Screenings in the Bay (Friday to Sunday): Kubrick in Color, Ms. 45, Wes Ander-Thon

Here we are at the end of another week, looking forward to what the weekend has to offer. And the bay area does not disappoint! Today is the beginning of Wes Ander-Thon at the Roxie Theatre. It's a collaboration between Midnites for Maniacs, the Roxie Theatre, and Spoke Art, and will have a limited print available for purchase. Earlier this week, the premier of Showgirls: The Musical started playing at the Victoria Theatre and will continue until the 27th. So if you can't make it out this weekend, you still have time. And if you really want to get out of your comfort zone, this is the last week of Frederick Wiseman's documentaries at the Yerba Buena Theatre. Read on for details! 

Alamo Drafthouse 

Starting Today

Blood Father (2016)

Playing all weekend (1hr 29min)

Action/ Thriller (Google)

"An ex-convict (Mel Gibson) battles Mexican drug dealers who are trying to kill his estranged daughter (Erin Moriarty)."

Kubrick in Color

The Shining (1980)

Saturday 13th @ 12pm (2hrs 40min)

Drama/ Horror (IMDB)

"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."

Castro Theatre

The Goonies (1985)

Friday 12th @ 7pm (1hr 54min)

Action/ Romance (Google)

"When two brothers find out they might lose their house they are desperate to find a way to keep their home. They find a treasure map and bring some friends along to find it. They are all out looking for the "X" and trying to get away from a group of bad guys who also want the treasure."

Also screening at Dolores Park Saturday night around 8pm

-with-

The Lost Boys (1987)

Friday 12th @ 9:10pm (1hr 38min)

Comedy/ Fantasy/ Horror (IMDB)

"After moving to a new town, two brothers discover that the area is a haven for vampires."

New Parkway 

The Wailing (2016)

Friday 12th @ 9:40pm (2hrs 36min)

Saturday 13th @ 9:30pm

Fantasy/ Horror/ Mystery (IMDB)

"A stranger arrives in a little village and soon after a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman is drawn into the incident and is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter."

Ms. 45 (1981)

Sunday 14th @ 5pm (1hr 21min)

Crime/ Drama/ Thriller (IMDB)

"A shy and mute seamstress goes insane after being attacked and raped twice in one day, in which she takes to the streets of New York after dark and randomly kills men with a .45 caliber gun."

Roxie Theatre

Presented by Midnites for Maniacs,

The Roxie Theatre,

and Spoke Art

Wes Ander-Thon Weekend!

Friday 12th to Sunday 14th

"Celebrating 20 Years of Wes Anderson with a complete 10-Film Festival as well as the release of Spoke Art Gallery’s new book – THE WES ANDERSON COLLECTION: BAD DADS ART. Accompanied by a new limited edition print in Spoke Art’s ongoing Roxie poster series, designed by acclaimed illustrator Max Dalton."

Friday 
Rushmore
Bottle Rocket

Saturday
Life Aquatic (with Steve Zissou)
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Darjeeling Limited

Sunday
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Moonrise Kingdom
Grant Budapest Hotel

Embers (2015)

Starts Screening Friday 12th @ 9:15pm (1hr 26min)

Fantasy/ Science Fiction (Google)

"After a global neurological epidemic, those who remain search for meaning and connection in a world without memory. Five interwoven stories explore different facets of life without memory in a future that has no past."

Victoria Theatre

Showgirls! The Musical!

Playing All Weekend 

"Don't miss the West Coast Premiere of this New York Off-Broadway Already-Cult-Classic Stage Show! If you thought SHOWGIRLS the movie was a riot, wait until you experience the live stage show...! And with Peaches Christ in the role of Crystal, accompanying the incredibly gifted April Kidwell as Nomi, you know it's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime blend of Peaches Christ parody and this utterly wild stage show, the likes of which may never be seen again...!"

(Discounted tickets are available through Goldstar)

Yerba Buena Theatre

Fredrick Wiseman Restorations

Hospital (1970)

Saturday 13th @ 2pm (1hr 24min)

Cinéma vérité/Documentary 

"The daily activities of New York City's Metropolitan Hospital, with a focus on the emergency ward and outpatient clinics."

High School (1968)

Saturday 13th @ 7:30pm (1hr 15min)

Cinéma vérité/Documentary (Google)

"What really happens inside the walls of an American high school? Famed documentarian Frederick Wiseman answers that question in this peek inside Philadelphia's Northeast High School, where the students constantly clash with the teachers, and the teachers wage their own battle against the administration. Delving into the everyday struggle the teachers face to discipline their unruly charges, the documentary offers a glimpse into the highs and lows at an urban public school."

