FILMMAKER OWEN MULLIGAN - INTERVIEW

OWEN MULLIGAN is an amazing filmmaker from Vermont, and one to keep our eye out for in horror filmdom. His two short films - THE SMOG and MIDNIGHT ROADKILL screening now in YOUTUBE are a must see. Mr. Mulligan gives you that retro horror experience with his two short films - taking me back to that eighties horror film experience. Mr. Mulligan has a professional keen eye in film direction and cinematography. The special effects in both films are just startling. You take a look at his two films you think he spent a big budget for each of his short films. Again I repeat see his two short horror films - a must see… So, with the most respect I bring to you an interview with filmmaker Owen Mulligan…

Good Evening Owen - Can you tell the Eyepus audience about yourself personally and creatively - What first got you interested in film?

The desire was always there to make a film since I was old enough to understand the concept but it seemed impossible with the equipment of the time and I really had too many problems anyway. Years later digital technology blossomed and I was a different person with far fewer problems and ready for a challenge. I was heavily involved with politics which exposed me to digital camera work, etc. and I realized that making a movie was now within my reach.

Did you go to film school?

No, I have no formal training. I’m completely self-taught.

Who are your favorite horror filmmakers of all time?

I would have to say John Carpenter.

Any favorite GORY films of all time?

The Exorcist and John Carpenter’s The Thing as well as Alien. They all had groundbreaking gore that was really well used. I definitely admire The Exorcist the most though for making use of an erect penis in several shots, which not only offends most people but scares the Hell out of them. God knows why but it works.

Any favorite horror films of all time?

The Exorcist, The Thing, The Blob, The Fog, Prince of Darkness, The Changeling, Poltergeist, The Ring. There’s so many.

The last horror film you seen?

The Human Centipede, which I definitely liked.

Favorite horror writers?

Dean Koontz and Ray Bradbury. They may not be categorized as horror writers but they got some really horrific stories.

Can you tell me the budget for THE SMOG and MIDNIGHT ROADKILL?

They both were around $1,000.

Which kind cameras did you used for your films?

I used a Canon Vixia HV30 for both. I wish I had a wide angle lens when I did those but now I do so I look forward to putting that to use on my next short. I actually don’t own this camera though. Luckily, public access will let you use their equipment for exchange of your project airing on their channel. Now that’s a win-win situation that I take full advantage of.

Which editing system you used to edit your films?

Midnight Roadkill was edited by Paul Varricchione on Adobe Premiere and I edited The Smog on Sony Vegas, which is great software that I highly recommend. I also learned that Paranormal Activity was edited on Sony Vegas so don‘t think you have to use Final Cut. There’s other editing choices out there esp. if you’re PC based.

How many days did it took you to shoot The Smog and Midnight Roadkill?

They both took three days to shoot although some additional time was spent on getting the establishing shot that starts The Smog.

Love the saturated green colors in your film THE SMOG, it has a feel of an eighties horror film look, did you played with color corrections? Was is it intentional?

The saturated green was intentional alright. I purposely made the film become more green with each shot as the story progressed and the smog seeped in. I used green gels over the majority of the lights during filming for this effect and then in editing I used color balance and color curve effects to enhance the green and also the shadows.

Are you planning to expand your short horror films to a feature film someday?　

I realize The Smog could definitely be made into a feature but I’m not sure if I’d make it or any other of my upcoming shorts into a feature at this point. I think I’d rather write a feature screenplay and go from there but who knows.

Where do you hope to see yourself in five to ten years?

Hopefully still making films and ideally feature horror films that are really good and scary. That’s what I’m trying to do by making shorts is to learn the craft and what techniques, etc. make people scared. I don’t see myself in Hollywood but rather making independent films under some film entity that will fund my work. There’s plenty out there like ScareFlix and Fangoria Films. I’d be completely content working with them spending the rest of my life making micro-budget horror flicks.

As far as promoting, are you submitting your films to any film festivals? Any upcoming personal screenings of your short horror films?

Midnight Roadkill played at the 2009 Vermont Horror Film Festival. Since it was basically my first film, I didn’t feel it was good enough to go beyond my local area. The Smog I feel is an improvement and so I submitted it to a number of horror fests nationwide but I won’t know until August which ones I got into.

Any upcoming film projects in the works?

I have another short in the works that I’m planning on shooting this coming January called Call of the Wendigo. My focus this time will be purely on the fear factor. My hope is to make a short that is really scary and one that will haunt people. That’s not an easy task but I’m going to try.

Any inspiring words or advice for upcoming indie/microbudget filmmakers trying to struggle with a small penny to make a film?

Well I’m still struggling but the struggle is important so pay attention to all the lessons learned. If you believe you have the talent and filmmaking is the only thing you want to do then don’t ever give up. So patience and persistence are key. You’ve got to work hard to make yourself the best filmmaker you can and that takes practice and time so keep making films and getting them out there. Listen to feedback and be open to criticism. Listen and improve, pay attention to your weak points and fix them. And don’t ever think you’re too old for this shit. Alfred Hitchcock made Psycho when he was sixty!

