and this year is no exception. Fans are invited to step behind a gated area and come face to face with the walking dead. Naturally it wouldn't be fair to put you back there without a weapon so make sure you pick up a crowbar before you snap your victory pic. Check out the pictures below.

The Walking Dead returns to AMC this October. The show's panel at Comic Con will be Friday afternoon.





'Sharknado' Spotted at Comic-Con

FEARnet Movie Review 'R.I.P.D.'

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While it's certainly true that superheroes are enjoying a huge era at the multiplexes these days, that doesn't mean that all comic books need (or even deserve) to become movies. In the comic book world, Dark Horse makes some pretty great graphic literature. but their film division is a mixed bag at best: Hellboy, Mystery Men, Barb Wire, Timecop, 300, Virus (yes, that one), and the nearly unwatchable Alien vs. Predator films. Some good, a lot of bad.

But as long as Marvel and DC are raking in huge bucks, we'll always have a few producers willing to adapt any graphic novel for the big screen -- whether or not the film is actually any good. Such is the case with the truly woeful R.I.P.D.

As a guy who prides himself on being able to identify the legitimate craft and honest artistry in "silly genre" films like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, I certainly walked into R.I.P.D. with a good attitude: the movie is about two ghost cops who do battle against undead scum on behalf of heaven. Plus the heroes are played by Ryan Reynolds and the always adorable Jeff Bridges, the villain is Kevin Bacon, and the lady in charge of everything is Mary-Louise Parker. Throw in a kooky sense of humor and a few action scenes and we're already halfway to a good movie, right?

That's what I thought.

Aside from some half-decent CGI work and some legitimately lovely Boston cinematography, there's nothing for me to pull out of my "good news" bag. R.I.P.D. feels like it was made entirely by computers, truth be told, and no amount of tongue-in-cheek wackiness will make a viewer forgive the tiresome plot, the confused narrative, the wheezing banter between the two leads. the sadly perfunctory and wholly unnecessary attempt at "actual emotion" in a movie that's about as heartfelt as a McDonald's Value Meal, and the look on all the actors' faces that all but screams "Gimme my check and get me outta this movie."

This movie's idea of clever is that, while our lead ghosts look like Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds to us, they actually look like a hot blonde and a creepy old man to everyone else. This leads to some wackiness when our villain mistakes the male hero for a wo... no, I don't want to spoil it. Some of you have never seen a movie or a TV show, ever. When the movie isn't focused on its garish geysers of computer graphics, it's a showcase for the anti-chemistry between Reynolds and Bridges. They never once seem to be working in the same film.

Since the movie is based on a comic book, there are a few stray nuggets of cleverness here and there. The R.I.P.D., for example, is composed of crime-fighters from various eras, which is why Jeff Bridges plays an Old West sheriff and why their office is filled with cops of various shapes, sizes, and time periods. Novel in a comic book, certainly, but here's it's just empty window dressing for a concept, style, and presentation that feels like the unholy combination of Dead Heat (1988), Ghost (1990), Ghostbusters (1984), and (dear lord) Cowboys and Aliens. It's not that the R.I.P.D. source material has no potential; it's that this movie is terribly made from stem to stern.

Director Robert Schwentke (Red, Flightplan) does seem to have a little zing where action sequences are concerned, but those moments fly by so quickly and all that remains is a bunch of hard-working actors forced to ejaculate the stupidest nonsense imaginable, and don't even get me started on how virtually every scene is punctuated with "drag & drop" exposition yammering. You can't even see the actors' mouths on most of the "plot stuff," and that means R.I.P.D. was probably re-cut 19 times before the actors were tossed into a booth to help make sense of the plot with dialogue like "So that's why the demons need the gold for their ceremony that we talked about in the last three scenes!" (I'm paraphrasing.) There's sloppy, there's messy, and then there's amateurish. R.I.P.D. is all three.

From its eyesore character design to its oddly crude and smarmy screenplay, R.I.P.D. is the worst sort of "slap it together because some geeks recognize the title" film production. The flick has a few moments of stray weirdness that hint of what the movie might have been, but unfortunately the final version of R.I.P.D. is a stunningly lazy and patently unlikable film. I'm not even sure who the intended audience would be, truth be told.