-Huntress

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: Parasites

6 of 10 viewers "Liked" "Parasites" (USA, 2016)

Here's what the creatures had to say:

Lord Battle - "Parasites is a dystopian future set in modern times, seen through the electric eye of a 70's era Dean Cundey camera lens, with an 80's synth score to boot. I'd like to think I keep up on my current affairs and up to-date with my micro-aggressions and such, so bare with me if some hot button topics make me violently roll my eyes. Having said that, Parasites' use of mise-en-scene actually breathes fresh air into these often overstated and preachy ideas and allows viewers to experience them in a new way." - 3.5 Stars

Clark Little - "Fortunately, I wasn't bullied a lot in school. Unfortunately, I was bullied as a 29 year old man into watching a movie called Parasites. A bait and switch movie where neither the bait nor the switch is worth the time for a retina-to-brain reaction. Why couldn't it be just about the hobos and the jock? If it had stayed with that idea, which stunk to begin with, I would have forgotten about this movie twenty minutes later and could commence my Wednesday night routine of Wahlbergers. But noooooo... They have to use their nickel and dime budget to make a political statement that eventually comes off like a MadTV sketch." - 0 Stars (Counts as 1)

The Creature of the ComiCombs - "This movie was promising from the start but it fell apart for me in the middle. I understand what was being said with this movie but it just couldn't hold my attention through the middle, the actions were too repetitive. A LOT of running, someone would catch up with or get caught by someone else, someone dies and that process was repeated all the way through to the very end of the movie. A cool idea but it missed its mark." - 2.5 Stars

Huntress - "Parasites started out with a realistic situation and quickly turned into a survival nightmare. I loved the bleak, deserted city setting and all the parallels with The Warriors. The main character carried the story pretty well, even if some of his choices didn't really make sense; considering how intelligent he was, some of his actions were very naive. This movie felt like it was saying a lot, but I don't know how many of the messages were intentional." - 3 Stars

The Great Hornito - "Parasites had a The Warriors feel to it but instead of gangs it was jocks vs homeless dudes. The movie was great until its over the top ending. I like the movie overall but I probably wouldn't watch it again or buy it due to the stupid ending." - 3 Stars

Speed Demon - "For me, the best thing about this film was the soundtrack, however, it didn't make sense for this film. It obviously took place in a more modern time frame than the 80's. Honestly I really couldn't get into it. It was boring and uninteresting. Really hokey and way too many "ah, yeah right" moments. Sometimes it felt like a dark comedy. Sorry to say I wouldn't recommend this to anyone." - 2 Stars

KillDozer - "It is tough to sit through a film that gives everything away during the intro. I enjoy a film that respects the audience enough to give it subtle hints of social commentary or deliver in your face messages in intelligent ways, this is not one of those films. Whatever this film is trying to say is shoved in your face, spelled out in capital letters, and delivered in a way that makes it a forgettable watch. It's not all bad; this movie does have some really fun "Grind House" type action and violence that works in a lot of ways. The characters are memorable and well played. I enjoyed the clever and conscience sound track choices as well. What didn't work for me was the "white privilege" ending mailed in from the beginning of the film because of its obvious Night of the Living Dead hero homage. The film did inspire debate and discussion but it wasn't about racism in America or homelessness. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't sell us Judgement Night reimagined with Night of the Living Dead while wrapping it with Grind House gift wrap." - 2.5 Stars (Worth the watch and support of independent film makers and if you are not a big movie fan you will like it a lot more than if you were)

Dabbles - "A lot of Parasites worked; the way it was shot was perfect and replicated the late 80's early 90's look." - 4 Stars

The Impostor - "Parasites is an interesting take on the survival horror sub genre. A group of homeless people band together to fight back against others they feel threaten their territory. From the start of the film, I wasn't sure what I was getting into but from beginning to end it felt like a intensified marathon. We see our main character on the run from the murderous homeless gang the whole film. Parasites does a good job making you care for its protagonist and want him to succeed but after a while it starts to drag a bit, then picks up in its third act. Then it just ends. Overall it definitely left a sour taste in my mouth for a few reasons but all in all the film as a whole is entertaining. It will definitely make you look at homeless folk in a different light." - 3 Stars

Math Mage - "I feared this title would be a metaphor rather than a film about evil bugs. It turned out to be a metaphor but in a good anyway, carrying a The Warriors-esque vibe of urban fantasy while remaining uncomfortably close to the unpleasant realities of modern society." - 4 Stars

(No Trailer Yet)


The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

(Below is for after you've seen the film)

The Overlook Theatre haunts the San Francisco Bay Area and if there is one hot button topic on everyone's mind here, it's gentrification. Neighborhoods that you wouldn't walk though, let alone drive by are now being refinanced, renovated, and sold at prices that you couldn't afford and for sure prior residents can't either. But this is the common conversation that people have when discussing gentrification.