Check out OWEN MULLIGAN website www.deadfi.com and his two short fierce horror films THE SMOG and MIDNIGHT ROADKILL.
　

VHS HORROR TAPES - COLLECTING

I found these three VHS horror film tapes brand new at a local thrift shop for a buck each.   VHS horror tape collecting is all the craze now.   Visit your thrift shops, craigslist, garbage cans, grandparents attic, where ever, find the VHS horror tapes in original boxes and collect them.   Many horror films on VHS are becoming rare to find.  Some of them you cant find on dvd such as Linda Blair 1982 cult prison film CHAINED HEAT.   Many VHS films will be worth money in the future.  I have the original VHS tape of the film BEN - now a collectible. 

VHS horror films take me down memory lane back in 1983 when every single corner of New York City had a video store, and you would go inside the store and see displays of boxed VHS horror films than any other films behind glass door cabinet.  A number will be in front of the film box.  You went to the counter and asked the clerk if that number (vhs horror) was available.  Many times the film was not available...  The memory of VHS horror films behind glass shelves with paper magic marker numbers in front of the box and running home with the tapes in hand.  Inserting them inside the big JVC vhs player and discovering the great films from the best horror and cult filmmakers...

So, collect those rare horror films on VHS for either a trip down memory lane, for fun - hobby, or just collecting to sell in the future.   It will be well worth it...



  

SCREAM 4 - NEWS

SCREAM 4 Stars NEVE CAMPBELL, DAVID ARQUETTE, COURTNEY COX, EMMA ROBERTS (JULIA ROBERTS NIECE), RORY CULKIN, LAUREN GRAHAM, ANTHONY ANDERSON and a bigger cast.  WES CRAVEN IS HELMING AND KEVIN WILLIAMSON WRITING - I PREDICTED THIS BLOGS MONTHS AGO - CHECK OUT MY EARLY BLOG ABOUT SCREAM 4.   HERE IS THE TEASER POSTER. 

THE WALKING DEAD - TV SERIES

The famous graphic novel THE WALKING DEAD By legendary graphic novelist Robert Kirkman will be turned into a television series for AMC by the amazing director Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE).   Above is a film still from THE WALKING DEAD. I know Frank Darabont will turn this classic graphic novel into a gem. 

CALIBAN T-SHIRT BY RODNEY GITHENS ON SALE

Hold a piece of original, mind-blowing, fierce artwork across your chest from amazing PAINTER and ILLUSTRATOR RODNEY GITHENS

The ferocious, fiercely detailed "CALIBAN" T-SHIRTS are now on sale  Click on the design below for more details and price.

RODNEY GITHENS CALIBAN TSHIRTS

RODNEY GITHENS - PAINTER/ILLUSTRATOR

Rodney Githens is a painter and illustrator based out of Long Beach, NY. His art works are just beyond dark, deathly and visually stunning. Mr. Githens art works and designs have been showcased in galleries and fashionably used by popular Metal Bands and by the Ring of Honor Wrestling. Githens also owns a t-shirt line of his designed art works titled VERTEBRAE 33.

Astoundingly, Mr. Githens took time out of his busy schedule and designed the EYEPUS logo above - in which, I literally fell to the ground and almost broke my neck for this incredible design. A billion thanks go out to him for making the EYEPUS logo. 

EYEPUS is more than proud to present RODNEY GITHENS in this brief cool interview. 

When did you discover your hidden talents as a painter/illustrator?
Honestly, I cannot remember a time when I did not draw or create in someway. I spent my childhood drawing monsters and weird people. In some ways a lot has not changed that much. As an adult I spend a lot of time drawing monsters, skulls and weird people.

Who are your major inspirations for your artwork?
Obviously my work has a darker slant…so I could not say I draw inspiration from a sunset. But I do draw inspiration from all aspects of my daily life and I have some very crazy dreams all of the time. In fact, I have some sketches for a series of paintings I want to do based solely on some pretty elaborate dreams. As far as other artists go, there are numerous artists that I like including Dali, Munch, DaVinci & Durer. Anyone that does art for metal bands has to count Pushead & Derek Hess as an influence. Also, there are bunch of people working a lot right now whom I really like such as Riddick, Paul Romano and a bunch of illustrators. In addition, I draw inspiration from music of the heavy variety. For me, having a great soundtrack is a key element of the creative process.

Who are your favorite horror filmmakers of all time?
Of all time? Well, there are certainly a group of no-brainers such as George Romero, John Carpenter and Sam Raimi. Also, I would throw Hitchcock in there as the master of suspense.

Any favorite horror films of all time?
I go through different phases and as such I will latch on to different types of horror films at different points. So I went through periods where I became obsessed with all of the Evil Dead movies, Living Dead movies, Hellraiser movies but I really love the Alien movies. There is no better art created for movies than the stuff that Giger did for the first Alien movie. Also, I really love old horror films such as The Creature from The Black Lagoon, Frankenstein and a bunch of the Hammer films. As far as poster art goes those old movies had some of the greatest posters of all time.