'Dexter: The Complete Series' Announced For Nov. 5th!

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Fresh from the 'Dexter' panel over in Hall H at the 2013 San Deigo Comic-Con, Showtime made the huge announcement that the 8th and final season of their hit series would be arriving on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 5th. Not only that, but they've already prepped 'Dexter: The Complete Series' for release on that same date & they gave the Comic-Con audience the first glimpse at the awesome packaging. For the DVD version, all the discs will be in a box set resembling Dexter's blood slide collection with each disc subbing as a blood slide. The Blu-Ray version is even more elaborate! You know those dummy heads that Dex smashes in from time to time to determine the blood spatter pattern of a victim? Well, the complete series in the Blu-Ray format will be harbored in one of those heads! We were able to snag the pics below straight from the panel.

Dexter The Complete Series DVD
Dexter The Complete Series Blu-Ray Collection

'Dexter' is currently airing its 8th and final season on Showtime. The series stars Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Charlotte Rampling, David Zayas, C.S. Lee, Desmond Harrington and Aimee Garcia. Check back every Monday morning for Alyse's TV recaps of 'Dexter.'

 

Dangerous Games: 'Ghost Pirates' Game Review

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The chair creaks as you settle onto it. The candlelight flickers. All around you the ravenous faces of your so-called friends twist in delight as you slowly open the box laid out on the table. Welcome to Dangerous Games! Each week, we'll feature a horror/thriller/monster tabletop game you should be playing. Don't be scared… roll the dice… what's the worst that could happen? 
 
Pirates1
 
Ghost Pirates
 
Somewhere off in the Florida Keys, away from the partying and spring break-ing, a creaky old ship rocks in the sea. The crystal clear water licks at its rotting wooden sides, the warm breeze whistles through a tattered mast, and as another ancient ship lurches through the water… something stirs in the cabins below. This is Ghost Pirates, a fun tactical ship-to-ship combat card game for two!
 
You and your opponent both take the role of ghost pirate captains. The idea of the game is that you're the spirits of old sea dogs, destined to continually battle each other in open waters until the end of time. You may not be tangible, but you sure are tactical!
 
Pirates2
 
Gameplay Mechanics
 
Each player's ghost ship is initially comprised of three cards. Players set down five cards representing the ocean in the middle of the play space. Then each player lays down their initial three cards (Forecastle, Main Mast, and Poop Deck) and the game begins. Each ship has crew members, a first mate, and a ghost captain. The goal of the game is to keelhaul your opponent's captain by boarding and wrecking his or her ship!
 
Players draw from decks of cards, and a player can draw various items of booty, or extra parts of his or her ship. You can draw a piece of your ship with an extra mast, or a cannon, or a treasure hold! You could even draw a boarding plank which you lay down over the ocean cards to attempt to board your opponent's ship!
 
Through careful tactical play one player will emerge victorious. But not before many cannons are fired, many planks are walked, and much rum is drunk! Here's to living the pirate's after-life!
 
Pirates3
 
Replay Value
 
One of the really cool features of this game is the captain card. Each player chooses a captain from the deck to play, which subtly changes the game and forces your opponent to alter their game plan. You could have a ghost captain who gets extra help, or a ghost captain who ignores normal cannon damage. These cards, along with the dice rolling, keeps the game fun and variant. There are definitely plenty of ways to play the game, and you'll find yourself coming back to it time and again.
 
Pirates4
 
Overall Impressions
 
You play as a ship-full of ghost pirates trying to raid another ship full of ghost pirates. What's not to love? This high-seas adventure is clever in it's design and compact in its packaging. This is the type of game we break out whenever we've got the time. And there's always time for pirates!

'The Walking Dead' Season 4 Comic-Con Trailer

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Get an early look at the new season before it premieres on Sun., Oct. 13 at 9pm.
 



AMC will air The Walking Dead marathon, from October 7th through October 13th beginning with season one straight through to the premiere of season four.