"The Roxie Theater, the more than century-old theater in the heart of the Mission District, was paying $9,792 per month in rent, which the landlord tried to increase to $21,200 per month. The theater ultimately negotiated a three-year lease and now pays $10,963 in monthly rent." (The Examiner)

Parasites however, is making a slightly different statement relating to the current wrath that is Gentrification. Our protaganists in Chad Ferrin's film are 3 college students who get lost on their way to a football game and end up in the middle of one of the most under-used genres, "Urban Fantasy". After the homeless appear to see what their snare has caught we get a typical round of horror conversation, but there is something important being shown here and it's not obvious at first but by the end of the film it became very clear.

Once our hero is shot by the white police officer at the conclusion of the film all of the creatures in attendance became upset by the preachy and anti climatic ending. Now even though I mostly agree with their sentiments I feel that the message in this film is trying to channel the aimless rage of the lower middle class to a more deserving target, like the disorganized and always absent police in the film. Also I think the main character being portrayed by a black-male isn't about BLM but about how angry people see what they want. So just because he's in college he represents the 1%, even though he's a minority who may be on a football scholarship because he's a badass quarterback he's ultimately in the same position as the homeless.

It's worth noting that none of the homeless are African American despite being a diverse group (Native american, Asian, Mexican (not mexican)). In the end, the anger of the masses saw a car and a letterman jacket, and miss the person completely.

"At 9:35 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire call at a three-story building at 143–147 San Jose Ave. on the corner of 24th Street and San Jose Avenue, said Battalion Chief Jose Velo." (MissionLocal.org)

I honestly feel a little crazy here in SF, as several buildings have caught fire in prime real estate locations and been saved, only to catch fire again, and in some cases yet again, until they are demolished and rebuilt into some sort of super combo. I'm not saying They Live is real but some form of it is and Parasites is trying to show us that united we stand, divided we fall. We just need to put our glasses on.

-Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a residence for a special screening on  8/4/2016

*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not effect the rating.

Treasures From The ComiCombs Issue #34: Injection, The Black Monday Murders, FreakAngels

Welcome back! We’ve been pretty lucky the last six weeks or so with tons of great releases. This week our wallets get a break as it’s a slow one. Last week I read two amazing titles for my duel review and I can’t wait to tell you about them but first I have a couple new books for you to check out.

Blue Hour #1 (Action Lab Entertainment)

In the wake of a resource war on earth, a group of colonists travel to a remote system to create a new life for themselves. When the yellow sun sets, a blue sun rises. The shadow cast by the blue sun is said to bring evil and ruin to those who dare venture outside during the blue hour. This is a promising title so give it a shot when you see it on the rack!

Injection Volume 2 TPB (Image)

The second volume of injection started off great and didn’t miss a beat through the whole arc. With the introduction of Vivek Headland, Warren Ellis showed us why he is unrivaled when it comes to writing characters. Injection volume 2 also has one of the industry’s best art duos in Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire.

The Black Monday Murders #1 (Image)

The Black Monday Murders is the all new title from Jonathan Hickman. “THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS is classic occultism where the various schools of magic are actually clandestine banking cartels who control all of society.” Jonathan Hickman isn’t the type of writer to give us a story that’s only intriguing on the surface so expect this one to be deep and calculated in its delivery. 

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In 2008, Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield released the first chapter of their ongoing web comic. The series was released weekly in 6 page chapters and ran for 144 chapters. The series I’m talking about this week is FreakAngels.

FreakAngels Vol. 1 (Avatar Press)

After publication on the FreakAngels website concluded, Avatar Press began releasing collected editions of the popular web comic. As mentioned above, for Injection vol.1, Warren Ellis is unrivaled when it comes to characters and he really shines in this series with a large cast of well written ones. The series takes place in a post flood London, where a group of eleven 21 year olds with special abilities such as telepathy, space time manipulation, and more may or may not be responsible for bringing about the apocalypse and flooding London. The weekly format was an incredible way to experience this story but since the series is no longer online, pick up the trades, you will be happy you did because Paul Duffield’s art on this series is worth getting your hands on! 

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Last week we got aqcuainted with two books by the duo of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. I really had a tough time choosing the winner this week because both titles were absolutely amazing. As always though, only one book gets a spot in the ComiCombs and this week it’s The Fade Out.

The Fade Out started with our main character Charlie Parish waking up in a bathtub after a wild party and finding the body of Valeria Somers on the floor. The story revolves around Valeria's death and Charlie trying to piece together what happened. The pacing is perfect. The story progresses very naturally and nothing is rushed. There are a lot of stories being told in this book and none of them feel more important than the others; they all carry an equal amount of weight. Sean Phillips does a pretty spectacular job with the art and it’s all taken to another level with colors by Elizabeth Breitweiser.

Fatale was another very well written story from Brubaker. Visually, it just didn’t stand up to The Fade Out and that was due to Breitweisers amazing colors. The conclusion in Fatale was good but it just didn’t have me thinking about it all day like its rival did. 

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That’s all for this week. We had a lot of heavy hitters featured this week so I hope you decide to pick something up from this week's recommendations at your local shop! I’ll see you all again next week with another round of books for our duel review.