 Any favorite GORY films of all time?
I am not a very big fan of GORY horror movies. But I do remember meeting a good friend of mine, Gary in a high school gym class because he was on the bleachers looking at a Fangoria magazine. I guess I have always preferred suspense or creepy monsters rather than outright gore.

Can you tell us how you got inspired for your art works “CALIBAN” “PROVE TO YOU” and “NERVE MAN”?
“Prove to You” was created to be shown at a co-op gallery that I was a part of a while ago. The idea behind the piece stems from the frustration of teenage life as I reflected back on it…the passive being forced to follow the misguided. “Nerve Man” was originally created as a shirt design for a band but I decided not to work with them. Not sure of the actual inspiration other than creating a spindly nerve guy existing in the astral plane. “Caliban” was created for the metal band Caliban to be used for a tour this spring/summer. They wanted a zombie based design and I wanted to try something different. So I went with the zombie crossbones.

How long does it take you to do one of your works? Any particular techniques or styles you use?
It really varies depending on the piece, but often it takes me while just to get warmed up. I tend to work pretty slowly but I can turn around work to people fast and I never missed a deadline. As far as style, I have my natural drawing style that has been developed over my entire life that is the base for all of my work. I work both by hand and in the computer. But the key would be that the average person should look at your work and not think about how it was done. Whatever tool you use it should not overshadow the impact of the work.

What are you trying to do to people with your art?
I am trying to lead them to the edge of insanity, where one-eyed bandits run amok and monkeys rule with an iron fist…..just kidding. I just want them to have some sort of reaction to my work, whether it be good or bad.

Can you tell us about your website VERTEBRAE 33 and your online store?
My site is the showcase for my art and it is for all humans who have all 33 of the their vertebrae. The store was created to try to tell some of my own designs on shirts and hopefully in the future prints and originals as well.

Are all your art works printed on all the Shirts you sell?
No. Right now I have only two designs on shirts for sale through my site but you can get some of the designs I did for bands at their shows or on their websites.

Any upcoming gallery art shows or exhibitions of your works?
Right now I do not have any gallery shows on the horizon, as I am solely concentrating on doing artwork for bands and merch companies. I would love to get back into showing

Do you think the art world is competitive?
In some respects it is very competitive but doing good work consistently over a long period of time will shrink that world into more manageable components. The internet makes it easier than ever to expose people to your work but it often still just boils down to networking. Most artists are pretty bad at networking or the business side of the art world. There is a reason we are motivated to create and it has nothing to do with business acumen.

Do you have any new upcoming projects in the works?
I am currently working on shirt designs for Ring of Honor Wrestling and a couple of bands. I just finished another design for Metal Hammer magazine and a record cover for the band Sons of Tonatiuh. I have a couple of things lined up but I cannot talk about them yet, as they are still in the beginning stages.

Honestly, Do you think aspiring artists should go to art school to learn art?
I spent time at a bunch of schools and I learned something at all of them. If you get a good teacher you can learn a ton and there are some good things that can come from feedback from a group of your peers. But it all boils down to the amount of effort you put into being an artist everyday of your life.

Any great advice for aspiring painters and illustrators out there?
work…work…work….You must push yourself all of the time to be better and better. I believe that hard work and perseverance will pay off in the end.

                           

CLASH OF THE TITANS Review

CLASH OF THE TITANS remake is not a junk but a yawn. Thank God I didn’t pay extra to watch it on 3-D. Is not worth your coins to see a classic remake being made to a 3-D mess. When I saw the trailer for the new Clash of the Titans in 3-D I thought it was going to be beyond epic - more monsters, more fantasy, more special effects.  I expected a LORD OF THE RINGS type of atmosphere.  But all you get is green screen computer generated few creatures, gigantic insects, some men dressed up in PARTY CITY HALLOWEEN MONSTER OUTFITS, men in cute skirts showing their fine ass thighs, cheap studio art direction, actors (Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson) playing tacky Gods - Zeus and Hades.

Sam Worthington as Perseus was okay - handsome aussie actor in skirt was cute, but HARRY HAMLIN as the original Perseus was better. The film was a bit slow especially the fight scenes between the Perseus and his men vs. the gigantic scorpions.  The only amazing scene I love of the whole is the Medusa fighting scenario. The computer generated Medusa I must admit was gorgeous. The romance innuendo between Perseus and Lo (Gemma Arterton) whatever. Perseus flying the black Friesian (computer cheesy generated wings), Perseus defeating Hades (GOSH) - Perseus fake crying over his foster parents when they drown in the ocean (TIRED) - Why wasnt Bubo the gold robotic owl throughout the remake, he only made a short special appearance.

