We're heading into a pretty slow weekend, as far as horror is concerned, but there are still a some cool things to keep you busy happening in the next couple of days. Tonight, Nails starts screening at the Roxie Theatre, but only tonight's show will be followed by a live Q&A with the director Dennis Bartok. This will be in the Little Roxie, so it may be a good idea to get your ticket early. Sunday is the most eventful day, with the Yerba Buena Center's Cat Video Fest sharing the day with Savage People's Punk Metal Flea Market. Don't worry, you can do both!
What starts out as a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into one of the most stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mysteries ever told. From the novel by best-selling author Agatha Christie, "Murder on the Orient Express" tells the tale of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone's a suspect. One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again. Kenneth Branagh directs and leads an all-star cast including Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley and Josh Gad.
Dana Milgrom (Shauna Macdonald) is a track coach and mother who's survived a near-death car accident, only to find herself paralyzed and trapped inside her own body. Forced to communicate via an artificial voice program and hooked to a breathing machine, she becomes convinced that a terrifying presence called Nails exists inside her hospital room. No one believes her - not even her own husband, who think she's experiencing a mental breakdown. As her marriage disintegrates and her grip on reality starts to shred, Dana fights to convince the doctors and staff that Nails is real and intent on destroying her.
Director Dennis Bartok in person after the Friday, November 10th screening
CatVideoFest 2017 will feature 80 minutes of footage of your favorite internet felines and will be presented in the YBCA Theater. Arrive early to partake in cat-themed activities and stay afterward for our Happy Meow-hour! CatVideoFest is founded by filmmaker Will Braden, creator of YouTube sensation Henri, le Chat Noir and curator of the popular Internet Cat Video Festival.
An elderly woman hangs herself in a church. A grieving father searches for the truth about what happened to his missing son. And a trio of young city dwellers unleash a sinister force when they begin renovating a cursed home on a remote island. They don't know it yet, but each of these strangers is connected by a disturbing, decades-old secret--a mystery that holds the key to a series of terrifying supernatural events. Based on the acclaimed novel by the "Queen of Icelandic Crime," this atmospheric chiller is both a hair-raising ghost story and a powerful tale of life beyond death.
An event where all the punks, metalheads or just someone who likes the culture gather under one roof, bringing the Bay Area scene together to have a platform for artist to sell their products. We will be bringing you records, comic books, zines, DIY arts and crafts, art pieces and jewelry.
New month and new Blurays to add to the growing collections. It's November which means Black Friday sales are just around the corner. Today the new month starts off with a bang with lots of titles to choose from this week. Scream Factory is releasing two new horror films today with Darkness Rising and Killing Ground. Both of these are pretty decent films, but I'd definitely recommend checking out Killing Ground. It's intense and had me at the edge of my seat. Scream Factory is also releasing the long awaited Darkman sequels to finish off the Scream Factory Darkman series on Bluray with a new transfer and bonus features. Foreign sci-fi film The Untamed also is released today. It has an interesting premise similar to Species. Blind buy of the week for me is The Show, it has a basic title but really cool premise. Biggest title of the week is Disney & Pixar's Cars 3, which continues Lightning McQueen's adventures. Only at Best Buy you can get Cars 3 in a steelbook packaging. Target's exclusive is in a digibook packing with a storybook attached. Dark comedy Ingrid Goes West is also a must buy for me today. I loved this film and the actors are great in their roles. So what will you be buying, renting or skipping this week? Let us know in the comments. Until next week!
A house's horrifying secrets are resurrected in this blood-drenched
supernatural nightmare. For years, Madison (Katrina Law) has been
tormented by the memories of a traumatic childhood incident: when she
was a girl, her mother murdered her younger sister, and nearly killed
Madison, too. Joined by her fiancé (Bryce Johnson) and cousin (Tara
Holt), the now-adult Madison returns to the home where it happened just
before it's slated to be demolished. Seeking closure, the trio instead
find themselves ensnared by the same evil presence that drove Madison's
mother to unthinkable violence. It soon looks like history may repeat
itself… Cult horror icon Ted Raimi costars.
