Web Series Episode Review: SLASH/UP – SARAH CONNOR VS JASON VOORHEES

WTFLOL Studios has created what promises to be an innovative and entertaining web series with Slash/Up which pits characters from various franchises against one another.  In this first episode it is “Sarah Connor Vs Jason Voorhees” as we see what would happen if Sarah Connor stumbled upon Camp Crystal Lake and its resident slasher Jason Voorhees. 

This would not normally seem like a film that would have much traction but the way in which writer/director/editor Brian Rosenthal has crafted the story and action it seems like a logical extension for both franchises.  The film borrows the action aesthetics from The Terminator franchise while stealing the horror and humor from the Friday the 13^th films. It’s a perfect melding of the two stories.  Sarah Connor (Nicole Marines) is on her way to Cyberdyne on a secret mission when her car breaks down just outside Camp Crystal Lake.  Meanwhile horny and party loving teenagers are having fun at the camp which disturbs Jason Voorhees (Derek Russo) who quickly arrives for his own style of fun.  Once the killing and screaming starts Sarah appears ready to blow anything and everything up.  With guns in hand and her nimble fight style Sarah makes for a formidable foe for Voorhees and what follows is an elaborate and cutting rate fight sequence between the two (choreographed by Chris Frank and Rosenthal himself).  Rosenthal does a great job honoring both franchises and fans of both will see a lot of homage that fits nicely into their respectful universes.  This is definitely a fan film for the fans.

Slash/Up is a great idea for a series of short films inspired by fans of not just horror, but action, science fiction, fantasy, and everything in between.  There is no limit to the possibilities of the series which is evident from the proposed second episode of the series “Neo Vs Freddy” pitting Neo from The Matrix films verses our favorite Dream Demon Fred Kruger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.  I look forward to seeing more from this web series and what they come up with next in the form of other productions.

To view the first episode of SLAH/UP go here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBj-BEf1eTk

To watch the making of the episode go here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhozVWXQs00

Fan Film Review: MARVEL ZOMBIES VS ARMY OF DARKNESS

I must say that I’ve watched a lot a fan films in my time (and produced several myself) but Brian Rosenthal’s short fan film Marvel Zombies VS Army of Darkness is by far one of the most interesting and well produced.  On an alternate Planet Earth a zombie plague has ravaged and killed most everyone including most of the Marvel Universe superheroes.  Peter Parker (Eli David) and his girlfriend Gwen Stacy (Meaghan Lehrer) have just recovered a vital artifact that may help them win this new war but Zombie Wolverine shows up and has other plans.  Just when you think things can’t get any worse Ash Williams (David Vonhippchen) appears to throw in his two cents and all hell breaks out…again.

If you’ve enjoyed the Marvel Zombies comic book series and are a fan of the Army of Darkness film (and comic series as well), writer/director Rosenthal has crafted the perfect mash up of the two universes.  His film is action packed, funny, and has the right amount of gore to appease fans of both worlds.  Special FX Makeup artist Keegan Hitchcock and visual FX supervisors Mark Cooper and Rosenthal do an excellent job with getting all the zombies and special visual FX right especially considering that in addition to Zombie Wolverine, a Zombie Iron Man and a Zombie Hulk also make appearances.

Rosenthal also is editor on the film bringing the fight scenes a unique style that is both thrilling and outrageously funny at the same time (how can you not like Ash getting whipped on by a Zombie Wolverine?) and Karl J. Anderson’s original score is the icing on the cake.  This is a great fan film that not only shows how well a fan film can be produced but what a great film making talent Rosenthal and his entire crew are. I can’t wait to see what he and his crew comes up with next.

You can view Marvel Zombies VS Army of Darkness here - http://youtu.be/b3BEZ9cLxKM