I WANT MY MONEY BACK AMC… Save your coins - rent the original 1981 CLASH OF THE TITANS from your local library or Netflix and watch it. If you want to see the remake wait when it comes to DVD. Save your money…

CLASH OF THE TITANS Starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes Directed By Louis Letterier  Rated PG-13

TWO STARS from EYEPUS

JOSHUA HOFFINE New Horror Photograph

JOSHUA HOFFINE is a genius, horror photographer, his photograph works deal from childhood nightmares to the splatter nightmare gore horrors.  He is just amazing.

This is his latest work - KEYHOLE.  Go to his website and check out all his amazing, nightmarish photographs they're going to make you GAAAAAGGGGGGG.

www.joshuahoffine.com

ANIMAL SOUP (UNCENSORED) - REVIEW

Starring: Sofia Disgrace, David Pilskin, Scorpio Vixen, Lee O'Neill, Gary Benham, Daniel Peacock and a special appearance by Lloyd Kaufman
 
A film not for the faint of heart... Get ready to gag because ANIMAL SOUP (UNCENSORED) is one nasty, sick, little fierce film ride. A true indie, miniscule budget impressive debut by filmmakers DAVID V.G. DAVIES and JAMES A. KIRBY.

The story: Four Campers - in the mood for a hike in the woods come across with some grisly, wicked, ferocious, nasty motherfuckers, especially one that looks like Charles Manson named Mad Tom (played amazingly by David Pliskin) who sports a little bra (hilarious) and shitty pants.  Once the happy campers encounter these savages is all a sick, depraved blood fiasco.

ANIMAL SOUP is out of control, twisted and downright outrageous.  From defecation, excrement splats, peas and carrot vomit to shockful of blood, gore, guts, brains and animal soup.  I was speechless with the film's rawness.  I haven't seen such daring, shady, raw boldness since the early works of John Waters (MULTIPLE MANIACS, PINK FLAMINGOS) and Passolini's SALO: THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM.  ANIMAL SOUP is like a rare, forgotten 80's video nasty - it pays homage to the 70's horror exploitation cinema to the 80's video nasties - Kudos for the filmmakers for being so damn daring.

The filmmakers cut straight to the chase (ready to hack and slash) - none of that long boring dialogue that you see in tired ass recent horror films.  The film editing is very well done at a fast paced.  Amazing videography - beautiful animal shots and the green, country side pastures.  The film has an 80's look to it.  A banging soundtrack by Spit Like This, JackViper, Spiderbaby and Computers for Schools. 

This is indie/miniscule budget horror/gore at best, and if you are ready to gag and have a good old time see ANIMAL SOUP.  A worth while shocker better than some lame Hollywood films such as the "SAW" series, and the dreadful PARANORMAL ACTIVITY...  There is a sequel to ANIMAL SOUP in the works.  I hope they bring back the amazing characters - Mad Tom (David Pliskin) and the lovely Sophia Disgrace as Mia. 

ANIMAL SOUP delivers and it gets FOUR STARS from EYEPUS. 

Anyone interested in purchasing ANIMAL SOUP go to:  WWW.FILMMA.COM

SCREAM 4 - WES CRAVEN RETURNS

SCREAM 4 - Everybody is back WES CRAVEN, NEVE CAMPBELL, KEVIN WILLIAMSON, COURTNEY COX and DAVID ARQUETTE.  I'm happy the legend Wes Craven is helming SCREAM 4

ZELDA RUBINSTEIN Dead at 76

Actress Zelda Rubinstein known for her classic cult performance in POLTERGEIST (and its sequels), ANGUISH, TEEN WITCH, BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON and many other films, dead at the age of 76.  Not only was she a classic with her performances, her petite, squeaky voice, but she was one of the first celebrities who supported the gay community.  May she rest in peace.  Below is a Zelda Rubinstein classic performace from the film POLTERGEIST (taken from you tube). 

"FROZEN" This looks scary as Hell for 2010

I cant wait to see Adam Green (HATCHET) new film FROZEN looks scary as hell, imagine being stuck in the middle of the slopes, stranded in a chairlift, freezing, now that is some scary shit... Check out the poster, synopsis and website of the film.

SYNOPSIS

A typical day on the slopes turns into a chilling nightmare for three snowboarders when they get stranded on the chairlift before their last run. As the ski patrol switches off the night lights, they realize with growing panic that they've been left behind dangling high off the ground with no way down.

With the resort closed until the following weekend and frostbite and hypothermia already setting in, the trio is forced to take desperate measures to escape off the mountain before they freeze to death. Once they make their move, they discover with horror that they have much more to fear than just the frigid cold. As they combat unexpected obstacles, they start to question if their will to survive is strong enough to overcome the worst ways to die.
 

CHECK OUT THE FILM TRAILER AND WEBSITE: www.frozen-film.com

CHRISTMAS HORROR FILM JOLLIES

KILLER SANTAS, A KILLER SNOWMAN, HERE ARE SOME XMAS HORROR FILMS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD SEE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH A CUP OF HOT COCOA AND CHOCOLATE COOKIES ON THE SIDE...  MERRY CHRISTMAS...