A couple in a troubled marriage locate a meteorite, initiating an
encounter with a mysterious creature. Their lives are turned upside down
by the discovery of the creature, which is a source of both pleasure
and destruction.
London, 1880. A series of murders shakes the already dangerous Limehouse
district, and the neighbors begin to suspect that such monstrous crimes
can only be the work of the Golem. Desperate, the police put the
seasoned detective Kildare in charge of the investigation.
Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast cars, the legendary
Lighting McQueen finds himself pushed out of the sport that he loves.
Hoping to get back in the game, he turns to Cruz Ramirez, an eager young
technician who has her own plans for winning. With inspiration from the
Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns, No. 95 prepares to compete on Piston Cup Racing's biggest stage.
Visitors to a futuristic theme park populated by artificial beings
experience Wild West adventures -- and more. Based on the 1973 film by
Michael Crichton. Westworld isn't your typical amusement park. Intended for rich
vacationers, the futuristic park -- which is looked after by robotic
"hosts" -- allows its visitors to live out their fantasies through
artificial consciousness. No matter how illicit the fantasy may be,
there are no consequences for the park's guests, allowing for any wish to be indulged. "Westworld"
Scientist Peyton Westlake (Arnold Vosloo) returns to his lab
believing he has disposed of his nemesis, mobster Robert G. Durant
(Larry Drake), who gave him the hideous burns that transformed him into
his alter ego, Darkman. While Darkman is perfecting an artificial skin
that will restore his old appearance, Durant
inexplicably returns to torment him. Overcome by rage, Darkman disguises
himself with the artificial skin, setting out to infiltrate Durant's
world and bring him to justice.
Burn-scarred scientist Peyton Westlake (Arnold Vosloo) roams the
night as his alter ego, the cloaked Darkman. When Darkman, who often
steals from the corrupt, crosses drug kingpin Peter Rooker (Jeff Fahey),
he finds a worthy adversary. Rooker tricks Darkman into an operation,
implanting a remote-control device in his mind. To
free himself from his enemy, Darkman must now take down Rooker or die --
a job that will draw the recluse unexpectedly close to his target's
family.
Following the death of her mother and a series of self-inflicted
setbacks, young Ingrid Thorburn escapes a humdrum existence by moving
out West to befriend her Instagram obsession, a Los Angeles socialite
named Taylor Sloane. After a quick bond is forged between these
unlikeliest of buddies, the facade begins to crack in both women's lives -- with comically malicious results.
We are making our way into Winter, which means San Francisco gets to bust out the hoodies and leather jackets, which I'm personally excited for. But before we are fully into holiday horror territory, we still have a couple of Halloween appropriate movies screening in the bay area. The first one starts in just a couple of hours, at the New People Cinema as part of Another Hole in the Head film festival. I'm talking about Ruin Me, which will be introduced by our very own Madeleine, and will be attended by the director, Preston DeFrancis! Tickets are still available, so get to Japan Town as soon as possible. Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday are also following suit, and showing Ginger Snaps with a special guest introducing it, and Murder Party, which I can't wait to revisit.
Alexandra reluctantly tags along for Slasher Sleepout, an extreme event that is part camping trip, part haunted house, and part escape room. But when the fun turns deadly, Alex has to play the game if she wants to make it out alive.
On a future earth where 98% of the surface is underwater, a Warlord who controls an army of sharks meets his match when he captures the daughter of a mysterious shark caller.
From first-time German director Norbert Keil and the visionary mind of Richard Stanley (HARDWARE, DUST DEVIL), featuring horror diva Barbara Crampton (RE-ANIMATOR, YOU'RE NEXT), a stylishly viral love story about reverse aging. Afflicted with a dermatological disease that causes her skin to crumble away, young and beautiful Kira discovers she can replace it with the skin of other girls. However the treatment is expensive and debilitating but rather than watch her body fall apart Kira makes a deadly decision. Accompanied by her lover she embarks on a murder spree so she can have a constant supply of donors.
