Project MetalBeast: DNA Overload (1995)

     What happens when you combine a scientific experiment for technological advancements with a werewolf? You get a bad ass metalbeast!
     In the process of creating a living metallic skin called "bio-ferron" the head scientist in charge decides to blow the dust off a top secret closed experiment and combine with the current testing of the ferron skin grafting. Testing only on cadavers the others scientists think nothing of it when the new stiff is brought in from the fridge. What they don't know is that in its corps-like comatose, this new subject holds a dark deadly secret that will soon be released upon awakening and finding painful skin grafts all over its body.
     Whats worse than a pissed off werewolf in a shit load of pain? One that now has metal skin. I don't know why this movie doesn't have a DVD release yet because it is so awesome. Everyone that I have showed this to loved it. Great FX, awesome werewolf, bad ass crazy story, whats not to love? I even enjoy the reaction I get just telling people about the movie and I always get the same response, "Dude I gotta see this."
    So this comes highly recommend being one of my favorite movies. Hopefully on day soon it will get a DVD so I can show this to more people, plus some special features would be sweet! And just a little something to further peek your interest, there appears to be a new way to kill a werewolf. This film has an ending that will leave you laughing in amazement and possibly do like I did and rewind it many times even playing it in slow-mo.
    

Upcoming Movie: Creature

     Finally Cinema redemption, something I can finally look forward to. Coming out September 9, 2011 Creature looks extremely promising keeping a traditional feel and FX while still looking crisp and clean. This looks like an excellent bridge from classic to new style.
     This is your basic creature feature plot. A group of friends out in the louisiana swamps discover a creature and shit hits the fan from then on. Cant wait to see it!

Texas Frightmare Convention 2012

Frightmare Weekend: Dallas Tx. 

May 4-6

    I have been going to this Con for the past two years, each year bigger and better than the last. So much bigger in fact that this year they are having it in a new, bigger hotel. This is a kick ass little convention with plenty to do. From the Zombie Walk, to the autographs, meet and greets, film screenings all day, Hearse and Hot Rod Show, and the showroom where you can be like me and spend an absurd amount of doll hairs on movies and useless crap...um I mean collectibles. 

     Frightmare staff has just released the first two guests and its starting off with a bang. We have Rowdy Roddy Piper and Keith David, stars of They Live. Visit the site at the link below if you are interested in attending. 

www.texasfrightmareweekend.com

Whats up!

     Whats up fellow horror junkies, just thought I would drop a post to say hello and see whats going on. Still trying to build up a community here, a pack if you will, so feel free to send emails or drop in on the forum and mention things you want to see, want me to posts, entries you may want posted, tell me I suck, whatever.
     I try to mix it up as much as i can so with help from you guys out there we can pop the clutch and shift gears to get this site rolling, maybe even another attempt at a full website and database who knows.


Email: Linkinpark1273@aol.com

Gary Brandner: The Howling II Book

     Fuckin, A! So the second book is a perfect follow up of the first and just as suspenseful. We find Karyn remarried and living with her new husband, son, and hired nanny back in L.A. Karyn and Chris had attempted a relationship after the Drago incident, but didnt work out so each went their own separate ways.
     Right off the bat the book kicks things of with two Drago werewolf survivors, Roy and Marcia, out for revenge against the one responsible for Marcia's crippling injury, Karyn. As the two begin stalking Karyn and giving her subtle scares Karyn begins to wise up to whats going on. Then when Marcia sends Roy one dreadful night to kill Karyn's son as part of the revenge, but fails, she realizes for sure whats going on and leaves to find Chris. Upon tracking Chriss down in Mazaltan Mexico they team up for one last battle to ride                                                        Karyn of the horrible howling, once and for all!

     This book is great, once again Brandner has managed to grip my interest and keep me on the edge of my seat. I have just ordered the last in his trilogy and will post as soon as I read. Can't Wait!

Wishmaster: Djinn Figure

Movie Maniacs: Djinn

     Wishmaster 1 & 2 are a in my top favorites and love Andrew Divoff's acting as Djinn. I have been eyeing this figure for a while now and finally managed to pick it up from amazon for $15. Well I just got it in and I must say that at 15 bucks this was a steal. This is one of the best figures I own. Its made of more a rubbery material, not so much a plastic or resin so his cape and clothing are movable to some extent. 

      

       

        I have a few figures from Movie Maniacs and they have yet to let me down. There are a few more of these available at amazon for those who wish to grab one while they last (link below). My only advice for this figure is that you glue the gem in his hand cause you will probably loose it, it just sits in there loosely. Bad Ass! 