THE CRAZIES Remake Synopsis

THE CRAZIES is a remake from George A. Romero THE CRAZIES from 1973, below is the synopsis.  Above is the new remake poster and the original from 1973. THE CRAZIES opens February 26, 2010.

Imagine living in a small town where everything is safe and happy…until suddenly it isn’t. Imagine your friends and neighbors going quickly and horrifically insane. In a terrifying tale of the “American Dream” gone horribly wrong, four friends find themselves trapped in their hometown in The Crazies, a reinvention of the George Romero classic directed by Breck Eisner from a screenplay by Ray Wright (Pulse, Case 39) and Scott Kosar (The Amityville Horror, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).

David Dutten (Timothy Olyphant) is sheriff of Ogden Marsh, a picture-perfect American town with happy, law-abiding citizens. But one night, one of them comes to a school baseball game with a loaded shotgun, ready to kill. Another man burns down his own house…after locking his wife and young son in a closet inside. Within days, the town has transformed into a sickening asylum; people who days ago lived quiet, unremarkable lives have now become depraved, blood-thirsty killers, hiding in the darkness with guns and knives. Sheriff Dutten tries to make sense of what’s happening as the horrific, nonsensical violence escalates. Something is infecting the citizens of Ogden Marsh…with insanity.

Now complete anarchy reigns as one by one the townsfolk succumb to an unknown toxin and turn sadistically violent. In an effort to keep the madness contained, the government uses deadly force to close off all access and won’t let anyone in or out – even those uninfected. The few still sane find themselves trapped: Sheriff Dutten; his pregnant wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell); Becca (Danielle Panabaker), an assistant at the medical center; and Russell (Joe Anderson), Dutten’s deputy and right-hand man. Forced to band together, an ordinary night becomes a horrifying struggle for survival as they do their best to get out of town alive.

EYEPUS News

WES CRAVEN new film 25/8 has a new title:  "MY SOUL TO TAKE".  Here is the synopsis of the film: 

In the sleepy town of Riverton, legend tells of a serial killer who swore he would return to murder the seven children born the night he died. Now, 16 years later, people are disappearing again. Has the psychopath been reincarnated as one of the seven teens, or did he survive the night he was left for dead? Only one of the kids knows the answer.   Adam “Bug” Heller (Max Thierot) was supposed to die on the bloody night his father went insane. Unaware of his dad’s terrifying crimes, he has been plagued by nightmares since he was a baby. But if Bug hopes to save his friends from the monster that’s returned, he must face an evil that won’t rest…until it finishes the job it began the day he was born.

Hopefully the film will get an R rating and Wes Craven will take us to a new horror masterpiece journey.  And speaking of Wes Craven, I dont think he is helming SCREAM 4. That will be a bummer if the legendary director doesnt helm SCREAM 4.  Neve Campbell is back for SCREAM 4 but no talks about Craven back in the director's chair.  I refuse to see SCREAM 4 without Craven on board...

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Actress Natalie Portman will star in and produce “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” a film that is based on the book by Seth Grahame-Smith and Austen.  Miss Natalie Portman will slay zombies in Victorian times.  It sounds crazy and funny, another hilarious take on zombies like SHAUN OF THE DEAD and ZOMBIELAND but in Victorian times.  Jane Austen meets zombie hell...

THE WOLFMAN gets "R" Rating

The looooooooooooooonnnnnnnggggggggggg awaited THE WOLFMAN starring BENICIO DEL TORO, EMILY BLUNT and ANTHONY HOPKINS due out February of next year is getting an R rating by the MPAA.  Thank God because I hate those PG-13 horror films.  The Wolfman will be bloodier, gorier, and loooooooonnngeeerrr without the cuts.  Thank you Universal Pictures.  Now we can enjoy it with all its glory.

LEGENDARY ACTRESS BRITTANY MURPHY DEAD AT 32

BRITTANY MURPHY 1977 - 2009

Sad and shocking to know that one of my all time favorite young actress Brittany Murphy is dead at the age of 32.   Brittany Murphy died of a massive heart attack.  As I write these lines I'm still in shock.  She starred in the teen classic film CLUELESS, 8 MILE, DEADGIRL, she played a sexy vixen in the cult classic - fierce SIN CITY, in the slasher film CHERRY FALLS, DON'T SAY A WORD, SPUN, LITTLE BLACK BOOK, UPTOWN GIRLS the upcoming horror films DEADLINE, SOMETHING WICKED and just many memorable films to even list here...  Sadly, I will miss her screen presence very much.  May she rest in peace.