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only one kid and a group of psychics can stop.
Live re-score by The Firmament
Using synthesizers, acid basslines, drum machines and audio samples from the film, San Francisco based electronic musical score design duo The Firmament has created a live electronic score to the 1988 classic anhime Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo.
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.
In this modern werewolf tale, sisters Ginger and Brigitte are ostracized by their town because of their morbid inclinations. Soon after being attacked by a wolf, Ginger begins to exhibit strange nocturnal behavior. Now Brigitte must decide whether to save herself or join Ginger in otherworldly doings.
A loser finds out the hard way there are worse things than spending another night at home in this horror comedy from first-time director Jeremy Saulnier. Christopher (Chris Sharp) is a nebbish who can't get any respect at work, couldn't get a date if his life depended on it, and has practically no social life. Christopher figures he's going to be stuck at home on Halloween until he finds an invitation for a "murder party" on the sidewalk; expecting a costume party with fun and games, he slaps together a cardboard "suit of armor" and shows up for the festivities. The bash is being thrown by a group of bohemian artists who are rather surprised Christopher has shown up -- he's the only stranger to take the bait and arrive for their party, in which their guest-of-honor is actually going to be killed in the name of creativity (and impressing a jaded patron who finances their projects). Before long, Christopher begins to realize what's going on, and struggles to find a way out of the warehouse where the party is being held, while the artists begin to turn on one another and the blood starts to flow. Murder Party won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival.
Dana Milgrom (Shauna Macdonald) is a track coach and mother who's survived a near-death car accident, only to find herself paralyzed and trapped inside her own body. Forced to communicate via an artificial voice program and hooked to a breathing machine, she becomes convinced that a terrifying presence called Nails exists inside her hospital room. No one believes her - not even her own husband, who think she's experiencing a mental breakdown. As her marriage disintegrates and her grip on reality starts to shred, Dana fights to convince the doctors and staff that Nails is real and intent on destroying her.
Director Dennis Bartok in person after the Friday, November 10th screening
It's hard to say what turns a film into a "cult classic". What I can say is that the film Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare (1987) is most definitely a title that springs to mind when making a top 10 list of cult favorites. With its over the top 80's gore, practical effects, wildly imaginative storyline and heavy metal soundtrack, it's easy to see how monster kids, genre nerds, and metal heads could embrace this title and hold it close to their hearts while the rest of the world dismissed it. With the documentary "I AM THOR" now streaming on Netflix, I was inspired to reach out to the man himself as I realized that as long as I've been a fan I didn't know much about him. I was extremely excited that he made some time in his busy schedule to speak with with me.
xKillDozerx: As a professional performer, what is your number one goal? Are you consistent with how you treat your audience or do you cater your performance?
Thor: My number one goal is to entertain the crowd. I give my all with every performance to everyone in the audience.
xKillDozerx: Do you think of yourself as more of an actor or a musician?
Thor: Both.
xKillDozerx: Did you ever think that the film Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare would become the cult classic that it is? Why do you think people love the film as much as they do?
Thor: No, I just hoped that it would get distributed. It's amazing to me that over 30 years later new generations get into this film. People like it because it's a lot of fun and it has great music that stand the test of time .
xKillDozerx: What do you bring to the roles you play both on the stage and on the screen?
Thor: I become the character I am expected to be on stage. For a film role I become that character that I must be.
xKillDozerx: What kind of feedback have you received from the documentary released about your life? What was your take on the film? Were you happy with how you were portrayed or would you have changed some things?
Thor: There has been an incredible reception. The movie has won numerous awards at film festivals throughout the world. I was not completely happy with how I was portrayed, but then I am the protagonist and the movie was shot through the lens of the director and producer. I left the filming and editing up to them.
xKillDozerx: What inspired you to write Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare? Did you write it with the idea that you would also star in the leading role?