Amazon.com

Couple of Upcoming Release

        This great classic from renowned director Wes Crave is getting a fresh release. Not really sure why, still doesn't have special features, but it does have a slightly different cover art and the case might be better. Anyways if you dont have it and want to get the latest release it will be out September 6, 2011





       From director Lucio Fulci, this italian is getting a special edition release with a good bit of bonus features and a new cover art. Though I might prefer some of the original artworks im a sucker for special editions so im going to pick it up. Will be released September 27, 2011



       EXTRAS:

- "Meet the Boyles" - Interviews with Stars Catriona MacColl and Paolo Malco
- "Children of the Night" - Interviews with Stars Giovanni Frezza   and Silvia Collatina
- "Tales of Laura Gittleson" - Interview with Star Dagmar Lassander
- "My Time With Terror" - Interview with Star Carlo De Mejo
- Deleted Scene
- Theatrical Trailers
- TV Spot
- Poster & Still Gallery

      This is one, if not my most favorite site to get shirts and jackets. Run by a very friendly staff well educated in horror they have a very nice selection which is constantly changing and updating. Their vintage shirt selection has a very cool customization ability which allows you to choose from a selection of colors and can even choose whether you want the graphic clean or old and distressed looking.
     occasionally they have bad ass specials where they either have sales or promos where you can buy a limited package which would come with a limited shirt and a poster or something collectible. Once on their mailing list they send you emails of all these deals, reprints, limited offers, etc.
     As I said before they are very nice and have answered many a question that I have had. I can honestly say that they love horror and care about their costumers. Link is below check'm out.

www.Fright-Rags.com

Nathan Thomas Milliner

       I would like to give a shout out to one of my favorite artists Nathan Milliner. This horror inspired artist has managed to do a few covers and center folds for the magazine "Horror Hound." His art ranges from detailed sketches and intricate graphic art to comic books and writing. If ever I managed to get movies made and produced he would be top list to hire for cover out. Here is his Deviant link, check him out!

http://malevolentnate.deviantart.com/

"The Howling" By Gary Brandner

        Im not much of a reader, but have been in the mood to try lately. Well being that Im a pretty big werewolf fan I decided to try out the howling series being that I have heard nothing but good things from readers that the book series is really good.
       Well it did not disappoint. I managed to pick up a limited edition, signed, and numbered edition of the first Howling as you see here. The book follows a young couple Karyn and Roy Beatty. After Karyn was attacked and rapped in their apartment in Los Angeles, the couple decided it best to movie into a very small nearby country town called Drago as a therapeutic experience for Karyn to overcome her traumatic experience. Little does the couple know that the small valley town has a terrible secret.
       This book Keeps you coming back and as the climactic ends draws close you are trapped till the end hanging onto your seat. We have rap, hot sex, hot cheating sex, a hint of lesbian attraction, o yes and werewolf sex of course plus the blood and guts. This book is great. I have just finished it and am jumping right into the second one.

Music Spotlight: Dokken "Dream Warrior"

          So I am a big 80's rock fan listening to great bands such as Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Queensryche, etc. Well being a veteran well weathered guitarist myself george lynch is one of my idols, supreme guitarist which ofter him and Don Dokken had their final fight and parted ways formed another great band called Lynch Mob.
          Well back to Dokken, Dream Warrior was a song created for the first Nightmare on Elm Street movie and the music video is designed around the movie so... Here you have it, enjoy!

      

By the way, really fun song to play on guitar!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

          What.... So i heard about this movie coming out for some time now, a little anxious because because i heard that it was not a remake, but was to be added to the series. Coo dose, finally something refreshing and original. While sitting in the movie theaters recently I recognized the trailer that came up and my interest was peeked. One could watch my eye go from a bright glow of hope and excitement to a saddened, dark, angered, betrayed glaze as a singled tear rolled down and the only word I could muster was a very blank...what.
          Ok maybe thats a bit over the top, but you really could have heard me say what amongst the silence after the trailer had you been there. I could not freakin believe they would use CG monkeys through the entire movie. I waited for the real monkeys i really did, but they never came! So not even paying attention to the trailer and having not much of an idea on what the movie is even about you can bet i probably wont and may never even see this film. For those of you untainted by CG and the travesties of modern cinema the trailer is below.

Movie Guides for Movie Goers

John Stanley's: Creature Features  Strikes Again (Movie Guide)

          A very informative Guide with just about every movie you can imagine up until around 1994, its publish date. The one on the right here is the fourth revised version, adding new releases to its predecessor. This is simply a dictionary for movies giving you the title, release date, director, major actors, and a brief little description about the movie. 

        Theres quite a bit packed in here, holding 454 pages of movies, there hasn't yet been a movie i wasn't able to find in here. Its a nice book to have if your curious about a movie, maybe one hard to find, that you have seen or someone mentioned and your curious about.

Amazon.com Stanley's Creature Features

The Psychotronic Video Guide

        Another great guide including over 3,000 titles within its 646 pages. Good, bad, so terrible your eyes bleed it doesn't matters this book has it. A little more opinionated in its descriptions, this book also give you tittle, director, actors, dates, and briefs summaries. Neither of these books give away spoilers though, in fact, there are a few instances I have read the description and the writing mentions that he will not go into further detail to ruin the film for the reader. 

       I recommend both of these books to anyone out there who really enjoys movies. I have found that with both of these books combined you can get a feel for the movie you are trying to look up.
       I'm sure there are other really good guides out there, but I have yet to discover them....yet. 

Amazon.com The Psychotronic Video Guide

Roger Cormans Cult Classics re-released by Shout!