EYEPUS TOP FIVE HORROR FILMS OF 2009

This year was a good year for horror films, though some great goodies ended on DVD, I say this was still a good year for horror films on the big screen.  Though after three years in the shelves of Warner Brothers, TRICK R TREAT ended straight to DVD, not shown on the big screens, I must say, the EYEPUS horror Oscar goes to TRICK R TREAT as BEST HORROR FILM OF 2009.  Followed by ZOMBIELAND, DRAG ME TO HELL, ORPHAN,  and THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL. 

Winner: 1. TRICK R TREAT

              2. ZOMBIELAND

              3. DRAG ME TO HELL

              4. ORPHAN

              5. THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL

Worst piece of shit horror film of 2009 goes to the awful and stupid remake of MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D, what the fuck were this folks thinking when remaking this piece of shit.  Bad acting, bad special effects, bad storyline, just bad everything, thank God I didnt pay once cent to see this garbage on the screen it was a library rental.

Honorable mentions that I liked very much but were not in my top five:  JENNIFER'S BODY, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and DISTRICT 9 (though not a complete horror film - but EYEPUS says is sci-fi/horror). 

MAY THE NEW YEAR 2010 BRING THE BEST IN HORROR FILMS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO MY BLOG AND READING THE REVIEWS.  THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT... LOVE EYEPUS. 

PHOTOGRAPHER ELISABETH FARAONE - INTERVIEW

EYEPUS INTERVIEWS PHOTOGRAPHER ELISABETH FARAONE.  ELISABETH FARAONE is one photographer to watch for.  In a series of her works she embarks into the horror, the darkness and the macabre.  Here is an exclusive interview and don't forget to check out her webpage and her myspace page for the rest of her amazing photo works.

Can you tell me about yourself and your photography works?

Behind the camera, I'm a mixed drink of emotion, sarcasm, and honesty, with shot of childish innocents. I'm an art teacher, School of Visual Arts grad, wife, daughter and photographer. My photography is a culmination of horror, metaphors and a childhood I a childhood toy or two, and moody lighting.

How you got into photography?
When I was 9 I saw this back leather, dusty bag in my mother's closet.  When she wasn't home I opened it to see what was in there. I lifted out her Honeywell Pentax, and started to play with it. I think I liked the clicking sound of the shutter and the grinding sound of the manual film advance lever. I asked my mother what it does and how to use it. After she showed me that was that.

I just found out you went to School of Visual Arts through your myspace page, explain your experience at School of Visual Arts?
I had an in depth training on how to use lighting, and camera settings (without guessing). Technically, the school did wonders, creatively... you either had it or you didn't.



Who is your biggest inspirations for your horror and the macabre photography imagery?
Floria Sigismondi, Joel Peter Witkin, David Lynch, and Andres Serrano.

Your images are ferociously fierce and beautifully shot, especially "DOLLS", "POSSESSION" and "A HEART STORY", I love them all, what was your experience in making them and your inspiration for it?
For the series "Dolls" I adressed my fear of abandonment and lack of playtime as a child. I photographed dolls that represented my emotional trauma of being adopted, and having a mother that was diagnosed with an auto immune disease.

"Possession" is about life structure. People are brought up to believe in a God, fear evil, fear of sining, stay inside the lines and for What, to be chosen for stigmata? Its not so bad to have experiences that lead to growth. No, I'm not against Christianity or any other faith. I love religion, but I love life more.

"A Heart Story" is a play on words. The phrase... "broken heart" seemed kinda funny because a heart can't actually break on its own.  It's the creative mind that uses metaphors to describe the messes we get ourselves into. Give me a situation and a list of words that describe an emotion and that will be a platform for me to work off of.

EYEPUS wants to know what are your favorite horror films?
Halloween (Rob Zombie), Stigmata, Hellraiser, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Nosferatu, The Cell (just the visuals) Event Horizon and currently Martyrs.

And who are your favorite horror filmmakers?Takashi Miike, Clive Barker, Quentin Tarantino, Gore Verbinski, James Wan, Christophe Gans.

Which cameras do you use to do your photography?Nikkon D90 and Hasselblad.

How does the public react to your works?They hide they're children's eyes and ask, is that real blood? Gasps of "oh my god..." or "wow, that's deep."

Had you ever had to censored your works for any particular gallery shows, or anyone?
Of course, as an art teacher, I like to show my work and have my students show their's. Nudes, religious jabs, or reenacments of horrific situations can be quiet scary to a child, as well as some adults. I'm not out to have debates over my ethical stand point, religious beliefs or anything else... I just want people to look, think, like, and if possible, buy.

Any great advice for aspiring photographers?
Don't change your style or give yourself the overdosing guilt trip (us artists do when we think we've failed) cause you didn't make it into a "posh" Chelsea Gallery that shows artist's who make work like rows. of suburban houses. F*** them. Try other ways to get work known.

Are you working in any new works, any gallery shows in the future?
Hmm that gallery talk again.... my wallet says no, my head says... yeah as long as I can through some blood on the walls. I'm always working on something new and disturbing.