In the new season, we find Rick and the group fostering a thriving community in the safe haven of the prison. Sadly, in this brutal world, happiness is short-lived and walkers and outside threats are no match for danger brewing inside the fences.  The group’s home and new way of life will be thoroughly tested, and their struggle to survive has never been so perilous. Season 4 also introduces several new characters including Bob Stookey (Lawrence Gilliard Jr., The Wire).


Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Scott Wilson, Melissa McBride, David Morrissey, Emily Kinney, DanaiGurira, Chad Coleman and Sonequa Martin-Green. The series is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Tom Luse and Greg Nicotero.

 

Mutants and Mutilations: Our Five Favorite Comic Book Body Horrors

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Whether it's a weird uncle getting ripped to shreds by Cenobites, or James Woods sticking his own hand into his stomach, "Body Horror" has always been an integral part of the horror genre. And we can't help but see it everywhere, especially in comics! So what do we mean by Body Horror, exactly? Well, not every hero wears a cape, and not every villain wears a cowl. Some are maimed, mutated, or generally messed-up looking... and we're here to celebrate them!
 
MODOK
 
M.O.D.O.K.
 
Sometimes it doesn't pay to be the brains of the operation. Especially if that's almost all you're composed of. Such is the sorrowful fate of Marvel villain MODOK (an acronym for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing), once known as George Tarleton. George was a bright guy at AIM, and as he was subjected to a mutagenic intelligence enhancement process he must have been pretty excited. Until his brain continued to grow, and grow, and grow. Now he's so smart he can calculate any mathematical problem or probability, but he couldn't have prepared for his giant, terrifying head! Wheeling around on a hover chair, and using clones to harvest his constantly failing organs, this is one nasty mutation. Just look at that huge head! Holy smokes!
 
Spider_Man
 
Spider-Man's Extra Arms
 
In 1971, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man went through some strange changes. Namely, he suffered through what's known as the "Six Arm Saga." Spidey was sick of being a hero, and sick of all the responsibility, so he concocts an "antidote" for his spideriffic mutation and powers. But things, as usual, don't go as planned for the web-slinger, and he wakes up after a fitful night with a batch of new arms bursting from his body. I'll never forget the impact as a child of seeing my hero in a deformed state. It was exciting, jarring, and still sticks with me to this day!
 
Stalk
 
The Stalk from Saga
 
The tale of Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples' space-opera/fantasy comic Saga is really all about a story of parenthood. The twelve issue series follows Marko and Alana, two lovers from warring planets, who have an illegal child and are hunted by Robot Princes, bounty hunters, monsters, and mad men. One of the most shocking scenes involves a bounty hunter, presented at first as a weird, sprite-like armless, topless woman with eight red eyes. Her name is The Stalk, and she's out to kill the hapless parents. Once she reveals herself to be a bounty hunter, we see she's actually hiding a full-on spider's body beneath her robes! The fleshy body, carrying enough guns and ammunition to kill a small platoon, is a startling and ingenious revelation. But even she, like all the characters in Saga, gets proper treatment and characterization, and we end up understanding much more than we expected about her motives and backstory.
 
Hard_Boiled
 
Hard Boiled
 
Hard Boiled. Just... everything in Hard Boiled. Frank Miller and Geof Darrow's wonderful, depressing, violent, fantastically grim look at the future of America is so filled with blood, guts, and gore that we could do a list just on that slim book itself. Whether it's the panel showing Nixon, our robot protagonist, being ripped apart (before we know he's a robot), or the bloody battle with an "old woman," the gore in this book is unreal. The absurd death toll, which must hit four or even five digits by the end, is illustrated in loving detail by the pair. Miller's view of the future may be so morose it borders on comical, but the blood, guts, gore, decapitations, and mutilations are enough to keep us reading and rereading Hard Boiled.
 
Akira
 
Tetsuo from Akira
 
Things were bloody from the start of the classic manga series Akira. People got shot in the face, people got their heads exploded with psychic powers, and all other sorts of terrible things happen in this darkened view of the future. But by volume five of Akira, stuff gets a little... weird. Tetsuo, who's been using and abusing his psychic powers, begins to warp and mutate. His flesh begins to grow uncontrollably, and he finds himself able to transmute other materials into flesh. Um... what? His "body" becomes disgusting, bizarre, and full of guts, pus, and tumors. Cronenberg eat your heart out. 
 
