‘80s TREAT: PROM NIGHT, HOSPITAL MASSACRE, SCHIZOID, THE GODSEND… + AUTHORS DOUGLAS CLEGG & BRYAN SMITH

As if delivering CURTAINS (1983) on Blu-ray and DVD isn’t big enough news, now it seems that Synapse Films has also gotten the rights to 1980 PROM NIGHT. Yes, kiddies, the Jaime Lee Curtis classic about disco dancing and the madman who invades a prom will get the same DVD/Blu-ray treatment. No words as to when it’ll see the light of day or what sort of extra features the discs will hold, but you can count on Scare Factor to let you know the minute we hear of anything.

August 20th 2013 is the sreet date for the release of the double bill 1982 HOSPITAL MASSACRE (aka X-RAY) and SCHIZOID (1981). Both films have never been digitally re-mastered and will be part of a Blu-ray/DVD combo by Scream Factory. HOSPITAL MASSACRE, starring former Playboy bunny Barbi Benton is a well-made slasher whose major flaw is being poorly lit. I’m sure Scream Factory has carefully remedied the situation. As for SCHIZOID, starring the legendary Klaus Kinski and JAWS 2 Donna Wilkes, Scare Factor has yet to see it and is looking forward to it since it has been on its must-see list for years and years.

On the same day, Scream Factory is also releasing ALL NIGHT HORROR MARATHON, four long lost horror treasures on DVD, starting with THE GODSEND, the 1980 killer toddler from the UK. Scare Factor has enjoyed the Bernard Taylor novel from which it is adapted and is eager to see the film. 1987 THE OUTING centers around teens and an escaped genie from a lamp. Saw this one back in the day and remember nothing of it. It’ll be interesting to see it again. The third flick is 1987 THE VAGRANT starring Bill Paxton of MORTUARY (1983) fame. Supposed to be a horror/comedy about (what else) a vagrant invasion in Baxton’s newly acquired home. Not too inspiring but we’ll see… And lastly, 1971 SCHIZOID, focusing on a woman killer and her dream sequences. No idea as to where on earth that one comes from, but we will definitely check it out.

Douglas Clegg’s vampire tale THE CHILDREN’S HOUR is now available in e-book form at the low price of 99 cents for a limited time. I, like many horror buffs, had the pleasure of reading this novel in the mid-nineties when the Dell Abyss paperback line was trying to stay afloat. The horror genre was on its last legs and strong authors like Clegg, here, kept it alive despite the plague, and with good reasons. CHILDREN’S HOUR is a fun and scary, not to mention narratively impressive, read. If you have yet to venture into the author’s work, this title is certainly a fine place to start.

One of my fave novels is Bryan Smith’s DEPRAVED. Reading it is like watching a super great grade-B movie you just can’t live without; sort of like FRIDAY THE 13th but with 10 times the shock value. Well, it looks like Mr. Smith is at it again with 68 KILL, his latest from Bitter Ale Press. The plot, about stolen cash and the people you thought you knew but don’t, is supposedly one heck of a ride. SCARE FACTOR is on it of course —just as it is on the lookout for Smith’s forthcoming offering GO KILL CRAZY, out February 4th 2014 from Samhain Publishing.

UPDATE: Scream Factory’s ALL NIGHT HORROR MARATHON featuring 1980 THE GODSEND and three other horror titles from yesteryear is postponed to early October 2013. Seems that one of the four films, 1971 SCHIZOID, (not to be confused with the Klaus Kinski slasher) is pulled from the lineup (a copyright thing?). It is officially replaced by WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH HELEN, the 1971 Grand Guignol-style horror fare featuring veteran leading ladies Shelley Winters and Debbie Reynolds.

Until next post--Martin

TAKE A BOW, 1983 “CURTAINS”

Listen up slasher fans. CURTAINS, the much underrated cult classic of six wannabe actresses being stalked by a masked killer during a wintry stay at an isolated mansion will finally have a proper digital release. Indeed, Synapse Films has obtained the rights to this gem and is on the planning stage of putting it all together—as part of a Blu-ray/DVD combo, we are told. I, like many of you, purchased the rough-looking VHS transfer to DVD from Echo Bridge a few years back. Though a big disappointment overall, it did satisfy one’s needs of owning this title. But now that Synapse has taken over… well, it just makes me want to stomp on my disc and say so long, sucker.