Click here on ELISABETH FARAONE to see the rest of her works.  Or visit her webpage  http://spyderwebb666.tripod.com/

SCREAM 4 - Another sequel in the making

Let me begin by telling all you readers HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING. And I'm sorry I havent been here in a while I been away in vacation in the tropics, when I got back from vacation I got very sick and it wasnt a good one... Anyways, sequels are ahead in the horizon with SCREAM 4 - the rumors Wes Craven might be back, Neve Campbell as Sydney Prescott, Courtney Cox and David Arquette are back.  Kevin Williamson is writing the script.  I'm I happy that they making a fourth installment? I'm okay about it, as long as they bring Wes Craven, and the original cast I'm sweet with it.  As I been reading in other horror websites that they are bringing a new generation of teens and they planning to kill off the old fogies like Neve, Cox and David.  Killing Sydney Prescott is such a stupid absurd idea.  The Scream storylines surround all about Sydney's character.  Production begins in April 2010.    

HOUSE OF THE DEVIL

Sweet, good girl Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) is an independent college student seeking a job. She is eager to get a job to pay off a rent deposit to an apartment she is interested in. She finds a babysitting job ad in her college campus. She calls the number and gets the job right away (sounds to good to be true). Her friend Megan (Greta Gerwig) tells her that it sounds too weird. Megan drives Samantha over to the house (an old Victorian mansion) that is located next to a cemetery. The girls are received by Mr. Ullman (a spooky Tom Noonan). Mr. Ullman explains to Samantha that is not really a babysitting job but to watch over an elderly woman. At first Samantha feels puzzled, then after some money talk hustling with Mr. Ullman, he agrees in giving her four hundred dollars.

Samantha explains to Megan about the situation, Megan runs out upset. Drives back home. On the way home by the cemetery she meets her sad demise by a killer Victor Ullman (A.J. Bowen)... For forty minutes we are following Samantha around the house, she orders pizza, she snoops around, dances around with her little cassette walkman, watches television. Her pizza arrives, she takes a bite and the slice has been poisoned. The action begins, the black Lunar Eclipse is above the clouds, the cloaked satanic cult leaders Mr. Ullman, Mrs. Ullman (Mary Woronov) and Victor Ullman come out of hiding and they are chasing Samantha, as she is weak, and the devil (One Scary son of a bitch) wants to drink her virginal blood. But Samantha battles it out with weakness and all…

HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is like an early 80’s television horror movie of the week but with a blood bath. House of the Devil is a simple horror which starts at a slow pace, then BANG - many horror films in the seventies and eighties always had the slow suspenseful pace.

Ti West did a great job throwing us into a time machine and taking us to the eighties, EVERYTHING IN THIS FILM IS 1980 - COSTUMES, ART DIRECTION, HAIR STYLES, the satanic storyline, the film credits, and the whole atmosphere. This is ten times better than the tired wanna-be PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and GRACE.

THREE STARS - GOOD OLE 80’s RETRO HORROR CREEPY FUN

Starring Jocelin Donahue, Greta Gerwig, John Speredakos, Mary Woronov, Dee Wallace Stone, Danielle Noe, Aj Bowen, Tom Noonan.
Written, Directed and Edited by Ti West
Running Time 93 Minutes Rated R

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND TO ALL EYEPUS READERS, MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL, CRAZY COOL, SAFE HALLOWEEN - EYEPUS

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Yesterday I went to see the horror hit of the fall PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, I wanted to see all the hype, all the scariness that people are hollering about. The film was number #1 and made over the weekend $67 million and SAW 6 came in number #2. I paid the early matinee price $8.75 (the early matinee special) at my local AMC movie theater. I sat in the middle of the auditorium, a few people in the audience. So, what do I have to say about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY? Is all right, whatever…

The doom twenty-something year old couple Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) (The actors used their real first names to give it that non-fiction true story) are living in a nice two floor home. They hear noises, footsteps, ghostly sounds and all the bumps that go off at night.  Micah buys a nice prosumer camera to videotape all the paranormal bumps in the night.  Katie invites a psychic (Mark Fredrichs) to their house, she tells him that since she was eight years old, she feels something has been following her and she always heard things that go bump in the night.  The psychic feels there is something in the house, but Micah doesn’t believe in the Psychic, he thinks he is a fruit.

 
For three weeks Micah places his prosumer camera in the middle of their bedroom for surveillance to capture any happenings.  In the middle of the night the camera captures the door closing, noises, a shadow, Katie in a state of somnambulism staring at her sleeping boyfriend for two hours.  Micah shows all the captured dailies to Katie to prove there is something really wrong in the house. Katie starts to get a little weird, Micah is trying to help her with video camera in hand to capture everything she is going through… In the middle of the night, a spirit comes in, pulls the sheet off Katie, and drags her out of the room as she screams glory mercy. Micah runs after her to help her.  Katie is freaking out, but they continue to stay at the house, in which I don’t understand why this couple stayed at this house, when you hear things that go bump in the night, get up and get the fuck out.