- The Creature of the ComiCombs

Bluray Tuesday: Featuring Baskin, Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3

August 09, 2016

It's Tuesday once more which means more blurays to add to our collections. Today is a much smaller release week, but also has some nice additions. Synapse Films releases the Basket Case sequels Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3 remastered, both with cool reverse cover arts as well. Scream Factory releases a new film Baskin that has an interesting premise and I look forward to checking out sometime soon. There are a couple TV Shows released as well; Supergirl the complete first season and the greatly reviewed scifi mystery 11.23.63. I missed out on this miniseries when it first aired so I am looking to pick this up today. So again light week this time.  What will you be buying, renting or skipping this week? Let us know in the comments. Also don't forget to follow our Instagram page here and our Facebook page here. We love talking about all things horror. Until next week!

Basket Case 2 (1990): Amazon - $12.99

Duane Bradley and his surgically-separated twin brother Belial return in this frightfully gory follow-up to Frank Henenlotter's original monster movie classic, BASKET CASE. After surviving a fall from a hospital window, the two brothers become media targets. Duane's aunt, Granny Ruth (played by world-famous Jazz singer Annie Ross), whisks the duo away to a secluded mansion, where other freaks-in-hiding live out their days away from public scrutiny. When a snooping tabloid reporter finds the location of the mutants, Duane and his new family must stand together to keep their freedom a secret. And, in all the chaos, Belial might actually find true love!

Synapse Films is proud to present BASKET CASE 2 in a beautiful high-definition transfer from the original 35mm camera negative

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• THE MAN IN THE MOON MASK – Interview with "Half Moon" actor, David Emge
• BEYOND THE WICKER – Behind-the-Scenes Featurette from Special Effects Makeup Artist, Gabe Bartalos
• Reversible Cover art with newly commissioned front piece by Joel Robinson

 

Basket Case 3 (1991):  Amazon - $12.99

He's back. He's bad. And, he's a dad! Belial, everyone's favorite beast-in-a-basket, is back in this sensational third film in the wildly macabre BASKET CASE horror series. Synopsis: After being separated again from his conjoined twin brother Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck), Belial finds out he's going to be a deformed daddy! Mrs. Belial ("Eve", played by Denise Coop) delivers a litter of bouncing baby monsters, but the blessed event turns into a nightmarish ordeal when the police kidnap the little critters. They should know it's not safe to anger Belial! Attacking the cops in a climactic, gory rampage, everyone's favorite mutant mauler stops at nothing to get his newborns back!

Synapse Films is proud to present BASKET CASE 3: THE PROGENY in a beautiful high-definition transfer from original 35mm vault materials.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover art with newly commissioned front piece by Joel Robinson

 

Baskin: Amazon - $22.99

A five-man unit of cops on night patrol get more than they bargain for when they arrive at a creepy backwater town in the middle of nowhere after a call comes over the radio for backup. Entering a derelict building, the seasoned tough guys and their rookie junior, who's still haunted by a traumatic childhood dream, do the one thing you should never do in this kind of movie: they split up. They soon realize they've stumbled into a monstrous charnel house and descend into an ever-more nightmarish netherworld where grotesque, mind-wrenching horrors await them at every turn. But things aren't what they seem in this truly disturbing, outrageously gory, and increasingly surreal film whose unpredictable narrative slippages pull the carpet from under your feet and keep you guessing right up to the final moment. A wildly original film that reconfirms Turkey as the breakout national cinema of the moment.

 

Violent Shit The Movie: Amazon - $39.99

Rome is shattered by a series of gruesome murders that paint the Eternal City deep red. Italian Police Inspector Aristide D'Amato and his German counterpart Hans Ebert initiate their criminal investigations. They stumble upon the eccentric Professor Vassago - a master of myths and mysteries - who is linked to Senator Vinci - a corrupt politician mutually driven by power and perversions. The suspicion grows that these atrocious crimes are connected with the return of one of the most heinous serial killers of our time, Karl the Butcher!

First 3000 copies include: CD - Original Soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti's Goblin, Collectible Blu-ray/DVD Slipcase and Sleeve, and 24-Page Booklet.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Making they Movie by Director Luigi Pastore
• The History of Violent Shit - Interview with Producer Steve Aquilina
• Tribute to Lilli Carati - The Last Interview
• Interviews with cast members Vincenzo Pezzopane, Michela Foresta, Daniela Ciccone, and Erika Kamese
• World of Stars - Interviews with cast members Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Antonio Zequila, producer Steve Aquilina, and director Luigi Pastore
• Trailers and Slides Show

 

