A LOOK AT HORROR IN 2013

As a horror fan I watch a plethora of films both big and small whether a suspense thriller or a gore-love-fest, whether domestic or foreign, whether an Indie or big budget Hollywood.  Every horror film has its good merits but more often than not most people only see the bad; then of course there are some that are truly bad and those that are so bad they become “good” or the more appropriate “guilty pleasure.”  With the exception of CABIN IN THE WOODS (and maybe THE WOMAN IN BLACK) there were few breakout films of 2012 and fewer more that were indeed “good.”  The few Indie films to make a difference (i.e. V/H/S, THE BAY, THE AWAKENING) have only been seen by a small audience and there have been more mediocre films than expected (i.e. UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4, THE RAVEN, DARK SHADOWS, THE THEATRE BIZARRE, [REC] 3, CHERNOBYL DIARIES, THE POSSESSION, THE DEVIL INSIDE, MOTHER’S DAY, THE WICKER TREE, PROMETHEUS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, SILENT HILL; REVELATION, SINISTER, and many more).  2012 has been a lackluster year and there’s hope that next year will be much better.

Next year – sadly, brings very little to look forward to other than more remakes and more sequels but maybe there will be a few diamonds in the rough.

REMAKES
I’d like to first take a look at the remakes on the horizon starting with the most high profile of the bunch which is another version of Stephen King’s CARRIE.  You’d think that two remakes, a sequel, and two attempts at a musical were enough to keep anyone away but not Hollywood.  There looks to be a lot of money behind this film but the same could’ve been said for this year’s ill advised TOTAL RECALL and we know how that ended up.  The remakes for THE EVIL DEAD and MANIAC look to be more interesting.  The original THE EVIL DEAD has its admirers but truth be told more people enjoy the sequel than the original so a remake of the original film with a bigger budget and better SFX actually sounds good.  The same goes for the remake of MANIAC, which looks remarkable like one of the best remakes to look forward to from the trailer.  Another interesting remake on the horizon is that of the infamous SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT which is simply called SILENT NIGHT.  This is also a film whose trailer makes it look on par with the MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D remake.  Other notable remakes on the horizon include OLD BOY (from director Spike Lee???) and ROBOCOP (whose early pix don’t put me on ease) and POLTERGEIST (yes, I said POLTERGEIST – WTF?).

     

SEQUELS

There are way too many sequels scheduled for release in 2013 to mention but I’ll try to pick on a few of the highlights.  The most predictable of which is PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 5.  Despite the lackluster response to the 4^th film a new film for release in October 2013 is already confirmed.  Also on the horizon and more surprising is THE LAST EXORCISIM 2 and THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH.  Not sure that either of these films needs a sequel since they were both so self contained but I’m at least curious as to where they decide to take their films.  In terms of franchise favorites first up is TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D, which given that its suppose to be a sequel to the Tobe Hooper classic it might actually be an interesting film but the trailer lacks anything new that hasn’t already been done in other films in the franchise and being released in January, the dumping ground for studio films that the studio has little to no faith in.  Next up is the equally questionable CURSE OF CHUCKY and HATCHET III both of which have a huge fan base and whose fans like that the filmmakers have a little fun with the material.  Also in a surprise move is the TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 (now called COFFIN BABY) and a FRIGHT NIGHT 2.  The remake for THE TOOLBOX MURDERS was a highlight and there has been rumors of a sequel since the original was a moderate success.  I’m completely surprised by the news of a FRIGHT NIGHT 2 considering how poorly the first one did at the Box Office.  Those few fans of the originals don’t have much to rejoice in as this is meant to be a straight to DVD sequel with none of the original actors returning.  Another surprise is V/H/S/ 2, which will hit film festivals early next year and if it is anything like its predecessor it will be one to look out for.

   

This is just a sampling of the remakes and sequels on the horizon for release in 2013.  There will be many more added to the release schedule and those that are dropped and pushed back.  I’ve not even mentioned the sequels and remakes without release dates (i.e. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR: THE LOST TAPES, DRACULA 3D, HALLOWEEN 3D, or another GODZILLA) nor original (i.e. non-sequels and non-remakes) such as PACIFIC RIM, JOHN DIES AT THE END, HERE COMES THE DEVIL, and Rob Zombie’s LORDS OF SALEM.  I guess I’ll have to save all those titles for another time.