From Synapse:

Today is the kind of day I both loath and love about this business. We have, in our hands, the only existing vault materials for a horror film that many love and have wanted for years to be done right on home video. I'm assigned to the task. The excitement is overwhelming just to SEE the film and find out what is in the cans. The "loath" part is usually the bad news where we find out it was improperly stored, torn, shredded, faded or whatever... But, we'll find out. Synapse will MAKE THIS WORK! 2K scan work commence!

So so cool. Let’s hope a ton of extra features follow as well.

I first got a hold of CURTAINS in the late ‘80s when VHSs ruled the world. I remembered thinking, while popping the tape into my player, how ecstatic it would be to dig this film. I had been the victim of so much horror turkeys in my days that I was afraid of discovering yet another one. Not so, as it turns out. CURTAINS is fun, scary and most importantly, low-budget. And you all know how I feel about that last part. There’s nothing like a well-made inexpensive slick-looking horror film to satisfy my every needs.

If you have yet to see this flick, three things you must remember before viewing it: One, it’s an ‘80s horror film, meaning you probably know the plot by heart. But that scarcely matters. Once you see the ice-skating scene or the doll in the rain sequence you’ll be in a forgiving mood. Second, being an ‘80s flick means no CGIs (thank God!). Everything’s done the old fashion way (though CURTAINS’ FX are limited, choosing atmosphere over gore), using corn syrup for blood or makeup applications for on-screen demises. So rejoice. And third, forget all about the reputed problems surrounding the film (actresses being fired, scripts being re-written, scenes being re-shot…). What’s important is the end result. And believe me, CURTAINS delivers.

OK, now that everything’s said and done on my part, there’s only one thing left to do: cross our fingers in the hopes that everything goes on as planned with this release. Because we all know how easily one can be fooled by a distributor’s announcement. Isn’t so, Code Red?

Until next post—Martin

SCOTT NICHOLSON AND HIS “AFTER: THE ECHO”

Yes, dear friends, I finally got myself an e-reader. It has been a long time coming, but I finally succumbed to it about two weeks ago. Why now? Simple: I just couldn’t go on without reading the work of some of my fave authors, like this spotlighted fellow who’s been at it for quite some time now. Ever since I entered his world via his first mainstream published work, THE RED CHURCH (from Pinnacle), I’ve been following his career. Six mass market paperbacks later, a big twist occurs: the guy changes gears by self-publishing. A bold move, but one that ultimately pays off. However, for the old school readers like myself this does not sit well. Gone are the affordable soft-covers with his name on them. Now it’s the e-book way or no way. Not really, but the only other avenue is the trade paperback editions, and those cost more. Hence my newly purchased e-reader which finally enables me to enjoy his many books at a cheaper price.

　

AFTER: THE ECHO is his latest self-published baby (available wherever e-books are sold). It is the continuing story of survivors amid a massive solar disruption that turns most people into killing machines. They are called Zapheads, and with good reasons: they act as though any common sense had been totally wiped out of their minds. Although in this second installment, Nicholson implies that all is not what it seems. Are they really the enemy? Or are they just a new and improved bunch out to surpass what is left of the human civilization? Only the author knows, but since part three will only be available next fall (but rejoice, a prequel will be up and about this spring) one can’t help but speculate.

　

In the meantime, I hope this teaser makes you want to get involved, for it is a worthy read. Once again, the author succeeds in enticing you with his well-defined characters and plot, making AFTER: THE ECHO a finely-tuned yarn despite its short stance (about 160 pages on my e-reader). And if you’re a Nicholson fan you already know that there’ll be a recurrent religion theme of good against evil, though the author clearly holds back in this one. But it’s interesting to note that the involvement factor is just as strong whether you agree with his views or not. Just as long as the tale leaves you feeling satiated, and judging by this Scott Nicholson’s latest, it probably will. So go on, indulge, and see what the fuss is all about.