Thor: The original name for the movie was Arc Angel. The idea was to combine elements of Superman, Hercules with horror and science fiction. I wasn't intending to star in the film.
xKillDozerx: John Fasano, who directed the film also wrote Darkness Falls and Another 48 Hours. How did he become involved with the project? What was his technique like on set?
Thor: He is a true talent. An amazing director and producer. He was involved right from the beginning. We both wanted to work on this project together ever since we became friends and were involved with a previous movie called Zombie Nightmare.
xKillDozerx: Were you able to see Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare in a theatre when it came out? What was the initial crowd response?
Thor: The crowd went wild for the movie and gave it a standing ovation. It was the same type of reaction as when I saw the Rock Horror Picture Show.
xKillDozerx: What was the reason behind the title change from The Edge of Hell to Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare? To your knowledge are the cuts different at all?
Thor: The movie had numerous titles. Arc Angel, The Intercessor, The Defender. We felt RNRN was more commercial for the US market. No the cuts aren't different.
xKillDozerx: How much artistic input do you have on the projects you work on? Is making your vision a reality everything or are you open to input?
Thor: I am open to input. But I am the idea man, the creative catalyst. I come up with the concept whether it is an album or movie. I like the idea of creating a concept and seeing it through to fruition. But I need a little help from my friends.
xKillDozerx: What projects are you currently working on? How can someone go about following your work on social media?
Thor: The new album is out: "Beyond The Pain Barrier" on Cleopatra Records. Also we are in post production for the movie: "Return of the Thunderhawk" to be released on Cleopatra Music and Film . Go to www.thorcentral.net for info.
xKillDozerx: I have always appreciated how dedicated you are to your fans. What does it mean to you to have such a dedicated following?
Thor: The fans are everything. Without the fans there is nothing.
xKillDozerx: If Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare were ever remade who would you like to see play you?
Thor: I was thinking of a female lead. Change it up. Wonder Woman was a huge hit. How about Olivia Holt? She has a big young fan base who would get into the movie with her as "The Intercessor" Joan Triton. She would be John Triton's daughter.
xKillDozerx: If you could choose a "Universe" for your films to exist in which would you choose and why? (example- Star Wars universe, Harry Potter universe)
Thor: DC Universe. I could see Triton co-exist with Batman, Superman and the rest as opposed to the Marvel, Star Wars etc. Universe.
xKillDozerx: What is the coolest thing you have taken from the production of any of the films you have been in?
And so, Halloween has come and gone. We can reset our countdown and contemplate what next year will entail. But in the meantime, we can still endulge in some awesome genre films right here in the bay area! And there are some not to be missed events that are closer than you think, especially with the way Another Hole in the Head has been killing their programming. This weekend, they're showing a film I had lost all hope of ever seeing, and the director will be in attendance for a Q&A after the movie. There is also a west coast as well as a world premier hidden But AHITH isn't the only place you can catch some genre over the next couple of days, the Roxie is kicking off their theatrical run of Most Beautiful Island.
Rob Grant and Mike Kovac receive a disturbing fan video inspired by their previous horror movie Mon Ami, motivating them to investigate the responsibility of filmmakers in portraying violence in movies. In their pursuit of the truth they are unwittingly introduced to the real world of violent criminals and their victims.
After the stress and mental anguish of finals, Alex and her girlfriend Jane trek with a few friends into the woods for a little rest and relaxation. As the group begins to unwind, something in the dark has discovered a new and intoxication scent.
After working in her home, a mysterious blue-collar worker with a dark past becomes obsessed with an unhappily married woman. He and his roommate set out to eliminate anything and anyone who would stand in the way of winning her affection.
Live Q&A with director Dave O'Shea after the movie
Two women search for the source of a sinister scream each night while challenging creative demons and facing an otherworldly threat that drives its victims into madness.