Book Review: THE RING COMPANION by Denis Meikle

There are good horror films and then there is phenomenon known as Ringu (or more commonly known as The Ring in the US).  What started as a trilogy of novels by Koji Suzuki (i.e. Ringu, Spiral, and Loop) became a Japanese television surprise hit and then the series of feature films (both based on the original first two novels and an extension of the original film) before becoming the Korean hit The Ring Virus and the American version The Ring (and its sequel The Ring Two).  Denis Meikle delves into all aspects of the Ring phenomenon in his book The Ring Companion.

Meikle’s book is not just a breakdown of all the films that are associated with the Ring phenomenon but his book also delves into its place in the larger spectrum of Japan’s history in horror cinema most importantly in the way in which Suzuki’s novel changed the face of the  wronged woman who returns to seek vengeance for her death (and birth of the long black haired ghost made famous in the first theatrical film).

For those who did not know there are two Ring television series (Ring: The Complete Edition, Ring: The Final Chapter), three Japanese theatrical films (Ringu, Ringu 2, Ringu 0: Birthday), the Korean remake – The Ring Virus, two American films – The Ring and The Ring Two, and the two films based on the sequel novel Spiral (Rasen and the television version of Rasen).  The films have grossed over $200 million worldwide and jump started the American remake of Asian films which continues to this day.

Meikle’s book is most effective when it draws parallels from past films and novels while delving into what made Suzuki write the book in the first place.  In fact, Meikle spends the majority of the first third of the book explaining the history of Japanese horror cinema (and its most influential films) in order to put the success of the Ring franchise in perspective for the reader.  For those who love the Ring films this book will be an eye opener as Meikle puts all the films into perspective as well as takes each of them apart both for the good and the bad.

Book Review: SPEED RACER: THE OFFICIAL 30TH ANNIVERSARY GUIDE by Elizabeth Moran

Originally known as Mach Go Go Go in its native Japan, the animation known as Speed Racer became a cultural phenomenon when it made its way to US television sets in 1967.  Despite only having 52 original episodes its stayed in the public consciousness for decades until being unearthed again in the ‘90s and becoming a cult phenomenon.  In her book Speed Racer: The Official 30^th Anniversary Guide, Elizabeth Moran delves into the history and the cultural significance of Speed Racer and how it would influence the anime explosion of the ‘90s.

Moran’s book is a treasure trove of information on the animated series.  It breaks down all 52 episodes of the series while also going to more technical aspects of the show (mostly from the American version perspective) such as interviews with the American voice actors and how they were picked for the show and the technical specs for Speed Racer’s Mach 5 vehicle as well, among other things.  The book is well researched and instrumental for fans of the series.

Even if you are not familiar with the original series itself Moran also delves into the ancillary markets that the character was used in such as the NOW! Comics ‘90s comic book series (and its spin-off series and reprints of the original Japanese manga) and the NASCAR commercials of ’96.  Moran also gives a little background on the animated film The Speed Racer Show (1993), which is three of the original episodes edited together but had a huge impact on resurrecting the character into the consciousness of audiences throughout the ‘90s.  The book ends by examining the Americanized The New Adventures of Speed Racer (1993).  Since the book was published in ’97 it does not touch upon the more recent animated series Speed Racer: The Next Generation nor the live action big screen film from the Wachowski Bros. (allow Moran does indicate that the live action film has been in development for a very long time).

Speed Racer has been instrumental to spreading anime to American audiences and for many it was the first animated series from Japan that they experienced.  Moran’s book is an excellent way to look back at the series or to learn about it for the very first time.  For more info on Speed Racer visit the Official Speed Racer website at www.speedracer.com

Web Series Review: "NYPD M"

Over the last few months I’ve watched several different web series to understand the medium and the many different ways in which it can and has been used.  There does not seem to be any one right way or wrong way to produce a web series which is where the web series “NYPD M” comes in.  This series is created by Hal Jordan and concerns two police detectives Anderson (Janelle Giumarra) and her new vampire partner Grimm (Jilon Vanover) whose cases ire on the side of the more supernatural.  This being said the premise is very much like The X-Files or Forever Knight or more recently the short lived Moonlight.

What the series excels in is the better than average production design, cinematography, and art direction.  What the series lacks is interesting characters and an engaging mystery and villain.  Because each episode of the series averages 5 minutes very little time is spent on characterizations or the case itself.  The entire first series (8 episodes) comes off as one single pilot episode broken up into 7 bits and because the final episode is also only 5 minutes long the series’ story wraps up too fast and is very anticlimactic.   This is where I believe that many web series fail.