11.22.63: Amazon - $24.99

James Franco stars as Jake Epping, a high school teacher at a loss with his life, who wants to make a difference and do something meaningful. Encouraged by his ailing friend (Chris Cooper), Jake journeys back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The story transports audiences into the world of 1960s Texas as Jake explores the multiple mysteries surrounding the alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber). But Jake's mission faces threats not only from Oswald, but from Sadie (Sarah Gadon), a beautiful librarian he falls in love with, and from the Past itself... which doesn't want to be changed. And if the Past doesn't want to be changed, it will push back ­– often violently. With something for everyone, this edge-of-your seat mystery offers an epic and emotional thrill ride.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• All eight episodes of the original series
• When the Future Fights Back featurette

  

Supergirl (Season One): Amazon - $34.99

Meet Kara Danvers, aka Kara Zor-El, who escaped the doomed planet Krypton at age 12 and was raised by her foster family, the Danverses, on Earth. There, she learned to conceal her superpowers and keep her identity a secret. Years later, Kara lives in National City working for fierce taskmaster Cat Grant alongside her friends, IT technician Winslow "Winn" Schott and photographer James Olsen. But Kara's days of keeping her talents a secret are over when Hank Henshaw, head of a super-secret agency where Kara's older sister, Alex, works, enlists her to help them protect the world from sinister threats. Though Kara struggles to balance her extraordinary skills with her human emotions, her heart soars when she takes to the skies.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• ALL 20 one-hour episodes
• 2015 Comic-Con Panel: Warner Bros. Television Presents a Night of DC Entertainment at Comic-Con 2015: Supergirl
• The Man From Mars: Superman once described J'onn J'onzz as "the most powerful being on the face of the Earth." This documentary will explore J'onn J'onzz's current circumstances on Supergirl as the alien who swore an oath to a dying father to protect his daughters.
• A World Left Behind: Krypton: Kara Zor-El's home planet of Krypton was destroyed in the opening minutes of the pilot. It was a spectacular, futuristic society filled with mystery and intrigue! This documentary will explore the history of this famous planet and its role and depiction in Supergirl.
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes

 

- The Impostor

Screenings in the Bay (Monday to Friday): Anguish, Microwave Massacre, The End of Noir Triple Feature

I hope everyone had a great weekend and got to watch some cool movies. We're back to the workweek and the means we have a whole new lineup to look forward to. This week is particularly 80's horror heavy (which I'm not complaining about!) but there's also a good amount of noir and monster movies as well. Read on for the details.

Alamo Drafthouse 

Terror Tuesday

Anguish (1987)

Tuesday 9th @ 10pm (1hr 29min)

Horror/ Psychological Thriller (Google)

"Teen friends Patty (Talia Paul) and Linda (Clara Pastor) head to a theater to watch the latest slasher movie, "Mommy," featuring a deranged matriarch (Zelda Rubinstein) who hypnotizes her son (Michael Lerner) to steal other people's eyeballs and return them to her. Unfortunately for the girls, while the on-screen killer nabs victims in a movie theater, a deranged "Mommy" fan (Ángel Jovè) creeps through the film's audience, reenacting the movie's murders in real time."

Weird Wednesday 

The Witch Who Came From The Sea (1976)

Wednesday 10th @ 9:30pm (1hr 28min)

Drama/ Horror (Google)

"Anger stemming from being abused as a child drives an alcoholic's daughter to kill as an adult."

Balboa Theatre

Super Shangri-La Show Presents

Monsters at the Museum Double Feature

It! Curse of the Golem (1966)

Wednesday 10th @ 7:30 (1hr 37min)

Horror/ Science Fiction (Google)

"A British mama's boy (Roddy McDowall) brings to life the statue of a pointy-headed 16th-century monster."

-with-

Curse of the Faceless Man (1958)

Wednesday 10th (1hr 7min)

Cult/ Horror (Google)

"A scientist's (Richard Anderson) girlfriend (Elaine Edwards) is kidnapped by a stony Etruscan gladiator-slave found near Pompeii."

Castro Theatre

I Wake Up Dreaming Presents

The End of Noir Triple Feature

Under Age (1941)

Wednesday 10th @ 6:30pm (59min)

Drama/ Crime (Google)

"A teenager helps the authorities expose a chain of tourist camps employing homeless girls to swindle men."

-with-

I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Wednesday 10th @ 7:45pm (1hr 22min)

Drama/ Drama/ Noir (IMDB)

"Glamorous starlet Vicky Lynn (Carole Landis) is murdered, and the cops want to pin the killing on her manager, fast-talking Frankie Christopher (Victor Mature). But the more Vicky's sensible sister, Jill (Betty Grable), finds out about Frankie, the less she suspects him of the crime. As Jill and Frankie fall in love, the detective in charge of the case (Laird Cregar) develops a morbid obsession with punishing Frankie, leading to a shocking conclusion."

-with-

The Monster and the Girl (1941)

Wednesday 10th @ 9:30pm (1hr 5min)

Crime/ Drama/ Horror (IMDB)

"After a young woman is coerced into prostitution and her brother framed for murder by an organized crime syndicate, retribution in the form of an ape visits the mobsters."