SPOILER ALERT: Katie in another state of somnambulism, stands by Micah's side of the bed, stares at him for a while, she leaves the room slowly, she goes downstairs, we hear some creepy hard footsteps, a little while later, we hear Katie scream at the top of her lungs, suddenly waking up Micah.  Micah jumps out of bed and runs downstairs. They both start to scream. Then a sudden pause.  Micah gets thrown across the room, knocking down the video camera.  We see Katie in the middle of the room, blood all over her shirt.  Katie walks up to the dead Micah on the floor.  She kneels besides him, smells him and she looks at the camera (at us the audience). Her face turns into a quick ghostly demon. The End.  That’s it. Credits of the couple’s whereabouts, then the end.

 Katie and Micah deliver a fine tune performance, especially Katie Featherston. Filmmaker Oren Peli did a cute job with the whole scare tactics, lets see if his next film live up to the hype, like the Blair Witch Project Filmmakers they were famous for a year and so, then they disappeared making crap, and where are they now?

I really didn’t care much for PARANORMAL ACTIVITY - the whole video camera point of view scariness and jolts is so overrated, is been done in hundreds of horror films - THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, .REC, QUARANTINE (.REC remake), DIARY OF THE DEAD, THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES, OPEN WATER and the list could go on. I do admit Paranormal Activity is ten times better than The Blair Witch Project with more suspense, more scares and spooky wild noises. But this type of film has been done already, in different million ways, with the same storylines, demon possession taking over the wife and killing her husband, or vice versa, is been done over and over and over again. Did I care for the film? Nope. What is all the hype about? TWO STARS from EYEPUS. Wait till it comes out on DVD (with its alternative endings) rent it, or buy it when it comes to the five dollar bins at Walmart.

TWO STARS - NOT A CLASSIC

DEADGIRL

Necrophilia bumbling teen assholes Rickie (Shiloh Fernandez) and J.T. (Noah Segan) talking crass and homophobic epithets (they look like muffins themselves) go to an isolated mental hospital to drink some cheap brewskies and chill out. Out of boredom they crash the place, and stumble on a supposedly pretty girl, tight up to a gurney, which at first seems dead then hopeless and alive, J.T. starts to touch her breast rather than go get help for the poor girl. Rickie wants to call for help to save the girl. J.T. a manipulative thug slaps Rickie. Rickie thinks this all wrong. J.T. starts to rape her (a dirty zombie girl sweaty and with wounds filled with pus). The deadgirl becomes his sex slave zombie girl. The asylum isolated basement becomes a stench of dead sex odors. And then the party begins when the deadgirl is really a chomping zombie. J.T. gets one of his friends named Wheeler to join the action. Taking turns exploiting, raping, touching, and hitting the undead girl. They all keep it secret about their romps with zombie girl, but word leaks out that they have a chic tied up, free for all boys to plunge her. Once word spreads around about deadgirl pussy giveaway, all hell breaks loose, blood and gore splatters starting with zombie girl biting a jock’s cock off. This cheap, tired film is one of the stupidest films I have ever seen, I really don’t know what the screenwriter and filmmaker had in mind for this is senseless piece of shit… I DON’T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS. If you want to see a film about necrophilia in all its glory, see the German classic, sick horrors NEKROMANTIK (1987) and NEKROMANTIK 2 both directed by German filmmaker Jorg Buttreit.

 

DEADGIRL unnecessary stupid - shady lines:

“We have to get her to a hospital before she bleeds to death."

“Two red blooded American studs passing on pussy."

“I got my own sweet pussy waiting for me tonight.”

“Get in line fag.” (The homophobic tag lines)

DEADGIRL gets ZERO STARS from EYEPUS.

I DONT WRITE REVIEWS FOR "SAW"

I HATE THE WHOLE "SAW" Series.  Why? Its so redundant, so tired - how many ways are they going to find to torture a person?  I dont care if the film makes 100 million at the box office, SAW will never be reviewed here.   I will never interview a SAW filmmaker here at EYEPUS.  I'm over the SAW series.  I saw part one and then part two and that was it for me.  Tired acting, stupidity, whatever...  A horror classic film like TRICK R' TREAT didnt get justice in a movie theatre, but a bullshit film like SAW 6 gets screen time. The world of film is so fucked up.  ASIAN HORROR CINEMA is better than the SAW series but it ends up on DVD.  But SAW gets screen time.  I believe SAW gets its stolen torture ideas from ASIAN HORROR CINEMA.

FRIGHT RAGS NEW T-SHIRT DESIGNS

FRIGHT-RAGS has four new t-shirt designs, my favorite and fiercest are these two t-shirt designs:  PENNYWISE THE CLOWN and PUPPETMASTER.   The other two are nice too, but these two are my favorites.  Early in July of this year I wrote a small blog about FRIGHT-RAGS - I love their shirts, original stuff (check it out below).  If you like these shirts go to their website WWW.FRIGHT-RAGS.COM check out their bloody, great shirts.