It is my belief that the more successful web series may present an ongoing storyline throughout an entire season but each episode is a mini-movie unto itself so enjoying each individual episode is just as exciting as watching the entire season.  If an episode is revealed (or aired) in a timely fashion (i.e. once a week, once a month, etc.) than the anticipation between episodes is so much greater and the enjoyment so much better.  If all the web series is, is a movie broken up into parts then the series will lack the drive of making someone want to wait for each episode when they are released.  This is how I feel about “NYPD M.”  Despite the very well done end product, if I hadn’t been able to watch the whole series at one time, I wouldn’t have bothered coming back for each individual episode because there just wasn’t enough substance for me.

Many web series have gone in the same route as “NYPD M” and I’ve come to the conclusion that these types of series just aren’t making the most of the medium since there were alternative ways to utilize the medium and still tell a more engaging and interesting story.

To watch "NYPD M" go to http://blip.tv/nypdm

Web Series Reviews: The Lumber Baron of Jasper County – Web Series Season One

The following is not horror related but is from one of Georgia's most respected indie horror film makers - Dave R. Watkins - who decided to show his more comedic side.

Not being the type of person to sit down and watch a web series I was only interested in this newest web series “The Lumber Baron of Jasper County” because it was produced in Georgia and starred several known actors in the Georgia indie film community.  The first season of the series (eight regular episodes with a Halloween Special) is now on Blip (www.blip.tv) at http://blip.tv/lumberbaron.  The series is created by Dave R. Watkins and Michael D. Friedman and concerns the misadventures of The Lumber Baron (Watkins) and Ashley (Candace Mabry) when The Lumber Baron hires his fallen from Wall Street cousin Mike (Grant Garlinghouse) to help modernize the lumber business.  Mike’s changes don’t always go so well especially when it comes to Pete (Friedman), the yard manager, and the colorful customers that visit the business on a day to day basis.  Also making things more interesting is the fact that “The Lumber Baron” is a split personality of real owner of the lumber yard Dave.  The “Lumber Baron” was originally a character Dave used to promote the lumber yard and business but now it seems that the Baron has taken over Dave completely.

Most of the first season of episodes is written by Watkins but co-writers Friedman and Nathan Hill contribute greatly to the series’ overall off-beat nature.  One of the show’s greatest strengths is the relationships between characters.  As Dave fights through his personality conflicts with “The Lumber Baron” he misses out on the fact that Ashley has fallen in love with him.  Ashley is all heart except to Mike, the person she believes came in and stole her promotion so she is constantly undermining his authority and Mike has his own problems just trying to fit in at the lumber yard with all the colorful characters that he didn’t have to deal with when he was in New York working on Wall Street.  And just why did Mike leave Wall Street to begin with?  These questions and many more add a level of realism to the characters that could have easily fallen into caricature if handled in the wrong way but Watkins and his writers and especially the actors manage to always ground the series by the personal issues that each of the core characters have to deal with. 

Each episode comes in at just under ten minutes so they are a breeze to watch in just one seating.  Knowing this, Watkins and company created a companion web series to run along the main one called “Ask the Baron”, which is an open forum for customers and fans of the Lumber Baron to go online and ask him questions about lumber.  This is made even more entertaining by the fact that The Lumber Baron and Ashley are doing this behind Mike’s back.  These smaller webisodes allow fans of the series to get a glimpse at the people who shop at the lumber yard.

The web series (both of them) are quite entertaining and despite some occasional lighting issues (especially in outdoor scenes) the series is an extremely competent endeavor that demonstrates that Georgia indie filmmakers have more to offer than just more horror films and web series (which there is no end of).  Also of note is the original music by Markleford Friedman which gives the series a very surreal ambiance that elevates the tone and mood of the series.

Dave R. Watkins is best known for his starring roles in indie feature films Jack O’Lantern (2004) and Stragglers (2004), which he also wrote and directed, and for producing another series “Witch Hunters Extraordinaire” (2002) as well as countless other short films.  Candace Mabry is no stranger to web series as she had a role in “The Rising Sun” (2009) and “Let Us In” (2011).  She is best known for her roles in Return of the Jackalope (2006) and Undocumented Executive (2011) but has starred in numerous short films.  Grant Garlinghouse is a regular of Watkins’ films having starred in “Witch Hunters Extraordinaire”, Return of the Jackalope, and the short "Dead Vengeance" (2009).