80's Double Feature

The Goonies (1985)

Friday 12th @ 7pm (1hr 54min)

Action/ Romance (Google)

"When two brothers find out they might lose their house they are desperate to find a way to keep their home. They find a treasure map and bring some friends along to find it. They are all out looking for the "X" and trying to get away from a group of bad guys who also want the treasure."

-with-

The Lost Boys (1987)

Friday 12th @ 9:10pm (1hr 38min)

Comedy/ Fantasy/ Horror (IMDB)

"After moving to a new town, two brothers discover that the area is a haven for vampires."

Roxie Theatre

Microwave Massacre (1983)

Thursday 11th @ 9pm (1hr 16min)

Slasher/ Horror (Google)

"Fed up of his wife's bad cooking, Donald kills her and turns to cannibalism to satisfy his appetite."

Embers (2015)

Starts Screening Friday 12th @ 9:15pm (1hr 26min)

Fantasy/ Science Fiction (Google)

"After a global neurological epidemic, those who remain search for meaning and connection in a world without memory. Five interwoven stories explore different facets of life without memory in a future that has no past."

Victoria Theatre

Showgirls! The Musical!

Starts Wednesday 10th 

"Don't miss the West Coast Premiere of this New York Off-Broadway Already-Cult-Classic Stage Show! If you thought SHOWGIRLS the movie was a riot, wait until you experience the live stage show...! And with Peaches Christ in the role of Crystal, accompanying the incredibly gifted April Kidwell as Nomi, you know it's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime blend of Peaches Christ parody and this utterly wild stage show, the likes of which may never be seen again...!"

Yerba Buena Theatre 

Frederick Wiseman Restorations

High School (1968)

Thursday 11th @ 7:30pm (1hr 15min)

Cinéma vérité/Documentary (Google)

"What really happens inside the walls of an American high school? Famed documentarian Frederick Wiseman answers that question in this peek inside Philadelphia's Northeast High School, where the students constantly clash with the teachers, and the teachers wage their own battle against the administration. Delving into the everyday struggle the teachers face to discipline their unruly charges, the documentary offers a glimpse into the highs and lows at an urban public school."

-Huntress

Digging Up The Dirt with KillDozer and Clint Carney of Dry Blood

If you were at the first night of Monsterpalooza this past April, you could have been one of the lucky people to see the world premier of Dry Blood, alongside most of the cast and crew, and their families. Since that initial screening, Dry Blood has only been growing in popularity, even though its film fest circuit is far from over.
Since Dry Blood is an indie horror movie, most people involved have several titles under their name, which is definitely the case with Clint Carney, the writer, producer, and main character of the movie. KillDozer got in contact with Clint, to find out more about this film and the man who helped make it a reality.

 KillDozer: Let's start with an introduction. Who are you and what was your role in bringing Dry Blood to the screen?

Clint: I’m Clint Carney, the Executive Producer, writer, and star of Dry Blood. I’ve got a handful of other credits on the film too, but those are the big ones.


KillDozer: Dry Blood had an awesome full house screening at Monsterpalooza. Why do you think your film became such a buzz the day it screened?

Clint: Director Kelton Jones and myself, as well as the rest of our wonderful cast and crew had been hyping up the screening for several months beforehand. I think the teaser trailer for the film is pretty solid, and piqued a lot of people’s interest in watching it (find it here!). And the amazing poster (designed by Sam Pfannkuche) has really grabbed people. It’s a throwback to a lot of the VHS box art that I loved as a kid, and is quite striking. And of course, Monsterpalooza itself is such an amazing venue to do a test-screening. We had so many horror fans in one place, and we’re thrilled that so many people chose to spend their time at the convention watching our film.


KillDozer: Did you make the decision to act in the film while writing it? Did you choose to play Brian? If so why?

Clint: I had absolutely no intention of playing Brian when I was writing the script. Hell, I didn’t even know if the film was going to get made when I was writing it. Brian Barnes is a very complex character with a lot of difficult scenes. I’m glad I didn’t know in advance that I would play the role because then I may have written the part differently… maybe more tailored to myself. But I’m glad it worked out the way it did. It was definitely a challenge as an actor. In our early pre-production stages, Kelton suggested that I play the part, since as the writer, I was very familiar with the complexities of the character. Shortly thereafter, I realized that he would do a brilliant job playing our sinister cop in the film. So really, we cast each other.


KillDozer: This film is dark but also has comic moments that worked really well, like the relationship between the cop and Brian Barnes. Is it easier to write comedy or horror? Why do you think it works so well in the film? Did you even intend for it to be funny in any way?