Honorable mention goes to the Batman villains Clayface and Two-Face, who both get messed up and mutated, but who's brilliant character designs keep them from being nauseating.

Bagged and Boarded Comic Reviews: Vampires with Huge Tongues, Carnage, and More!

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New comic book Wednesday has come and gone. The dust at your local comic shop has settled. An eerie silence descends as you finish reading your last superhero book of the week. Now it's time for something a little more sinister. Welcome to Bagged and Boarded: comic reviews of the sick, spooky, twisted and terrifying!
 
StrainThe Strain: The Fall No. 1
 
The Strain: The Fall offers up a vampire story with an amazing new take on vampires. These guys don't skulk and stalk, they're vicious killing machines. Think 30 Days of Night and not Nosferatu. They also have huge, pointed tongues that they use to gouge their enemies and drink their blood. A resistance is beginning in the now-ruined New York, but "The Master" is gaining strength in his crypt. Trouble in the big city, for sure.
 
Bag it or board it up? There aren't many vampire stories that I'm still interested in, but The Strain is definitely one of them. First of all, the character design and artwork is amazing. This comic has ruined fangs for me. Forget fangs, I never want to see another set again. These huge spike-like tongues that the vampires in this book are sporting are amazing. They're stuff of nightmares (and the design of my dreams). The story of this comic continues to up the ante with every issue and every mini-series run.
 
BPRDB.P.R.D. Hell on Earth No. 109
 
Follow the gaseous form of Johann Krauss and his fellow B.P.R.D. officers as they're on the ground floor of the apocalypse. Giant monsters tear apart the landscape in this end-all-be-all run of B.P.R.D. comics. Johann and his crew are looking to make their way across the landscape, but they've got to stop to find a small child they taking along with them. But the monsters are rampaging, the people who got turned into monsters are rampaging, and an old squad mate wakes up from a coma and goes berserk.
 
Bag it or board it up? The action in this series is ramping up, and I've never seen a comic deal with devastation of this level so humanely. This is an amazing issue with a ton of action. And as always, I really don't feel this is too far into the storyline for new readers to jump in. So jump in already, we're waiting for you!
 
80s UndeadNight of the 80's Undead
 
What happens when you mix 1986 Hollywood, cocaine, the soviets, pop culture references, and zombies? Night of the 80's Undead, that's what! This comic follows two young ladies as they crash a crazy, coke-filled Beverly Hills house party. Unfortunately for them, all of the coke that's made it's way to the U.S. has been tainted with a zombie-plague by the USSR, and now all of Hollywood is going bloodthirsty and crazy!
 
Bag it or board it up? This could be an amazing comic. It's a pretty humorous premise, and the setting is rife with possibilities, but man oh man, this is not to my taste. The character design is lazy (heads up, comic creators: giving your female leads unnaturally large breasts doesn't make your comic better), the characterization is tissue-paper thin, and the jokes are all in bad taste. This type of comic prides itself in “crude humor,” but you can’t just say that and then get away with whatever you want, right? This is a sort-of-racist, very sexist, non-interesting comic. Read it if the premise interests you... but really, we can do better than this.
 
CarnageSuperior Carnage No. 1
 
Following in the Superior Spider-Man world, where Spider-Man is actually the spirit of Dr. Octavius in Spidey's body, we finally get a new series about everyone's favorite drooling psychopathic villain. Easily the most terrifying villain Spider-Man has ever faced, this issue sees Carnage in a maximum security jail. Spoiler Alert: guess who breaks out?
 
Bag it or board it up? Sure, we've kind of seen this story before. Carnage is in jail, Carnage breaks out of jail, some one is trying to control Carnage, etc. But... who cares! New Carnage! Woo hoo! I'll admit, I'm a Carnage fan/apologist, but who can say no to that blood-red demon that shreds his enemies apart?