This well-crafted Japanese animated feature adapts the novel Belladonna by Jules Michelet in a unique manner. The story concerns a love affair, taking place in the Middle Ages, shadowed by witch-trials and the Inquisition. The actual moments of the story are shown in more-or-less still tableaux, but the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters are fully animated. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND is a psychological thriller examining the plight of undocumented female immigrants hoping to make a life in New York. Shot on Super 16 with an intimate, voyeuristic sensibility, the film chronicles one harrowing day in the life of Luciana, a young immigrant woman struggling to make ends meet while striving to escape her past. As Luciana's day unfolds, she is whisked, physically and emotionally, through a series of troublesome, unforeseeable extremes. Before her day is done, she inadvertently finds herself a central participant in a cruel game. Lives are placed at risk, while psyches are twisted and broken for the perverse entertainment of a privileged few.
LordBattle - "If Scream's underline achievement was granting the horror community a voice while also deconstructing one of its most prolific subgenres, Ruin Me also deservers recognition for being the evolutionary next step in this chain of thought. Showing how the Netflix & Chill generation seeks its horror movie experience not in a theatre but in a haunt, escape room, or scary sleep over and how the quest for escapism may develop a dangerous skepticism. What I mean when I say a "dangerous skepticism" is that horror fans used to the idea of "the ride breaking down" may end up walking through a haunt of actual corpses only to comment how fake it looked." - 4 Stars
MathMage - "A surprisingly predictable 'haunted house is actually haunted!' tale. Carried by clever jokes and interesting characters, but weighed down by a clunky plot and boring twist." - 3 Stars
Trash - "Low budget and highly creative, Ruin Me starts as one movie and turns into something more sinister and complex. The creators coming from a theater background makes sense, as there's a lot of weight put on the performances and intricate construction of this movie. Set in an extreme haunted experience called Slasher Sleepout, in which players buy a ticket to spend a night in the woods solving puzzles and being tormented by haunted house actors. Themes of manipulation and questioning reality are layered into the plot, as the event grows out of control, and you start to learn more about the lead character, Alex. This movie thrilled me. I love immersive horror, and I love when reality breaks. Watching it with a big audience definitely enhances the experience as well! Catch it at a film festival if you can, it's playing a bunch!" - 4.5 Stars Clark Little - "A fun, smart dissection of the slasher genre. With a pair of charismatic leads, Ruin Me grabs your attention early and keeps it." - 3.5 Stars TheGreatHornito - "Ruin Me is a slasher movie that is full of humor and mystery. The characters were well written and brought with a talented unknown cast that had amazing chemistry. Ruin Me was also well paced, funny, and featured some interesting kills. The ending was the only thing that "ruined me"." - 3.5 Stars Huntress - "We all secretly love watching other people do things that we would never take on ourselves. And being that I’m too much of a wimp to ever venture into an immersive haunt, watching someone else do it was bound to be fun. And Ruin Me definitely started out fun, as we were introduced to the band of clashing personalities that must work together in order to win this escape room type game. But the adventure quickly takes a surreal turn and we’re left questioning what's real and what's part of the game. The story is told from the reluctant girlfriend, Alexandra (Marcienne Dwyer) perspective, which effectively puts us in her shoes and makes us question everyone else in the party. I feel like I went into Ruin Me a bit naïve, kind of like Alexandra and as the film continued I was equally as confused. This is as close as I’ll ever need to get to an extreme haunt, but it was so engaging and unpredictable that I'm not missing out on anything." - 4.5 Stars
WanderingPanda - "A fun movie that knows what it is. It makes fun of some horror tropes which I like. It's meant to not be taken too seriously and that's one of its best qualities. The cast is cool and believable. The funny fat horror nerd is by far my favorite. His quick one-liners and well timed jokes made me love him. The story is ehh... but not so bad that I got bored." - 3 Stars