Clint: For me it’s easier to write horror than comedy. I try to write characters and situations that feel real to me. Well, real human interactions at least, in the context of the genre. And I think those comedic beats just form naturally if the audience is along for the ride and believes in the reality of those interactions. I can’t premeditate comedy though, which is why I don’t write comedies. The humor either comes out when I’m writing, or it doesn’t. Horror, on the other hand… when I have a really scary scene, I usually know it even before I write it down. I’ve loved scary movies since I was a little kid, so writing horror comes more naturally to me.


KillDozer: Dry Blood gives the viewer a glimpse into the horrors of addiction as well as recovery. Is this something you have experience with? Do you relate to the characters you created?

Clint: I’ve had people that I’ve cared about go through such things. Though I’ve never personally been an addict, I can still empathize with someone who has to deal with that. Other aspects of Brian’s behavior were less easy to empathize with. Ha.


KillDozer: As a writer do you already have a soundtrack in mind for the film? Who did the music for Dry Blood?

Clint: While writing Dry Blood I was listening to some of my favorite horror scores: Creepshow (John Harrison), Trick R’ Treat (Douglass Pipes), Salem’s Lot (Harry Sukman), etc. When it came to the music that would actually go in the movie, I had a very specific vision in mind, and ended up scoring the film myself, under my band’s moniker, System Syn. And then there are a few old timey licensed songs thrown in there that just matched the feel of our fictional town.


KillDozer: The relationship between the two main characters seemed very sincere. Is that a relationship or chemistry you build during rehearsal or do you actually know each other as friends and just translates naturally?

Clint: Jaymie Valentine plays Anna in the film. We’ve been good friends for a number of years. I had cast her in a music video that I directed a few years back, and she was just fantastic on camera. When it came to casting the role, she was the first name that Kelton, Susan Jones (Producer), and I thought of. Being friends really helped sell a natural chemistry with the characters. That being said, both characters are so very different from how both of us are in real life. So, it was a fun challenge to work with Jaymie and Kelton to build the dynamic of those characters’ relationship.


KillDozer: Did it take you long to find someone to believe in your script? Did you raise funding or was this a community effort with everyone coming together to make the dream happen?

Clint: We were very fortunate to piece together a group of private investors that wanted to see the story come to life and believed in us as filmmakers. Surprisingly for how fucked up the subject matter of the film is, the funding came together rather quickly. It is an indie film, so we weren’t dealing with any of the politics that come along with making a studio picture, and were completely free to run the show as we saw fit. It was a huge undertaking though, and certainly we could not have done it without the support of our backers, and our amazing cast and crew. I really implore everyone who sees the movie to stick around and watch the end credits. All of those names scrolling on the screen put their blood sweat and tears into Dry Blood, and I’m just truly grateful to call them all friends.


KillDozer: Have you toured with the film at all or attended other screenings? How have the responses been?

Clint: We are just starting up on the Horror Film Festival Season, so we’ll be taking Dry Blood all over. We’ve already won “Best Horror” at the Phoenix Film Festival Melbourne, and the “Gold Award” at the Spotlight Horror Awards. Next we’re taking Dry Blood to the Lost Episode Film Festival in Toronto, the GenreBlast Film Festival in Virginia (where we were just nominated for Best Horror Feature, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best FX), the Horror in the Hills Festival in Tennessee, the Bram Stoker Film Festival in the UK, and F.A.S.H. Fest in Los Angeles. If all goes as planned, we’ll be showing it in a lot more cities too, but those are the ones on the books at the time of this interview. We’ll have all the latest screening news on DryBlood.com for anyone who wants to keep an eye out for local showings.


KillDozer: What other film projects have you been a part of or are you working on now?

Clint: I’ve got a number of other film projects in the works at the moment. Kelton and I have been trying to get a brutal punk rock film called The Violent off the ground for a while, so I’m hopeful that one will get rolling soon. But beyond that, I have several others that I can’t talk about just yet. But trust me, you’ll see a lot more film work from me coming soon.


KillDozer: I've read about your prop making/artist work and also the work you do as a musician. How did you get involved in prop making? What are your musical projects like? You sound like a "jack of all trades" but what is your main focus or interest?

Clint: My good friend, Skip Crank, pulled me in to create a painting for "Scream 4," and that pretty much started my whole prop making career. I went right from there to working on Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo, then JJ Abrams’s Star Trek Into Darkness, and on and on. Before too long, I’d amassed a pretty huge list of films and TV shows that I’d created props and art for. And I still do that quite often. Musically, I’ve had a pretty long career. My main band that I am the singer and songwriter for (System Syn) has been around for almost 20 years now. I’ve also been a live performer for the bands Imperative Reaction and God Module. All three fit into the “Industrial” genre, I suppose. I don’t have a ‘main focus’ per se. I just love doing anything creative, be it music, painting, film, etc.. I keep pretty busy.


KillDozer: What do you hope the audience will get from Dry Blood?

Clint: I hope that our audience is entertained, scared, disturbed - any of those would be a win. I had an absolute blast making it, and I hope that people have just as much fun watching it. Well, maybe “fun" isn’t exactly the right word for this film… but if you love horror like I do, then again, maybe it is.