　
Until next post—Martin

 

TAMARA THORNE’S “HAUNTED”

God knows how many novels about ghosts have been written in the past century alone. Enough to last an eternity I bet. Fool of me to even try to enumerate some of them. You all have a favorite. Mine this time around is HAUNTED by Tamara Thorne, out now from Kensington (pic below). The plot, no need to elaborate too much really. We’ve all seen it before. But contrary to many sub-par offerings, this one works. Why? Simple enough: Thorne gives a new twist to an old genre.

　

A cross between Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by E. L. James, HAUNTED titillates with its offbeat horror, humor and sexual approach. Forget about things that bump solely into the night. In this novel the specter goes at it whenever it pleases her; whether directly for the jugular or for the crotch; but mostly the crotch. Because she’s a horny little thing, you see, and can’t get enough of our male protagonist, a best-selling horror writer who wants to test the doings of this supposedly haunted Victorian Mansion. Along with his wise-cracking teen daughter and his opportunistic lady realtor, not to mention his cool ex-wife whom he still has the hots for, they will experience what we call paranormal activities. And not any kind of activities, mind you, but those that leave heavy traces on the body and psyche.

　

Let it be said that I scarcely got the heebie-jeebies while reading this fine novel (I don’t scare easily), but I did get caught up in the whole thing. Thorne’s plot of let’s get rid of the mean old ghost who keeps lost souls in vintage dolls, works on every level (horror, humor and sex, remember?). You don’t have to hold onto one theme for a novel to shine, as long as your sense of savoir faire is as keen as Tamara Thorne’s in HAUNTED. She brings it all to a slang bang conclusion that may even make you go awww once the dust settles. Not me, however. I’m a guy. I don’t have any feelings.

　

I have kissed a lot of frogs disguised as horror novels in my lifetime but Tamara’s HAUNTED is not one of them. It delivers what it sets out to do, give its readers a great old time, and to me that’s more than enough. So who cares if it’s not on the same level as THE SHINING or GHOST STORY? Just as long as the author does her thing in bringing back the dead. So here’s to you Tamara Thorne. Looking forward to review many other titles with your name on it.

　
Until next post—Martin

RICK HAUTALA’S “INDIAN SUMMER”

I was way into Rick Hautala’s latest effort INDIAN SUMMER, now out from Cemetery Dance Publications, before realizing that it was a prequel of sort to his popular LITTLE BROTHERS. Now, of all the Hautala’s books, LITTLE BROTHERS is the one that has always managed to escape me. Why? Not a single clue to tell you the truth, since I make sure to read everything this author puts out. Ask me anything about his work and I’ll probably surprise you. That’s how much I know about this fellow from Maine. So imagine my luck when I got my hands on his novella INDIAN SUMMER. It was my first horror piece of the year and, frankly, this couldn’t get any cooler. And did Hautala deliver again? You freaking bet he did.

　

The story revolves around this Billy the kid who at twelve in the fall of 1961 just wants to have fun—until he discovers the reality of life in the form of little creatures with sharp claws. Yes, INDIAN SUMMER is one of those coming of age tale that pack a punch, and believe me, you’ll need all the hold you can get once these famished buggers are unleashed. Like in any Hautala story, the action sequences are built up by a good character development, which in this case is mostly about Billy. A likable lad, he’s as normal a pre-teen can ever be (likes superheroes; hates his older brother). But it’s his chance meeting with a troubled lady that’ll seal the deal on his fate. Indeed, it’s because of her that Billy will go through his real-life nightmare, one that will leave no stones unturned. Loaded with effective scenes and heartfelt moments, not to mention stunning illustrations (including the dust jacket) by renowned artist Glenn Chadbourne, Hautala works his magic again to create one heck of a fine read. He goes deeper than meets the eye and the effort is greatly rewarded. Don’t be surprised if you come of this with a feeling of dread and lost, for that’s how engaging INDIAN SUMMER turns out to be.

　

What a thrill it is to have yet to venture into LITTLE BROTHERS after all. It’ll give me another good reason to quench my thirst for more of these scary little beasts I find mostly attractive. I’m sure the author will again delve into their wicked ways one of these days. At least, we hope he does.

In the meantime, pick up INDIAN SUMMER and discover how much fun it is to be in their company—writer, artist and creatures alike.

　
Until next post—Martin