TheImpostor - "Ruin Me is a refreshing surprise of a film for me. While the slasher sub genre of horror is by far my favorite, there haven't been many that excited me. Ruin Me has the perfect setup for an all out bloodbath in middle of woods with little to no resources. Characters were fun and I was actually rooting for a few of them, which is rare. I tend to want many to die right off the bat. Acting is top notch, I feel they went with talent over looks which isn't a bad thing at all. The film felt more real and authentic that way. The main character got put through the ringer and even made me wonder if this was all real. Is she crazy? I don't know. I'd highly recommend everyone check this out, it will definitely surprise you and keep you guessing from beginning to end. This will be in my top 10 of 2017 hands down." - 4.5 Stars
The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*
(Below is for after you've seen the film)
Much of the reason I was first drawn to Ruin Me is an odd one, and a modern invention in the world of haunted attractions: my obsession with extreme haunted houses. These aren’t your typical haunt, where you walk through while actors pop up and startle you, but a new breed of immersive theater in which you sign a waiver, get a safe word, and are thrown into a sort of false reality in which a living horror movie plays out and you’re the star. Ruin Me’s main character is a woman named Alex who isn’t a horror fan, and certainly would never sign up for an event like this. In fact, as we get to know her character, she divulges a much deeper side of her life that explains why she wouldn’t have chosen to participate -- but she’s a devoted girlfriend, and she’s not going to abandon her boyfriend who has been looking forward to attending Slasher Sleepout for some time.
As you can imagine, the audience for these kind of events isn’t a huge one -- most people aren’t game to throw down $50 to simulate a traumatizing experience -- so there aren’t a ton of active extreme haunts. The most common ones are tamer, leaning in the direction of elevated escape rooms, asking a small group of players to solve puzzles to avoid being slain by a killer or bitten by a zombie on a chain increasing in length. Fun, but not the eye-opening personal experience a thrill seeking horror freak might have in mind.
To learn more about what I’ve done, check out my write up for the legendary New York haunt Dead Of Night for Fangoria… like being pinned against a wall while “worthless bitch” was written across my chest in black marker.
The be all end all in extreme haunts is a legendary establishment called McKamey Manor. Founded by Russ McKamey in San Diego, the stories floating around regarding this experience are so dreadful and strange, even I’m not certain I’d be willing to brave it. Being hit and forced to puke is one thing, but I hear they shave off your eyebrows? For me, that’s a HARD NO.
See, that’s the most exciting part about extreme haunts, the self-discovery. It’s a device which Ruin Me uses to flesh out a really fascinating character in Alex, is finding the answer to the question of how far are you willing to go? What skills do you hold that you’ve never had the chance to put to use, because you’ve never been in a scenario like this? What don’t you know about yourself, that an event like this may be able to reveal?
One of my favorite events I’ve attended is a haunt called Nyctophobia. Unlike the explicit sexual shocks of Blackout, or the gross-out splatter challenges of Dead of Night (now rebranded as Fringe Theater), Nyctophobia plays out more theatrically, planting small psychological seeds, disorienting you, and then reaching into your psyche to tug them out by the roots. In a particularly memorable scene from their 2013 show, my partner and I were sat down facing each other in a pitch black office, noise cancelling headphones strapped on our heads. A bright light was shone on us, and a man said he’d be asking a series of questions, his growling voice booming through the speakers. If the answer was yes, keep your eyes open. If the answer was no, close them. The questions began, prodding but benign, and we lined up every time. But then it got harder: Do you trust this person? Has this person ever hurt you? When my eyes stayed open and his closed, my anxiety spiked -- that’s not the kind of scare you expect from a haunted house.
Ruin Me is playing on November 6th at the Another Hole in the Head film festival in San Francisco, and I’ll be there, so if you want to watch this one in an awesome theater and then have beers at a weird underground lounge that plays 90's dance music afterwards, join me. I’m the one who looks like trash.
-Trash
The Overlook Theatre materialized at the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival for a screening on 10/1/2017
*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not affect the rating.