New Scream Factory Titles Announced at Comic-Con: 'Nightbreed The Cabal Cut', 'Saturn 3', John Carpenter and More

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nightbreed the cabal cutA ton of new Scream Factory releases were announced at San Diego Comic-Con today including Clive Barker's Nightbreed The Cabal Cut, John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, Cat People and more.

From the Scream Factory Facebook page:
Here’s the list of upcoming films we literally just announced at Comic-Con tonight:

JOHN CARPENTER’S ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (Collector’s Edition) – The original classic siege thriller is intensified further with all-new ‘Scream’-produced extras. (Nov 2012)

EVE OF DESTRUCTION – The 1991 Gregory Hines android-gone-amok sci-fi thriller hits Blu and anamorphic widescreen for the first time.

SATURN 3 – This post-Alien 1980 Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett vs. Evil Robot flick gets a considerable upgrade to Blu-ray for the first time. New extras planned. (Dec 2012)
DARKMAN (Collector’s Edition) – The 1990 Sam Raimi cult classic gets the full on ‘Scream’ treatment with all new extras. (Dec 2012)

SCREAM FACTORY “TV TERRORS” –Two made-for-TV movies - 1978’s THE INITIATION OF SARAH and ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE? – will be packaged together on DVD for the first time at a good price. Fans have been asking us if we could exploit more of this made-for TV content so consider this an “experiment”. If this sells well, we would love to look into bringing you a “Volume 2”. (Dec 2012)

CAT PEOPLE (Collector’s Edition) – The 1982 feline flick (with Nastassja Kinski, sex, violence and a great David Bowie single) arrives on Blu for the first time with all-new extras (2014.)

We still have more tricks up our sleeves for 2014 and we are working feverishly on trying to close deals so that we can announce more favorites soon!

What New Character Is Coming To The Walking Dead...Eventually

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Today was the annual The Walking Dead cast and crew roundtable interviews at San Diego Comic-Con.  It is no secret that the show is big on, well, secrecy so it is rare that any news accidentally slips out regarding the upcoming season. This year was no different.  Precious few details were discussed regarding season 4, and even those were contained to what we saw in the trailer that has just premiered.  However, new show runner Scott Gimple and creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman were both quite enthusastic about bringing one character inparticular to the show. And that charcter is.................Negan.

This baseball bat enthusiast is the leader of The Saviors. The Saviors are essentialy the mob in the post zombie outbreak world.  They offer "protection" to communities in return for supplies.  If you decide you do not need their protection,  you will likely have a painful change of heart. Negan recently made it onto our favorite disturbed comic villians list, so that should also give you an idea of what kind of chracter he is.

Check out the video below to see exactaly what Kirkman and Gimple have to say.

Bonus: Here is how Steven Yeun Feels about Negan's imminant arrival. Contains SPOILERS for the comic

Tell us what you think.  Will Negan be able to successfully make the jump from page to screen? Who would you cast in the role?

SD Comic-Con 2013: Check Out Neca's Alien Face Hugger Spring Loaded Egg Popper

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Blink and you'll miss it, but this is such a cool little tidbit we just had to share. The folks at Action Figure Insider demonstrate the new 'Alien Face Hugger spring loaded egg popper with light up action'! They say that this is still a prototype and the facehugger will indeed be properly colored for release. The Alien Facehugger will be part of NECA's Alien Anniversary line. Check out the video below. Big thanks to the folks at Action Figure Insider for sharing!



 

Video: Step Into The Further At The 'Insidious Chapter 2' Party!

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When you have a venue like Comic-Con to promote a horror movie, the marketing can get really creative; and it seems the best way to give fans a taste of what they're in for with 'Insidious Chapter 2' is to literally throw them into "the further," the supernatural domain of the vengeful & angry spirits as seen in the first (and now) second movie. Join FEARnet's Angie Greenup, Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson as they give us a tour of the Comic-Con exclusive haunted attraction which gives clues as to what to except for the highly anticipated sequel! 'Insidious Chapter 2,' which is once again helmed by James Wan ('The Conjuring') opens in theaters September 13th!

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