      
           I myself find Roger Corman to be a genius and an inspiration. Through most of his movies are an acquired taste, one can't help but admire him. Not only is he a creature feature and sploitation mastermind, but he is simply a man of wealth who really loves movies and chooses to spend his money making them whether they are good or not. I highly recommend watching the Leonard Maltin interview with Corman which can be found in the Special Features of "Humanoids from the Deep" dvd (or at the bottom of this post), Corman rants about some key things in making a successful creature feature. 

           Anyhoo, SHOUT! has been kind enough to re-release many of Cormans cult classics in very nice and visually appealing Special Editions. Loaded with special features, posters, and reversible inserts puts shout factory as one of my favorite production companies. 

           F.Y.I.- Many dvd's with clear cases have reversible inserts to where you can pull the cover art out flip it and put it back thus giving you an alternate cover. Humanoids from the Deep is one example, once flip your case will show an alternate art and its alternate name "Monster."

List of Releases:

• The Women in Cages Collection
• Sword & Sorcery Collection 
• Battle Beyond the Stars 
• Up from the Depths / Demon of Paradise 
• Not of this Earth
•  The Terror Within / Dead Space
• The Slumber Party Massacre Collection 
• The Evil / Twice Dead
• Starcrash 
• Death Sport / Battle Truck 
• Humanoids from the Deep
• Piranha 
• Forbidden World 
• Galaxy of Terror
• Death Race 2000
• Rock N' Roll High School

      And many More!

Forever Haunted by the Dreaded Blu Ray!

         So my friends reading this already know, but for years now the feud between Blu Ray and i has been a relentless battle of blood and tears. It seem like every time i turn around Blu Ray is there looming over preparing its next attack. Ok so maybe I exaggerate a bit, but I cant stand Blu Ray, or for horror anyways. When I watch a horror film I love the gritty, old, cigarette burn look and find that it adds to the atmosphere of the movie. I do agree that some re-mastery of old movies that have seen many years in a vault before being released that look white washed and dry does do wonders, but I really enjoy the film in its originality and when I see an HD re-release of an old movie in perfectly good shape I cant help but shake my head.


         The HD side of Blu Ray is only part of the war, the real bloodshed lies in its epic releases and packaging in attempt to sell this new travesty that got the war started. It all began when I purchased the Underworld Trilogy set on DVD, right after the third movie was released on DVD. I open the package to find all three disks stacked and snapped on top of one another on one post, like three CDs stacked in one CD case. I was a little pissed, until I saw the Blu Ray's release of the trilogy. If you would avert your eyes to the left you will see a well packaged, individually cased Underworld Trilogy set, I exploded.

          It was from then on I knew that Blu Ray would always be looming over my shoulder attacking me around every corner. From the neat little compact cases, that could easily be duplicated for DVD, to the bonus stuff you get with Blu Ray, such as mini posters as seen below with the new Special Edition release of "I spit on your Grave." I currently hold my ground and refuse to buy in, Its a long relentless battle that I am slowly losing, but Im trying to hold my ground rushing out to buy a VHS every time I get the urge.

         I do have to admit that HD does look very nice and work on many modern movies, I would really prefer if the HD era would leave horror alone especially old horror. Now if you will excuse me, I need a beer after all this. Blu Ray or not, keep watching movies and keep horror alive!

The Howling Movie posters

         So im a pretty big werewolf fan, what a surprise, but I am also a big fan of posters and artwork. I find that posters are a great way to decorate as well as express yourself while being economically efficient. I recently read a HorrorHound magazine that had a section in it about The Howling and showed a few of the foreign posters and thought i would share them with you guys. Enjoy!

<--- U.S. 

U.S. Alternate --->

<--- Italian

Belgian --->

<--- Spanish 

German --->

Kickin things off with an old fav: 1980's Maniac

Director: William Lustig 

Year: 1980

Run Time: 88 min.


Rating: 5 Stars 

          The movie follows Frank Zito (Joe Spinell), a schizo serial killer, as he murders people at random as revenge for his childhood abuse from his mother. This doubles as a love story as well, our friend Frank has a beautiful girlfriend (a mannequin) in which he which brings gifts from his victims for her to dress up! Yes this is a twisted film and remains to be one of my favorites due to the fact that it is one of the few films that follows and focuses on the killer.
          The film has an excellent atmosphere, the good ol' 80's look, along with superb acting by Joe Spinell. Personally, I think they nailed the casting with Joe in that he manages to really capture the roll a crazed killer lost deep in madness and almost makes you feel like you are watching a documentary on "A Killer in the Making." 
          Not only does this movie have a compellingly twisted story, but the special effects are done by the great Tom Savini and has a camio appearance of him getting his head blow off as seen in the trailer. 
          Now, im a sucker for special editions, so naturally I will almost always advise getting them. The anniversary edition has some great special features including commentary with William Lustig, Tom Savini, and some other people of minor importance. It also has an awesome interview with Tom and some great behind the scenes stuff as well along with a few other odds and ends. 
          I recommend this to all, this is one that can be thoroughly enjoyed by horror fans, but can also be fun for the occasional movie go'er. Nice to watch with friends, creepy to watch alone!