KillDozer: Okay here are some fun quick questions. If you were forced to write a script for a remake what film would you pick?

Clint: It would have to be a film that I personally love, but that maybe just isn’t so great. There are a lot of films that you love for nostalgic reasons, but at the end of the day, you know they just aren’t that good. That sort of film would give me something to improve upon while still keeping the elements that I love from the original. I’d rather just make original content than do a remake. But if the opportunity ever came up, I’d have to put a lot of thought into the choice. See how I avoided the question there?


KillDozer: Which 2 films have you seen in 2016 that have blown your mind (if any)?

Clint: Green Room for sure! Jeremy Saulnier is rapidly becoming one of my favorite directors. I also just saw a feature at FilmQuest this year called No Way to Live that was fucking brilliant. Keep an eye out for that one. And though not features, the short “Die Sitter Die: Rupert” by the Boxleitner Brothers (another fantastic film from FilmQuest), and the Netflix Show Stranger Things are topping the list of my favorite things this year.


KillDozer: What is your favorite piece of horror film memorabilia that you own?

Clint: That is a tough one. I’m a collector and I have a lot of cool horror shit. One of my favorites is the full scale Predator bust that Sideshow Collectibles put out many years ago. The detail on that one is incredible.


KillDozer: What is your favorite family film and why?

Clint: Well that’s the first time I’ve been asked that one. Ha. Maybe The Labyrinth? Does that count as a family film?

Get updates and news about Dry Blood by visiting DryBlood.com. 

You can also like the movie on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  

-KillDozer

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: Scary Tales

6 of 6 viewers "Liked" "Scary Tales" (USA, 1993)

Here's what the creatures had to say:

Lord Battle - "If micro-budget horror films prove that limitation is the mother of creativity, Scary Tales proves she's in heat. Watch as the most metal horror anthology host introduced short stories about video games, infidelity, and cursed jewelry. Scary Tales isn't for everyone but if you like SOV film, this may be the one you've been waiting for." - 5 Stars

Huntress - "I don't need to make any excuses for this shot on video, micro-budget horror anthology; it's actually really good. I love anthologies and I totally support the decision to not tie all the stories together, as it would have taken away from the movie. The practical effects looked great, I'd definitely watch Scary Tales again." - 4 Stars

Math Mage - "Excellent effects, cleaver use of horror tropes (especially the minimalist wrap-around), and better performances than some professional actors. It was hilariously bad, instead I was pleasantly surprised that it was just hilarious!" - 4.5 Stars

Dabbles - "What this movie lacked in production, it made up for in effects. It was fun and unexpected! I usually score based on production and story but this movie doesn't deserve that, so I'm giving it a 5. They win." - 5 Stars

Action Panda - "Scary Tales? More like "Silly Tales" due to amateur actors and inane dialogue. However, this indie-shot-on-video film is saved by its over the top gore and special f.x. Came in with really low expectations but came out ridiculously entertained." - 4 Stars

The Great Hornito - "Scary Tales was a fun anthology for being a micro budget horror movie. The special effects were great but the only thing scary about the movie was the narrator and the acting. The last short story was actually about a really cool fantasy video game but the drunk redneck's bellybutton was a Scary Tale all in itself. Overall I'm glad I watched it and would watch it again but next time with alcohol." - 3 Stars

The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

(Below is for after you've seen the film)

The niche horror sub genre that is micro-budget is enjoyed by a particular few. The film standards for this fandom are best described as authentic failures as there is a very clear difference between an honest attempt like Scary Tales and a company trying to cash in on low-budget horror (ie. Troma or Full moon).

Below is an excerpt from Minimum Under Drive Issue #5

Bleeding Skull: So every short story that was in Scary Tales had existed in some form before?

Doug Ulrich: Sliced In Cold Blood was the original one. Al liked slasher movies. He came up with the idea and wanted to play the main part, of course. The original version, which we shot in '92, just had this guy walking around killing people for no reason. And then a friend of ours, who wound up playing one of the victims - she'd gone to a university for film making and she was very knowledgeable - she said the only problem was that there was no real reason for the murders. So we added in the part about the guys wife cheating on him, so there'd be a little more logic to it rather than a guy just going on a rampage and killing everyone. Even though it still kinda comes off that way.

The other two stories had really been around for a while. Satan's Necklace goes back to '82 or '83. I'd written a short story called "Satan," about a young lady who was renting out a room. A guy shows up to rent it, and they kind of become friends, and towards the end of the story it's revealed that he's the devil. He starts transforming, and maybe he kills her... I don't remember. So then I shot it as an early version.

- Bleeding Skull interview with director Doug Ulrich

Purchases from Bleeding Skull Releases receive an issue of Minimum Under Drive when listed! The Zine is awesome and always informative.

-Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a residence for a special screening on  7/28/2016

*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not effect the rating.