Dead…Will Rise, The (2010)
An evil corporation called Horizex inadvertently (I think) builds a zombie factory in a small town. When they discover their booboo they pack their bags, cut off the town’s now infected water supply, and bugger off as protestors from a group named P.A.S.S. gather outside their gates. A bunch of friends and a news crew document the horrific events that follow as all hell breaks loose and people get mercilessly chewed on by single minded flesh munching monsters. The monsters enjoy it, the people not so much, and Horizex doesn’t seem to care too much either way. After the incident the US government discovers the video footage and lovingly edits it into a 60 minute long film for your entertainment.
Created on a miniscule budget of just $500, The Dead…Will Rise! is indie film company Eye Open Picture Entertainment’s second entry into the zombie genre. In spite of the budgetary constraints the director, Jordan L. Salkil, managed to have an impressive 200 zombies in his movie. From the history provided by the filmmakers it appears that footage from their first… Continue reading
Woman in Black, The (2012)
A preposterously youthful lawyer, or cleverly designed android, seemingly incapable of facial expressions or human emotions (Daniel Radcliffe), gets posted to downtown Mordor, I mean a remote corner of pastural England, to take care of a deceased woman’s mansion called Eel Marsh. We get the impression that he must have been goofing around a lot at work lately, because his unsympathetic Ebenezer Scrooge of a boss tells him not to screw this one up or his paycheck will soon be as blank as his face.
The lawyer, Arthur Kipps, has a 4 year old son and had lost his wife during childbirth, possibly as a result of the dangers of childhood pregnancy. Apparently the appropriate timeframe in which to get over this and get on with your life without depending on the sympathy of others for survival is: never. Arthur has to leave his son behind and find out why the unfriendly locals are all terrified of Eel Marsh and in the process re-evaluates his own wavering skepticism about things that go bump in the night.
The Woman in Black… Continue reading
Sudden Death, Overtime (2012) by Steve Vernon
When a sinister black bus rolls into the sleepy town of Labrador, Canada, townsfolk start disappearing, churches mysteriously burn down, and a bunch of grumpy foulmouthed ex-hockey playing coots have to play one final game to save their town, their souls, and their sanity.
Sudden Death, Overtime by Steve Vernon’s has it all: vampires, gory deaths, comedic relief, stubborn old people who don’t know when to quit, and the perfect wintery setting for the ultimate undead showdown. Mr Vernon is a pretty prolific novella-ist and has a number of other novella’s published, all available on Amazon. Vernon populates his world with believable characters, and, while the story is a marriage of both hockey and vampires, you don’t need to be an expert on either to enjoy it.
What you do have to know, however, is that this novella contains real vampires. There is no shimmering in the light, emotional angst or vampire romance to be had here. Vernon’s vampires have long teeth, stink of death, and they want to eat you and your babies. You know, like real vampires were… Continue reading
New Daughter, The (2009)
Why don't you love me anymore daddy? Because you're creepy honey.
When I think of Kevin Costner I associate him with bad movies about Indians, bad movies about baseball and bad movies about ghosts. Now I can add bad movies about Indian burial grounds to that list. Seems Kevin has a liking for the natives. The New Daughter is the directorial debut of Spanish screenwriter Luis Berdejo and, unfortunately, his inexperience shows.
The story is as old as time. Or at least as old as creepy old houses. A family moves to some isolated dream house only to discover that things want to eat, stab or scare them. In this case a single novelist dad moves into a new house with his teenage daughter and young son after a nasty divorce. His once loving and delightful daughter turns into a crazy bitch that strolls around at night to roll around outside in the mud and twigs. She also brings home straw puppets that look like they belong in the Blairwitch’s playpen for soon to be devoured children. Naturally there is… Continue reading
Interview: Anthony D.P. Mann (2012)
Life After Undeath recently had the pleasure of talking to Canandian writer, director and actor Anthony DP Mann about his recent film Terror of Dracula, his love for the classics and what he has in store for the future. This is what he had to say.
Terror of Dracula Poster
Why Dracula?
One of my earlier experiences with horror, was catching a late-night run of Jess Franco’s “Count Dracula” on TV one Halloween night… and I was enamoured! Since then, I have always had a love for the character, and the Stoker novel. When an opportunity arose to work with American producer Bill Bossert (who has become a dear friend, and to whom I will always be grateful for taking such a chance and investing in my aspirations), I jumped at the chance to make a film adaptation of the original novel… for me, it was fulfilling a life-long dream – and I’m very happy with the finished result. Not only did we make a good Dracula movie, what we made a Dracula movie that I enjoy watching (as… Continue reading
Dreams of Darkness (2012) by Barry James
Jordan is not having a run of the mill shitty day. He is having a Ronald McDonald felt you up on your 12th birthday party kind of day. He somehow manages to lose the cat, his car is acting up and his girlfriend is giving off icy vibes. Just when he thinks things can’t possibly get worse, Jordan dies in an accident and finds that he is instrumental in a plot to end the world. I mean, fuck.
An engrossing blend of horror and urban fantasy, I really enjoyed Barry James’ easy writing style. Too often, authors tend to be overly verbose and seem to enjoy right-clicking on the thesaurus function to find the most “intellectual” word to use. James’ writing is natural. It flows and his descriptions are fun and effective. Jordan is not simply a vessel for the story, he is a rich, detailed character whom I enjoyed getting to know.
I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by Dreams of Darkness. The book overall is polished and accomplished, especially for a first novel. At times it is… Continue reading
Terror of Dracula (2012)
Once upon a time vampires did not have emotional issues or emo haircuts. Once upon a time vampires did rude things like tearing the windpipes from unwilling throats. Once upon a time Edward Cullen would have had his lunch money stolen by bigger, scarier vampires. One vampire has stood the test of time, standing in the shadow of no other. He is the evil bat out of hell that vampires are supposed to be. He is Dracula.
The poster
Written in 1897, Bram Stoker’s classic novel has resulted in 200 odd film adaptations and has inspired countless (look, look, a pun) other vampire stories. The simple story of solicitor Jonathan Harker traveling to Transylvania to meet with a mysterious Count Dracula and help him arrange his purchase of a property in England has fascinated, frightened and entertained millions of people across decades and centuries… and it isn’t just the fact that the property is in England that’s scary.
Canadian director and writer, Anthony DP Mann, now hopes to throw his name into the hat of successful Dracula film adaptations with… Continue reading
The Mall (2011) by SL Grey
Take two utterly unlikable characters, lock them up in a seemingly deserted mall and you have the basis behind SL Grey’s The Mall.
Don't want one in my house
Rhoda is a supremely messed up addict with aggression issues who loses the child she was taking care of just as the mall is closing its doors. Daniel is the nerdy employee who she drags along on her mission to find this kid, whose name she can’t remember. As the lights dim and they get deeper into the bowels of the mall, weird things start to happen that defy all explanation.
The Mall is a fine example of the kind of talent that South Africa possesses. One half of SL Grey, Sarah Lotz, co-authored another novel, Deadlands, which I loved just as much as The Mall. The writing and dialogue is sharp and witty and the interaction and development of the two lead characters is brilliantly executed.
This novel is genuinely spooky. I always had issues with malls after hours and, after reading this, will probably make a point… Continue reading
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- #Movie review: The Dead Will Rise (2010) - Indie zombie pic that just didn't pack enough bite for us - #horror
http://t.co/AuCHpflY - #Movie review: The Woman In Black (2012) - Daniel Radcliffe sees dead people instead of Wizards - #horror
http://t.co/itvKxt5p - #Book review: Sudden Death, Overtime by Steve Vernon (7/10) - Old people battle vampires! - #horror
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